• the Daily hi thread just say hi :)
  • please everyone if you have a question and get given a possibe solution if it works please update your thread as it may help others.

FX Wildcat Mk 3 leaking

Just another thought...should I be concerned that the new valve assembly obtained from Bagnall & Kirkwood will not fit into my rifle? I don't know whether this is a genuine FX part or not but is this unusual and should I be concerned about it?
 
Jimiles said:
Just another thought...should I be concerned that the new valve assembly obtained from Bagnall & Kirkwood will not fit into my rifle? I don't know whether this is a genuine FX part or not but is this unusual and should I be concerned about it?
Click to expand...
Just return it. It clearly ain't the right part.

Sportsmangun Center are the UK importer for FX.
FX Widcat Mk3 service Kit

Is yours a UK import as FAC or one that has been FACed after import? Speak to SGC and make sure you get the right kit fr your gun, if yu need it.
 
Last edited:
Jimiles said:
I can't pretend that I understand it all
Click to expand...
20230907_092248.webp
For air (grey arrows) to come out of the centre of 87 it has to go past 87.1. For that to happen either 87 or 84 is damaged, eg scratched and this can be very fine for plenum pressure air to escape) or the seal 87.1 is damaged.

20230907_092255.webp
Pink is the block. 87 has to seal in the block, I'm assuming that 86 is the seal. If air is leaking at the sides of 87/block (grey arrows) then either the seal 86 has failed or 87 /block is damaged at the sealing face.

As I said I don't have a Wildcat so I am assuming how the parts create an airtight seal, you need to check my guess of the parts against the real thing. Look at how the parts are meant to create the airtight chamber, couple that with where the air is appearing and that will identify the leak point.

This amazing piece of graphic art is showing what I think the air tight space looks like. Pink is the block, blue hatching is the reg pressure air.
20230907_094340.webp
 
Thanks Ratman. I'm not confident working on air guns and my initial thought was to send it back to SGC but, with it being FAC, transfer costs alone will be prohibitive. Deejayuu convinced me that I should be able to tackle this myself and that's what I'm still hoping to do, however, if it seems that I have to go any deeper than the valve seals it will be going back to SGC!
 
Just wanted to chime in on this since I have struggled with this exact problem and solutions as the OP.
My WC MK3 had a leak from the location marked with the green arrow from OP's pic. Replacing all the o-rings did not solve the problem and could only get the leak to stop if I had a reg pressure of around 150bar. This lead me to think it was the valve stem or valve seat and ordered a new replacement from B&K. They didn't have the FAC in stock, but on the product page there is a small note that the SHP version just needs to be "cut" down to fit. Sanded the back of the stem to ~5.6mm...worked, but still leaked. Went on with just having the rear reg at 150bar until I wanted to shoot at lower pressures. Came across this post and although it didn't solve your issue, adding a second o-ring, part 87.1, in the assembly worked for me! I think your on the right track with solving the issue. If it's not the 87.1 o-ring, start looking at the valve stem/seat. Also, you can tell the difference between the two stems...where the hammer hits, it's slightly longer/beefyer than the FAC. I struggled with this for over a year, so just want to say thanks to the OP and the forum!
 
Thank you contracks! It certainly does seem that I have the same issue as yourself. As things stand it appears that the valve is most likely at fault. I obtained a new replacement valve from Bagnall & Kirkwood but for some bizarre reason it would not fit into my rifle and has been returned to the supplier. They intend to measure the valve supplied to establish whether the fault is indeed with their valve or my rifle, however I understand there is now going to be a delay at Bagnall & Kirkwood's end so it will be another week or so before I can update this thread.
 
I made bagnall aware of the issue with valves month ago you must have got the one I sent back was to thick to go in
 
@Fac Now that is interesting! They told me that they had sold more than 50 valves this year and that they were not aware of issues with any sold. Did you by any chance make a note of the dimensions of the valve that you returned to them? These are the measurements of the two valves I have...


                                           My original valve                New replacement valve

The diameter of the front portion of the valve 3.47mm 3.56mm

The diameter of the large delrin portion 7.54mm 7.85mm
 
Just measure a spare I have here which I gave up on after getting 3 it's 3.68 front and delrin 7.93 I even went into shop and measured them all and everyone was different
 
To be fare if you ever ring them ask for young Richard he OK and helpful the other lads just tell you owt he more clued up
 
Thanks for doing that Fac. Seems there is a bit of variation with these 'precision' items!
Unfortunately the layout of my measurements changed after I posted my response and so making it a little difficult to understand.

It should read that my valve measured front; 3.47mm and delrin; 7.54mm.
B&K's new replacement valve measures front; 3.65mm and delrin; 7.85mm.

I agree with you regarding Richard, he comes across as being extremely helpful. Unfortunately it is Richard's unavoidable absence for a week or so which is slowing everything down. I am surprised though that he did not mention you having an issue with the valves, especially as you went into the shop and actually measured them!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fac
So perhaps the valve & valve seat should be supplied as matched pairs to guarantee a perfect fit. I'm obviously going to have to await B&K's response but it does seem to me that something is seriously amiss if FX are supplying valves which are simply too thick to fit into a rifle!
 
Yep I took block in and showed them the valve wudnt even go down hole don't think the fx valve inspector was at work the day my lot were made
 
@sagalout I'm thinking perhaps to wait until Richard at B&K comes back with his opinion on the valve. He has promised to measure and compare mine with the rest of his stock. He did say that if he thought there was an issue he would be contacting FX directly.
 
Progress at last! Richard got back to me as promised and basically confirms that there is a considerable variation in the dimensions of the valve pins. He also confirms that Fac did indeed make him aware of this issue some months ago and that he reported the matter back to FX...or at least to SGC. He has also measured the new valve pins he currently has in stock and tells me that the large delrin portion on one of the valve pins has a diameter of 8.06mm - the same point on my original valve measures only 7.54mm. I am no engineer but a variation of half a millimetre seems a lot to me.
Anyway, he sent me a new valve pin which I've now fitted to my rifle. Put a balloon over the muzzle and connected up the compressor.
There is no air leaking from the muzzle nor is any air leaking through the valve cap hole (marked by the green arrow) so that's a result.
However, air still leaks from that annoying point between the cylinder adaptor, the valve housing and the block itself...as shown by the red arrow.
I have replaced the valve housing cap, the valve pin and I have replaced the three relevant o-rings several times. It appears to me that the only item left to replace now is the cylinder adaptor...
 

Attachments

  • 297441-719654e7b9717dc1ebc3aadce1416d23.webp
    297441-719654e7b9717dc1ebc3aadce1416d23.webp
    5.3 KB · Views: 10
  • Like
Reactions: Fac
I was thinking of getting a FX but from all the problems i seem to be hearing i now have second thoughts of getting one (y)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top