Tuning Orcair Digital Gauge

[scottg0814]

I recently installed one of the Orcair gauges on my FX Maverick at the 2nd reg. Something is very slow, either my gun or the gauge. After a shot the pressure on the gauge will drop about 8 bar. It takes literally 10 minutes before the gauge gets back to full pressure. The gun shoots consistent velocity ( various 16 shot strings with a spread <20). Do I have a slow gauge? Velocity seems consistent so would it be something with my regs? I still have time to return the gauge but do I try another Orcair or do I spend over twice as much for the Sekmet?

 

[bigHUN]

If using tiny orings you can pinch the oring into the transfer hole?

 

[HogKiller]

I recently installed one of the Orcair gauges on my FX Maverick at the 2nd reg. Something is very slow, either my gun or the gauge. After a shot the pressure on the gauge will drop about 8 bar. It takes literally 10 minutes before the gauge gets back to full pressure. The gun shoots consistent velocity ( various 16 shot strings with a spread <20). Do I have a slow gauge? Velocity seems consistent so would it be something with my regs? I still have time to return the gauge but do I try another Orcair or do I spend over twice as much for the Sekmet?

I have two Oracars, one I paid a small fortune for and one from Amazon for a fraction of the price, both work fine, check your o-rings, I used a TINY bit of silicon oil on the bottom of the gauge to make sure the o-ring didn’t get messed up.

 

[scottg0814]

I'll pull the gauge and take a look at the orings tomorrow. Everything looked in place when I installed the gauge. It's installed hand tight.

If using tiny orings you can pinch the oring into the transfer hole?

The gauge did not come with orings and no orings came out with the stock gauge. I'll pay closer attention when I pull the gauge.

If the orings are good and reseating the gauge with a touch of silicon oil doesn't help then I'll return this one for a replacement.

Thanks guys!!

 

[sb327]

If the pressure on gauge drops quickly and rises slowly, it’s probably not the guage.

Dave

 

[scottg0814]

If the pressure on gauge drops quickly and rises slowly, it’s probably not the guage.

That def makes sense. The pressure does indeed drop quickly but was rising slowly.

I removed the gauge, the oring was fine, put a tiny bit of silicone oil on the bottom of the gauge and re-installed. Now after a shot the pressure only drops about 2-3bar and the pressure much, much better than it was. May have to chalk this one up to a reseat.... IDK but I'm happy with it!!
Appreciate the responses!!

 

[scottg0814]

The original slow gauge response issue returned. I tried a 2nd gauge but it acted the same. So, I reached out to FX about the issue. FX techs suggest a new regulator piston. @nervoustrig pointed out a potential issue with the piston a while back, offline from the forums. FX offered to send a new brass piston under warranty. If the piston does not help, they suggest the rifle be sent it for service.

 

[tnx206]

Hi, just received mine from Amazon. Installed the battery face up looking down at the face but it wouldn’t power on. Does it have to be install on the gun too in order to power on? Thanks for any help.

 

[Scotty1]

It doesn’t need to be on the gun to power on. I can’t recall the battery orientation, but maybe flip the battery and try it, and if the battery is known to be good and it doesn’t work, send it back.

 

[tnx206]

I tried flipping the battery upside down but it wouldn’t fit or go all the way in. I ordered 2 and sadly both won’t power on. The batteries are seal/new.

 

[Scotty1]

Try really pushing, the contacts may be tighter than you think. What’s the worst that can happen? It’s a pretty snug fit if I recall.

 

[bigHUN]

What I would really like to see a thinner head, these sticking out way too much from the base.

 

[tnx206]

I’m returning them.

 

[HogKiller]

I'll pull the gauge and take a look at the orings tomorrow. Everything looked in place when I installed the gauge. It's installed hand tight.

The gauge did not come with orings and no orings came out with the stock gauge. I'll pay closer attention when I pull the gauge.

If the orings are good and reseating the gauge with a touch of silicon oil doesn't help then I'll return this one for a replacement.

Thanks guys!!

The X-rings are at the bottom of the hole and hard to see without good lighting. Be careful with them, they are a rare item as far as I can tell. Having a hard time finding some spares. One dealer, who shall remain nameless because they advertise here didn't have a clue what they were.

 

[HogKiller]

The original slow gauge response issue returned. I tried a 2nd gauge but it acted the same. So, I reached out to FX about the issue. FX techs suggest a new regulator piston. @nervoustrig pointed out a potential issue with the piston a while back, offline from the forums. FX offered to send a new brass piston under warranty. If the piston does not help, they suggest the rifle be sent it for service.

That is what they call Customer Service, something some dealers in SOCAL could learn about.

 

[HogKiller]

I recently installed one of the Orcair gauges on my FX Maverick at the 2nd reg. Something is very slow, either my gun or the gauge. After a shot the pressure on the gauge will drop about 8 bar. It takes literally 10 minutes before the gauge gets back to full pressure. The gun shoots consistent velocity ( various 16 shot strings with a spread <20). Do I have a slow gauge? Velocity seems consistent so would it be something with my regs? I still have time to return the gauge but do I try another Orcair or do I spend over twice as much for the Sekmet?

