03 Viking leak

[Sundown]

So I tried my viking for the first time today and it had this massive leak from what looks like the back of the bolt.
I actually looked at the aka manual, but it does not seem to talk about this.

I was not even able to remove the bolt. I thought I could just push it back and then upwards (to have it vertical) to then slide it right out. But it does not want to be pushed upwards. I must be missing something :rolleyes:

Any suggestion for someone with absolutely not experience with vikings :)

thanks

[Z-man]

Does the sound of the leak change when you pull push on the bolt? The bolt pin is pushed into the Ram which is just a metal shaft that goes into a cartridge with some o-rings in side to seal up the air. If you heard about my "rod polishing" fiasco what you find out is that those things are made precisely at a certain diameter and surface finish. Any change and it leaks a little. Now sounds like you have a LOT of leak but regardless, if the sound (pitch, loudness) changes when you wiggle the bolt around then it's likely the ram cartridge.

[Sundown]

Does the sound of the leak change when you pull push on the bolt? The bolt pin is pushed into the Ram which is just a metal shaft that goes into a cartridge with some o-rings in side to seal up the air. If you heard about my "rod polishing" fiasco what you find out is that those things are made precisely at a certain diameter and surface finish. Any change and it leaks a little. Now sounds like you have a LOT of leak but regardless, if the sound (pitch, loudness) changes when you wiggle the bolt around then it's likely the ram cartridge.


Well now that I tried it again, I realize it leaks from almost everywhere. By that I mean behind the bolt and in front where the barrel goes. When I push and pull on the bolt it does change because when I push the bolt in there is a whole where the air leaks out from.
Does not sound to good.

should I try and open it and see if there is some really bad o-ring?

Edit: as for how much of a leak, well it leaks as much as if I would just open the tank and let the air out or pretty close.

[Z-man]

Das bad...

The o-rings that seal up the AKA guns are set so tight in these guns that is you are not slow and gentle in removing and installing the parts you can tear them. I have destroyed about 5 or 6 learning that.

If it sounds like the tank is running full power out the barrel, that certainly seems like there is more than a bite taken out of an o-ring...

You know who knows a lot about those guns besides Steelrat who can be hard to find is that guy Himurax. He's on the AKA Owners group, MCB, PBN, might even be here I don't know but I would be he could tech this.

If you are feeling confident, you could carefully remove everything and check for o-rings with bites or things not properly seated. You got the little took with the 3 prongs and the gauge to check the LPR pressure? Might as well check to make sure the SCM is set to somewhere between 74-60psi.

[Sundown]

Das bad...

The o-rings that seal up the AKA guns are set so tight in these guns that is you are not slow and gentle in removing and installing the parts you can tear them. I have destroyed about 5 or 6 learning that.

If it sounds like the tank is running full power out the barrel, that certainly seems like there is more than a bite taken out of an o-ring...

You know who knows a lot about those guns besides Steelrat who can be hard to find is that guy Himurax. He's on the AKA Owners group, MCB, PBN, might even be here I don't know but I would be he could tech this.

If you are feeling confident, you could carefully remove everything and check for o-rings with bites or things not properly seated. You got the little took with the 3 prongs and the gauge to check the LPR pressure? Might as well check to make sure the SCM is set to somewhere between 74-60psi.

Yeah, I don't feel very confident taking this thing apart :) haha
I contacted the guy who sold it to me since he said he tried it just before shipping and it worked perfectly. And it was packed up well, so I can't see how the shipping could of done this.

But thanks allot :) I will wait for the sellers answer and if nothing good I will contact Himurax over at MCB. I remember reading some of his posts.

Thanks allot man :) :cheers:

I do wish there was a Viking Guru up here in Canada...

[Sundown]

Does the sound of the leak change when you pull push on the bolt? The bolt pin is pushed into the Ram which is just a metal shaft that goes into a cartridge with some o-rings in side to seal up the air. If you heard about my "rod polishing" fiasco what you find out is that those things are made precisely at a certain diameter and surface finish. Any change and it leaks a little. Now sounds like you have a LOT of leak but regardless, if the sound (pitch, loudness) changes when you wiggle the bolt around then it's likely the ram cartridge.

Now that I figured out the problem with my huge leak... I still have a very small one. Like you said, when I push on the bolt the leak sound changes a bit.

I wanted to try and change the o-rings from the bolt, just to see. But I can't even pull the bolt out. I thought I could just pull it back and turn it up the notch and pull it out. But it does not turn up at all.

thanks :)

[Steelrat]

Now that I figured out the problem with my huge leak... I still have a very small one. Like you said, when I push on the bolt the leak sound changes a bit.

I wanted to try and change the o-rings from the bolt, just to see. But I can't even pull the bolt out. I thought I could just pull it back and turn it up the notch and pull it out. But it does not turn up at all.

thanks :)

To remove the bolt, you have to pull the pin straight up, that disengages the bolt from the ram, and then you move it out the back. If you can't pull the pin up, there is a screw in the back of the bolt that holds the pin in the bolt, just loosen it a bit.

Now, the orings on the bolt make zero difference when it comes to leaks. The ones that Z-man mentioned may be causing the link are in the ram cartridge, which is black circle you see on the right tube, as seen from the back of the marker. If the sound of the leak changes as you wiggle the bolt, it indicates a problem with that cartridge. If it didn't change, it'd be more likely it was a problem with the valve.

