Front ASA removal

[Hoppysmag]

Hello all

Long ago, like 1998, I started playing paintball and soon got a Vm68. At the time the front ASA had the habit of destroying the pins in the co2 tank by forcing it too far in. We replaced the co2 tank valve a few times, then the paintball shop ground the asa center pin down a little and the matter was resolved.

I stopped playing probably in 2006. Put the markers away and occasionally cycled some oil through them.

Now I am wondering if the front ASA can be replaced as with newer tanks I'm not sure I am engaging the valve enough. I have a donor body (rough shape) and asa (good shape).

Also is there anywhere to get 4, 7 or 9oz tanks anymore?

[DocsMachine]

Now I am wondering if the front ASA can be replaced as with newer tanks I'm not sure I am engaging the valve enough.

-Yes. They just unscrew. They're usually held in by a pretty fair sealant, so the usual trick is to gut the body, clamp it firmly (padded jaws, of course) and heat around the ASA. Not smoking hot, keep it under 200 degrees F.

A pipe wrench will work, but will chew up the ASA. Try a strap wrench, or pad a vise-grip with something like a strip of rough leather or some bits of aluminum.

When you reinstall, make sure you clean out all the old sealant, and use some blue Loctite to reinstall.

Also is there anywhere to get 4, 7 or 9oz tanks anymore?

-Not that I'm aware of. Not sure anyone's made new CO2 tanks in a decade. Should still be plenty on the used market- Bacchi has a pile in various shapes and conditions.

Doc.

[Hoppysmag]

Thanks Doc, I'll try a little heat. Maybe I'll order those aluminum side plates you make, I've cracked a few plastic ones in the past.

[Chaos]

You could also drill and tap a hole below where the old ASA was and do the internal volumizer mod then plug the original hole....I did that with the last VM body I had before the one I have now.

All you need is a drill with the correct bit, a 1/8 npt thread tap, a Minicocker ASA and this plug...

https://www.amazon.com/Brennan-Industries-6408-H10-Hollow-Fitting/dp/B00CCXZMKQ

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

[pghp8ntballer]

Couldn’t you drill/tap for the vertical ASA then use the front ASA with a regular gas-thru foregrip (plugged on the input side) as a volume chamber?

[Chaos]

That would likely work too....pretty sure thats what Carter Machine did to his

[Ecapnation]

Use an on off tank?