Tippmann Factory F/A Rebuild

[Cdn_Cuda]

Finally have everything sealed up and loctited in place. Threw an old 47/3000 tank on it and no leaks! So now I have a fully functioning Tippmann F/A.

[uglyduckling]

With the help of jb weld, a drill+tap, and some time with a file and sand paper I was able to mount the python feedneck to my F/A. It appears to work great but I would like to reinforce it somehow.

It appears the shock on mine isn't working either. I submerged it in ATF and reassembled, wonder if I used the wrong fluid 🤦 Maybe they are overfilled?

Not to thread jack, I just didn't feel this warranted it's own thread. I'll update with some pictures tomorrow

[Cdn_Cuda]

The more discussion the better! Makes it easier for others to find info and I did not cover refilling the cylinders in my overview.

[Tippster]

I haven't tinkered with mine in a hot minute, but I used to use ATF in the housing. It would work but the problem I had was I had to refill it each time I'd mess with it. Anyone know the O ring sizes for the pistons?

[bacci paintball]

I remember Tim Firpo at Paintball Tek dot com used some heavy weight hydraulic fluid, I think it was 10 or 15 wt, for the cams. Not sure if he had good luck with it. I don't understand viscosity well but will a heavier weight oil limit the speed of the cams? I think I remember Tim saying the cams have to be assembled while submerged?

[uglyduckling]

The ROF adjustment is a screw with a tapered/conical shaped tip. Similar to a needle jet in a carburetor. I'm going to experiment with some heavierweight fluid for sure to see if the adjustments work better. With ATF mine goes from barely cycling to cyclic within 1 turn. Getting the steady ~10bps that I want and getting it to stay put there is the battle right now.

[Bigdog01]

Just read through this whole thread, lots of good info! I've got a factory FA that needs a rebuild as well! The cams are bone dry, and I'm missing one of the silver pins inside the feed. The spring itself isn't in the best of conditions either.

Thank you for the guide!

[uglyduckling]

I had some good success this morning but I'm heading in to work. I'll post later with an update and some pictures. I put a hopper through mine on full auto, didn't break a ball. Unfortunately I failed miserably at filming it, but I will tey again tomorrow

[Cdn_Cuda]

Awesome, glad to hear it worked!

[uglyduckling]

Just shot my F/A some more. Here are some jumbled thoughts.

The adjustments are very finicky. I suspect that ATF may be a bit thin for this application and may just repeat the process of refilling the shocks with a heavy weight gear oil or hydraulic fluid. It's also possible the seals on the adjusters are just weeping and I'm losing fluid. It's difficult to tell. I'll take some pictures when I attempt this again and figure out what seals are needed. Hopefully a simple oring replacement.


Velocity is very low. Average seems to be about 220 fps unless I point the gun down to cycle in some liquid. That gets me up to the 240s, still not great. I face the same problem I have with my mini-lite with impossible to find main springs. I guess I'll drill out the power tube and see how the co2 performs when it gets warmer out, or just switch to SHP hpa.

I believe I may have drilled the holes for the mounting bolts a tad too high resulting in the feedneck sitting low. This created a lip at the feed port, so sometimes a ball doesn't feed. I'll be filling it all in with JB weld and retap the holes. Yay. For the most part though the feedneck works perfectly, and this was a very easy and reversible mod to do. I wonder if the guy who makes the Python stuff could be convinced to manufacture a slightly different version of this part. The only difference is a 1/16" lip and two mounting bolt holes instead of one for A5. The base is 3d printed , with an aluminum clamping feedneck mounted.

Check the facebook group for a clip of it ripping