What are Stars?

[smoke63b]

When referring to automag valves, what are stars and what is meant by 1 star left or all 4 stars left?
Can someone tell me how to tell what valve is what and what is more or less desirable?

Thanks a ton.

[Sable]

The stars are for free valve servicing by AGD. Im not even sure if they still do it, but if a valve has one star, its gets free service one time. If it has four, it gets four free service sessions. And so on and so forth.

Like i said, im not sure if AGD still offers the valve servicing by star.

The number of remaining stars may influence how desirable a certain valve is, or they may not. Most people these days desire the X valve for its speed/weight. But for rec ball and other non-speedball mags, most 68 Classic and Minimag valves are great. As long as a mag valve is well taken care of and properly maintained, it will serve yeu well.

The specific difference between the valves is actually only the material used. The X valve, IMO, is only a 68 Classic valve that is made of aluminum, which is lighter.

Sorry for the huge post. hope this helps.

[questionful]

The specific difference between the valves is actually only the material used. The X valve, IMO, is only a 68 Classic valve that is made of aluminum, which is lighter and therefore faster cycling.

That is very wrong. The valve body doesn't move, so making it lighter doesn't make it cycle faster. The X-valve functions very differently than the classic valve. Every mag owner should memorize these two animations:

http://www.zdspb.com/media/tech/animations/automag1.gif

http://www.zdspb.com/media/tech/animations/rtemag2_6fps.gif

[Sable]

That is very wrong. The valve body doesn't move, so making it lighter doesn't make it cycle faster. The X-valve functions very differently than the classic valve. Every mag owner should memorize these two animations:

http://www.zdspb.com/media/tech/animations/automag1.gif

http://www.zdspb.com/media/tech/anim...emag2_6fps.gif

too true.

not sure what i was thinking when i said it cycled faster.

anyways. there are a tonne of other upgrades that improve a mag. EX: ULT, LVL X, UL bodies, Pneumags, etc.

[MAGgot]

q

You were correct that it is able to cycle faster, but your reasoning was off.

too true.

not sure what i was thinking when i said it cycled faster.

anyways. there are a tonne of other upgrades that improve a mag. EX: ULT, LVL X, UL bodies, Pneumags, etc.

[smoke63b]

Ahh I see. Well mine has no stars lol. I've seen a few different classic valves with different engraving on them than others.
Did all mag valves start with stars on them for free servicing? If not, how would a person have gotten one with the free service stars on them?

[Spider-TW]

The 68 Automag originally did not have any stars. The Minimag valve (which is the same valve with a different etching) came with four stars. The Automag Classic valve (still basically the same stainless valve) came with one star. There may have been some 'bleed over' of policy from one valve to another, meaning that I'm not sure if the star program was strictly applied to certain models or if it changed at about the same times.

It was the factory warranty policy, so if you are missing a star (it was polished off by the factory) it's not a bad thing. However, sometimes when we are looking for a true classic mag we like to see the stars intact (assuming it had them originally) along with matching serial numbers and good etching.

[Ravenneon]

I do have an answer about the stars and if they still honor them...the answer is NO. I did get a chance to call the AGD headquarters and talk to a rep and he informed me that they no longer honor the star program period. Which sucks terribly because i have a minimag from 99-00 that has all 4 stars still.----when someone mentions the stars and how many a mag has left gives a little insight on service history----minimag started with 4 stars---if some one claims only one left, you know its been in for rebuilding 3 times, versus one that stilll has all 4 like mine...never been rebuilt.