XValve problem addressed before release?

[Potatoboy]

This is mostly a question directed at Tom.

A while back you stated that making an Automag valve out of aluminum simply was never going to happen for one main reason: The field strip screw.

According to what you said you'd done some tests and the Aluminum would wear away around the field strip screw, rendering the valve unusable in far less time than with Stainless Steel.

Is this one of the issues corrected by the Aluminum alloy currently being used in the XValves, or is it an issue that will rear it's head in a few years?

As far as I know you decided against using a thread insert in the XValve, so I assume the problem is no more with the alloy, but I'm curious to find out for sure.

[magman007]

thats a great question tato. Id also like to know about the airfitting screw. PLease tom, let us know!

[Muzikman]

Tater, Tom has stated that the life of the aluminum valve will be much shorter than the life of the Stainless valve. But at that rate, who needs a valve that will last 100 years? (Besides me).

The air fitting threads should not be a big deal as you do not take the fittings off all that often.

[Potatoboy]

Well, perhaps a more appropriate question is, how long are the new threads expected to hold out? I understand time isn't an issue, but is there an estimated amount of times we can unscrew the valve before it's in danger of stripping?

[Muzikman]

Buy one and lets see:) You do have to rememeber, cockers are made out of all Aluminum bodies, and as long as your not a twit they will last forever. So unless you remove your valve after every game, you should be good for quite a few years.

[magmonkey]

the thread wear issue could be taken care of at the factory
by simply installing a stainless thread insert after the valve was annodized

[confedman75]

the funny thing about "deep blue" is it says that it is headed by tom kaye. but he hardly ever makes an appearance, you have a better time talking to him in the paintball forum.

[AGD]

I do read here more often than you think. This forum is not for tech questions its for paintball theory and research. Dont expect me to answer these types of questions here.

Breaking my own rules, the threads are expected to last for years but we really don't know what the life expectancy is because it is user dependent. The threads are not guaranteed.

AGD

[Kevmaster]

i think Muzik is on the right track. they will outlast you im guessing. Although it might be a reason to consider making the field strip screw out of Aluminum...

[luke]

If it strips drill it and install a Hela-coil....(sp.?)

[IcantBelieveit]

or you can do the new thing and just drill it and tap it out for what is called a "time-sert" basically a hella coil but made out of steel, and that should thak care of the problem for good, BELIVE ME IF THESE TIME SERTS CAN TAKE 100 ft pounds of tourqe they should be good for a hand tight field strip screw

[Nobody077]

The problem with puting in a hela-coil or other type of insert into the valve is the tight tolerances, it is realy hard if not nearly imposable to repair threads to exact spec. in this way. As for the life span of the threads, just dont take you valve out for no reason, if its not leaking leave it alone, and if you do take it out be carefull when rethreading the fieldstrip screw, and dont over tighten it.

[Kevmaster]

guys...i think were taking this way outta proportion. dont worry about the body....every cocker, angel, 99% of other guns have aluminum bodys that the screws screw into...just fine

[Splat]

I'm kinda new to the "Magworld" but shouldn't a person take the valve out after every day of paintball to throughly clean??? Muzikman said that if you don't remove your valve after every game that it should last quite a few years... Sure you should take it off after EVERY game but you'll still do it after every day of paintball... Won't that still wear down the Aluminium quickly??

[IcantBelieveit]

i don't think aluminum wear out at quickly as you guys think. depending on grade of aluminum and all. but i don't think it is that soft of aluminum. just be sure it is started right and not overtightened. I mean the aluminum engine blocks that i work on can take hrmmm 45-60 ft lbs easy. I understand that is a little different scenario but still. They aluminum is stronger than most think