FX Wildcat MK3 BT Pellet probe screw sheared off problem

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bowopt

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Jun 14, 2020
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Centra java, Indonesia
Hi,

I have an issue with the Pellet probe screw (the screw that connects the pellet probe to the cocking rod) with my FX wildcat mk3 bt
177 cal at 165 bar with a 12g hammer weight and a 700mm heavy liner. The preload is set to slightly below max (just a quarter or half in after the gun didn't cock).

What I found is that the Pellet probe screw got sheared off 3 or 4 times since I bought with gun. Is this common and is there a remedy to it?

Please share and thanks.
 
bowopt said:
Hi,

I have an issue with the Pellet probe screw (the screw that connects the pellet probe to the cocking rod) with my FX wildcat mk3 bt
177 cal at 165 bar with a 12g hammer weight and a 700mm heavy liner. The preload is set to slightly below max (just a quarter or half in after the gun didn't cock).

What I found is that the Pellet probe screw got sheared off 3 or 4 times since I bought with gun. Is this common and is there a remedy to it?

Please share and thanks.
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Something is amiss to be shearing screws. You could get a grade 8 fastener but that is only a bandaid. I hope you find the root cause.
 
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bowopt said:
Is it stronger than the original screw and fits snugly into the pin probe pin so that I doesn't wobble when the gun is shot?
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That's a different fit up issue. Grade 8 is harder than grade 5 or stainless fasteners. Even if you could shear off a 2.5mm stainless screw something else is really misaligned.
 
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6gun said:
That's a different fit up issue. Grade 8 is harder than grade 5 or stainless fasteners. Even if you could shear off a 2.5mm stainless screw something else is really misaligned.
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I see. I don't know how the size of the screw probe. Do you happen to know the size so I can buy right sized grade 8 screw? Thanks so much.
 
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If it is the screw I am thinking of, it is a proprietary screw. You would have to make one if you wanted to try a harder material. My guess is you have a stronger hammer spring? The Maverick/Wildcat cocking assembly isnt very sturdy, and when you start running super high reg pressures you need to have a high hammer strike. 165Bar is very high if you didnt already know. There have been others that have broken or bent cocking assemblies with stiff hammer springs and high reg settings.

My advice would be to replace the guide rod the screw goes into and a new screw, get a factory spring and lower your reg settings to something more reasonable. The chase for fps has diminishing returns and breaks parts.
 
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I think pushing airguns to their maximum power is a bad idea. My Maverick is putting out 47 fpe at under 110 bar and no where near maxed on the factory hammer spring. I've read about other brands having issues when running them maxed out also . I like a smooth shot cycle and lower noise levels myself . I'm not after anything larger than raccoons though and heavy pellets have been more accurate than the slugs I've tried in mine . It will shoot dimes at 50y with lighter slugs but I can get one ragged hole with pellets with better consistency. Hope get your problem resolved.
 
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Headshots said:
I think pushing airguns to their maximum power is a bad idea. My Maverick is putting out 47 fpe at under 110 bar and no where near maxed on the factory hammer spring. I've read about other brands having issues when running them maxed out also . I like a smooth shot cycle and lower noise levels myself . I'm not after anything larger than raccoons though and heavy pellets have been more accurate than the slugs I've tried in mine . It will shoot dimes at 50y with lighter slugs but I can get one ragged hole with pellets with better consistency. Hope get your problem resolved.
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My buddies 500mm maverick is pushing 50 fpe in 22. Spring increases were less productive than hammer weight. I can't remember the precise weight but I made him a tungsten cored brass hammer weight that is around 15 grams I think.

Proprietary screw. Now I recall it looking like a long set screw with the threads turned off to make it a pin at the front 3/4 of it. It's metric, but i do recall the cocking linkage being loose and in need of a tune in its setup on his maverick too. If you can find the thread pitch and overall length and the straight pin diameter and length, I'm happy to go buy a grade 8 and see if i can turn it for you if we can get the dimensions and you pay postage. I just need the specs to do it. If its the same part number as an impact, I can pull mine to measure.

If you get really lucky and the pin part plays with the drill rod I have I will make one with that and harden it.

Still, if it's the probe screw the fact is it shouldn't be stressed to the point of breakage ever. There's another issue to address.
 
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6gun said:
Btw, machining and modifying airgun parts is my hobby. I just do it an hour and a half at a time before my day job.
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Thank you so much for the offer. I really appreciate your generosity. Unfortunately I live in Indonesia, the postage would be very significant. But your good idea about upgrading the steel material is what I'll try to do with the help of a local machining shop. Although I doubt they can do a good job for this kind of small, precision part because of their tools quality.

I'm running it hot at the moment to push the 24gr, 177 zan slug the fastest that I can do. The air consumption is high and the gun isn't docile. it seems that I would probably have to tune for the 20gr instead. Which packed plenty of fpe. And I probably can bring the reg down to about 140 bar with the 11g hammer weight instead of the 12 gr now. But of course I have to experiment with the exact tune.

I'm glad that you all chipped in on this problem. And @6gun even offered to make one for me. That's a big deal.

Thanks everyone.

Let me try those out after I got back home from a trip and I'll update you.

Bowo
 
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