Ultimate Guide – How To Fix A Paintball Gun Air Leak

After reading this article on how to fix a paintball gun air leak, we believe that you will be able to easily identify and deal with the leaks by yourself.

Truth is that the accessory will at some point develop leaks. And due to this, the gun will not operate optimally meaning that you or any other users will not have fun.

While you can take it to a professional for fixing, doing it yourself is not only cheaper but also giving you a sense of pride. Also, it will save time and allow you to get back to the fun.

Following the right technique is key to ensuring the leak is fully dealt with. It’s also important to obverse safety during the fixing.

What may cause the gun to leak?

Air leaks are not something odd when you own the accessory. In fact, you will deal with leaks quite often. The main reasons for a leak include the following:

–Wear and tear: The seals, O-rings, adapters and other parts will deteriorate over time. The material or seal will break, shrink or lose its elasticity and in the event allowing air to leak.

–Accidents: Crushing the gun, hitting it against obstacles, or dropping it from heights may lead to the shell cracking or the adapter becoming loose.

–Improper handling: poor handling of the accessory such as banging it against objects during use or using the wrong air tanks (too high pressure) will damage of the O-rings, cup seals, or even the air source adapter.

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How do you test for leaks?

The item can leak in several places and it’s important to know where the leak is originating from. This not only saves you time and effort but also ensures you deal with the problem completely and get it right the first time. At times, there may be more than one leak and this may mostly occur after an accident or poor handling. The following are the key ways of identifying a leak:

– Listen: By using your ears, you should be able to tell where the air is escaping. Is it where the air tanks are screwed to the gun, internally, the air source adapter or the case/shell? It is helpful to test it while in a very quiet environment.

-Watch: Applying soapy water on the suspected area(s) also helps to confirm the leakage. Bubbles will form around the point where the air is escaping and the bigger the bubbles the larger the leak.

How to fix quickly a Paintball gun Air Leak

The kind of remedy for leak will depend on the area affected. For instance, a worn o-ring requires a new one whereas a cracked shell needs to be bonded with strong glue.

What you need:

A leak at the Air Source Adapter (ASA)

A worn O-ring or loose/broken adapter may cause this. If it is an O-ring, you should replace with a new O-ring of the same type. If it is the adapter, tightening it with a wrench may eliminate the problem.

If not, then you can first wrap some tape on the thread and then tighten it. Always ensure you use the right force (torque) to prevent under or ever tightening.

Leaking on the Air Source hose/pipe

Generally, you should replace a leaking air source hose with a similar type. Start by unscrewing the adapter ends. Apply some lube/oil on the new hose’s ends as well as the gun locking points. Tighten by hand and then use a wrench to complete the job.

Leak at the Gun’s front

This is usually due to a damaged or worn-out o-ring that is found on the volumizer. You first unscrew the volumizer to access the o-ring. Apply some lube/oil on the o-ring and the volumizer front then insert the new o-ring. Next, apply the oil on the gun and then retighten the volumizer.

Leak on the barrel

This leakage is among the difficult one to deal with. Normally, it will be due to a faulty or worn cup seal. The first step is normally applying some oil on the ASA adapter then seeing if there is a change. Next is replacing the cup seal with a new one.

Leak at the Grip Frame Assembly

A bad o-ring or cracks on the ASA regulator or gas line may cause this. O-ring replacement is the same as in other parts. However, for a crack or nick, you need to ascertain the extent of the damage.

If it’s too large, the wisest thing is to replace the entire gas line or ASA regulator. If it is small, then a strong glue or fiberglass may patch the hole or crack.

Leak in the shell/Case

The shell/case may also leak. This is normally because of being banged against other objects or dropping it on hard surfaces too often. The easiest fix is applying a strong glue or fiberglass on the crack. However, this only applies to small leaks.

NB: Each gun has its specific instructions, and it is important to follow what the manufacturer states.

Testing after fixing

After the repair, it’s essential you confirm that the leak (s) have been dealt with. The procedure is as follows:

1. Gas up: This simply means attaching the charged air tanks.
2. Remove the barrel sleeves
3. Load the gun
4. Fire

There should be no leak. In case, there is, then you will need to redo the job.

Safety tips:

You should make certain that the gun is unloaded. This prevents it from accidental firing as you test and repairs the problem.

Conclusion

There you have it- reasons why a paintball gun may leak, how to identify the leak, and the correct procedure of repairing the fault. By following the above steps, you should be able to deal with the problem. This approach works with most kinds of paintball guns. And if done correctly, you shouldn’t experience any leakages for quote some time.
It is vital that you use high-quality items (o-rings, Teflon tape) to avoid repairs any time soon. Also important is observing safety during the repair. Knowing how to fix a common problem of paintball gun air leak should be part of owning the accessory.