They are interesting, they can be slow to react if they are just firing up, once they get going they work fine, I had a branded one from a SOCAL dealer just go out on me so bought two more from Amazon. Your spread is an issue of your 2nd reg pressure and your hammer spring adjustment, I'm getting 1.5 out of both my .25 and .22. 106 bar and set the over all length of the HSA to 19.3mm per FX, you can change from there as needed.. Be sure to tighten the set screw firmly on the Hammer spring adjustment, they do come lose or apply a bit of locktite, which I don't do.

 

[athlon_oved]

I love mine. I've had them since Nov 2021 on my m3. I bought 6 of them on Amazon at that time. The batteries last forever. I like the fact that you don't have to charge them.
The only thing I love more is My fx pocket chronograph

 

[scottg0814]

set the over all length of the HSA to 19.3mm

@HogKiller Thanks for your advice and input!! Can you show / explain exactly how you measure this? I get the impression that this is done several different ways depending on the individual. I asked FX how they measure this and they said they measure how far the 1.5mm tool actually inserts into the "Adjust" hole on the wheel. On my Mav, 19mm means the screw has to be turned as far as it will go in the clockwise direction in order for the tool to go in 19mm. This doesn't make sense to me!! I would rather remove the HSA adjuster and measure the overall length so I can adjust the screw accordingly. Does anyone do it this way?

BTW, the new brass piston seems to have helped some. I feel the 2nd reg pressure does come back to pressure quicker but still slow based on my expectations.... but here lies the problem. I "expect" that the pressure would restore almost immediately but I don't know if that's true and I have nothing to compare it to. I've replaced the Orcair gauge with a Sekhmet gauge and compared both. The Sekhmet gauge is quicker.

Very tempted to send the rifle back to FX for a tune up over the winter since I won't be able to shoot it anyway.

 

[HogKiller]

Honestly I don't have a clue how some do it. I know that Steve just measures turns, to me that's silly, you can't repeat to zero if you get too wild. The pressure takes a little time, more pressure on #1 equals a faster fill rate but I like going a bit slower anyway, you can shoot and watch your #2 gage change to get a sense of the timing. I'm reading reports of failures of the Sekhmet's so personally I'm good with cheap failures,

Ok, assuming you have some dial calipers, if not, Harbor Freight is your friend. Pull off the Wheel, being careful NOT to drop that 3mm ball, work over a large fluffy white towel, hint order a bunch from Amazon, damn things try to escape. pull out the HSA, measure across the body and the adjusting screw to 19.3mm (I wind up between 19.52 and 20.57. Make sure the set screw is snug, there is a Delron plug in there to allow the set screw to turn.

Reassemble. I stand the gun on the barrel, put a tiny dab of grease on the little hole with the spring that the 3mm ball sits in/on and while balancing the whole mess carefully insert the long screw and adjustor, once you get the screw started you can carefully push the knob down to stop that damn ball bearing from trying to escape, then snug the screw down. Now you have a FIXED setting to work with. I like to turn mine to #5 and makes the regulator settings easier. Front reg should be 140ish not a deal breaker, FX says a 20 - 50bar differential, the higher you go, the faster the refill rate, the rear one start about 70 and work up to your desired FPS and consistency for POI. When you are close you can make small adjustments to the HSA, when done...I take it apart again and measure with the calipers. That nonsense about 1/4 turn from factory IMHO doesn't mean squat, who knows how they set it.

Oh you may wish to put a touch of silicon oil on the hammer as you have it apart, that's just me. On one of mine it was badly galled on the inside, had to disassemble the whole thing, tons of fun but learned something.

The Maverick only likes to go so much on the 2nd reg. on heavier pellets then you have to switch to the slug side, I'm still messing with that one.

Disclaimer, I'm still refining my tunes but I'm certain this will get you in the ball park. I run lighter pellets, 16 to 18 gr on the .22. heavier on the .25, about 25gr.

Enjoy if you need anymore confusion I'm here If you need me to double check something on one of mine I can.

Ken

 

[scottg0814]

Hey Ken, OK This is helpful. I've taken the hammer out a couple times as I have the slug power kit and have switched back and forth from power kit to factory a couple time while experimenting. I always leave the probe from the power kit installed. Currently, the slug power kit is installed.

Measuring across the HSA has always seemed like the most logical method. I do have a digital caliper so I'll adjust mine to the 19.3mm first thing. My regs now are roughly 130 / 100.
I ordered extra 3mm ball bearings just in case that little sucker wonders off when I'm not paying attention.
I mostly shoot .25 cal with the 700mm barrel. Once I truly get a hang of tuning, I have the option(s) to switch to a 500mm .25 caliber as well as a 600mm in .22.
Right now, my goal is to find a tune to consistently shoot the JSB 34gn and then, ideally, move the power wheel and have a tune suitable for the JSB 25gn