Try running some oil through it, make sure it's full synthetic, like AKA lube. Don't run the cheap stuff through.

[skyguy]

If you can't tell whether the leak is coming from the valve seals or the ram cartridge, the other easy thing to do is turn the lpr all the way down. If that stops the leak then you know it's not the valve.

[Steelrat]

If you can't tell whether the leak is coming from the valve seals or the ram cartridge, the other easy thing to do is turn the lpr all the way down. If that stops the leak then you know it's not the valve.

But for God's sake, don't do that if you don't have a viking toolkit! You won't be able to reset the lpr correctly.

[Sundown]

But for God's sake, don't do that if you don't have a viking toolkit! You won't be able to reset the lpr correctly.

oh good point thanks.. I do not have one either :)

I will try oiling it again and see.
Not sure of Viking needs oil every time but I did put some the first time I went shooting out back.

Thanks man :cheers:
I'll post updates :)

[Ruler_Mark]

oh good point thanks.. I do not have one either :)

I will try oiling it again and see.
Not sure of Viking needs oil every time but I did put some the first time I went shooting out back.

Thanks man :cheers:
I'll post updates :)


The manual says todo a drop before you play thats all,
http://akaog.org/manuals/04ExcaliburViking.pdf

[skyguy]

You don't really need the lpr set back to any specific pressure. Just chrono it before you turn it down. Take care not to change the HPR setting. You can either confirm or eliminate the hammer cartridge as the culprit. Then you just turn the lpr up til it cycles again, put some paint in it, and keep turning it up til you chrono back to the same velocity it started at. Viola, your lpr should be back to the original pressure give or take a 1/4 turn or less. It's gonna be the easiest way to narrow it down without disassembly, and you definitely don't want to open up the hammer cartridge if you don't have to.

[Sundown]

I guess I might need to do this, since putting oil does not seem to stop the leaking.
So turning down the LPR is by just turning down the LPR reg (Sidewinder) ?
You said not to change the HRP, not even sure how to do this. So what am I not supose to do?

Second part question. So the (hammer/cartridge) is the black circle as seen from the back (the right one).
if I do need to take it apart, how would I and how should I be carefull? Everyone seems to say it is complicated to open. Why is that? and any tricks?

thanks :cheers:

[Steelrat]

I guess I might need to do this, since putting oil does not seem to stop the leaking.
So turning down the LPR is by just turning down the LPR reg (Sidewinder) ?
You said not to change the HRP, not even sure how to do this. So what am I not supose to do?

Second part question. So the (hammer/cartridge) is the black circle as seen from the back (the right one).
if I do need to take it apart, how would I and how should I be carefull? Everyone seems to say it is complicated to open. Why is that? and any tricks?

thanks :cheers:


You are better off sending it to DC.

The lpr on/in the front of the gun. The sidewinder is the HPR. The ram/hammer cartridge is the one on the right. You would need to remove it from the gun, put it in a padded vice, and use a wrench to take it apart. Unless you know what you are doing, it'll probably get damaged.

[Sundown]

You are better off sending it to DC.

The lpr on/in the front of the gun. The sidewinder is the HPR. The ram/hammer cartridge is the one on the right. You would need to remove it from the gun, put it in a padded vice, and use a wrench to take it apart. Unless you know what you are doing, it'll probably get damaged.

Yes, that is probably a very good suggestion, thanks.
Well I'll keep oiling it before playing and see if the leak might get fixed.

Just to bad since the previous owner had it sent to DC for milling and tune-up and he never played with it after.

I'll see how it goes :)

Thanks again

[Ruler_Mark]

the oring might just be seated bad,, if you have a 3 prong wrench just lossen the ram housing a thread and screw it back in

[Steelrat]

the oring might just be seated bad,, if you have a 3 prong wrench just lossen the ram housing a thread and screw it back in

Good point, or even a pinched oring. If you don't put it in right, that's a definite possibility.

[Sundown]

thanks guys :)

Is there a thread somewhere where I can find a ''how to'' take a viking a part?
Not even sure how to even loosen the ram? Do I need to take off the screw that is just beside the black circle behind the marker?

thanks

[skyguy]

this is probly the most detailed how-to.

http://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=854382

edit: Also, I just realized what screw you are talking about and don't take that out. That set screw and all of the smaller set screws around the lower tubes on the back are plugs for lp passages. They never need to come out except for during anodizing.

[Sundown]

Just realized I posted this on MCB but did not even think of posting here.

Anybody know who I could send my 03 viking to have a tune-up?

I am heading back home in 2 weeks and would like to ship this out to have it tuned (fix leak) so I could have it ready for upcoming season :)

[Z-man]

The default location that any AKA guy knows to send it is Jarad of DC

http://destructivecustoms.com/DC/

I sent my Excal over there to have him fix the mistakes I made. Prices on parts, labor and shipping all seemed very reasonable and his turn around time was less than 2 weeks for me. He even put up with me pestering him over and over via email.

Personally if I every actually have a problem with my Excal that I cannot fix I am sending it to him.

[Sundown]

The default location that any AKA guy knows to send it is Jarad of DC

http://destructivecustoms.com/DC/




thanks, for some reason I thought Jared was not taking any ''requests'' for a little while. I guess I was mistaken.

thanks