Here's my regulator tester that's been slightly modified with a much larger gauge
The gauge is easier to read and slightly more accurate than using the standard small gauge.
Regulator testers are essential to check the setting and operation of your regulator
It allows you to see the exact pressure that the regulator is set at and allows you to re set the pressure if you do a calibre change. Having the regulator set at the correct pressure for your setup allows you to maximise the shot count and to make sure that you arent thrashing the regulator to maintain the power of your shots.
The tester also indicates if you have any regulator creep - the regulator might reset to the correct pressure after every shot but the pressure can creep up as its sat between shots - which will have an adverse effect on consistency and ultimately accuracy.
Every rapid owner who tinkers with their rapid should own one 👍
I must confess Daz I don't have one in my rapid kit.
I have worked on just about all makes of springers over a great many years improving the action on them.
Spring work/Piston work/Ratchet beartrap work/top hat and tail work/to name but a few things I have done.
But when it comes to a rapid I have never stripped a block down.
All I have ever done is take out the action in order to clean it from time to time and clean the stock.
I guess I'm going to have to learn and get involved a little more on that side.
I can see how important it is to have a reg tester in my kit like yours so will get one from Dr Bob as and when I need to get one.
Regards Kev.
Well I do have one of Dr Bob's reg tester jewels...
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/air/websize/regtester_1_.jpg)
Rapid is not the only PCP that needs one....
With the inspiration from Dr Bob....
I design one for my Steyr LP50..
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/steyrlp50/websize/steyr1.jpg)
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/steyrlp50/websize/steyr6.jpg)
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/steyrlp50/websize/Steyr4.jpg)
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/steyrlp50/websize/Steyr5.jpg)
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/steyrlp50/websize/steyr7.jpg)
Stuart
Nice work Stuart 👍😎
So you like pcp hand guns Stuart.
Was not aware of that.
Looks a very nice handy piece of kit, is it for target shooting.
I spotted the carbon bottle in there also looks very nice.
And as to Dr Bob he is the one I will purchase my reg tester from.
Regards Kev.
Quote from: KCE on June 02, 2020, 02:39:30 PM
So .........
I spotted the carbon bottle in there also looks very nice.
................
Regards Kev.
Well If you have a Carbon Fiber Tank...
You have to own a Compressor to fill it!!
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/compressor/websize/full.jpg)
She will give me 4500 psi Breathing quality Dry air fills...
Empty 88 cuft tank fill takes 25 min
Top offs tanks about 5 to 10 min
Stuart
Another very nice bit of kit Stuart you have there.
I must admit once this covid is over I will need to strap on a dive bottle and get out in the fields to catch up on lost time.
Regards Kev.
What is the best regulator tester that will operate directly from the buddy bottle without a dive cylinder. I have read that the Best fitting ones. can provide a poor seal and the Lane ones have a poor bleed valve.
I have only ever heard good things about the DrBob Reg testers.
Im not familiar with other brands truth be told.
Drop him a message in his section for advise.
Regards Kev.
Essentially all the other are Knock-offs from Dr Bob's Idea...
The addition of a bleed valve and guage..
This make it complicated.....
If you have a tank...Dr Bob's is the best...
That is why I have Foster's QD on my tank..No hose in between to waste air..
But now I do have a digital gauge on my tank now...
(https://photos.imageevent.com/scl_electronics/gun/air/websize/digital-.jpg)
Stuart
Just a question regarding this subject.
Should I be testing my reg each year or only when I think there may be an underlying problem.
Regards Kev.
I would go as far as to "test"
It is more like check it
I would check it yearly during my normal
Tear down and tune-up I do in the off season!
Make sure it is at the correct cutoff pressure
Good Luck,
Stuart
Kev you can check your reg is operating correctly using 1 12 shot mag.....
Fill your buddy bottle to 200 bar
Fill your mag with 12 pellets
Setup your chrono
Shooting through the chrono-
Fire 3 shots quickly
Fire 3 shots at 1 min intervals
Fire 3 shots at 2 min intervals
Fire 3 shots quickly
Noting all off the chrono results!
All of the shots should be very close to the same velocity over the different time intervals!
If the 1st shot is faster than the other 2 in the first 3 shots - that indicates reg creep
If the shots get faster over the 1 min and 2 min intervals - that also indicates that the reg is creeping up in pressure.
You are looking for a stable 12 shot string
On your Side of the Pond..
Non-FAC airguns....a Chronograph is a neccesary tool to have..
@12 ft-lbs, the is a small margin of error..
But the consequences are severe..
So use of a chrono compliments the reg tester..
So Max power, and consistency are thing to check....
Stuart
Thank you for your advice guys.
A chrono is on my next shopping list.
Regards Kev.
Quote from: nevadacowboy on June 04, 2020, 10:38:56 PM
What is the best regulator tester that will operate directly from the buddy bottle without a dive cylinder. I have read that the Best fitting ones. can provide a poor seal and the Lane ones have a poor bleed valve.
Yes, I have a best fittings one, and it leaked like a sieve. It was machined too big diameter in the bore. This is an extract of an email I sent to Best Fittings:
H
i Sam.
I was hoping a bonded seal would work but alas due to the sizing they won't seal correctly. I have measured the bore of the reg tester and it is dia18.46. The reg sealing face od is dia14 and it uses a 1.73cs o ring. Hence it will never seal as the od of the o ring will be 17.46 hence I am 1mm too small to seal in the reg tester and therefore I believe it is machined too large.
Potentially a 14id x 2.5cs o ring would seal it but I do not have one in my kit of o rings and similarly my local hydraulics shop doesn't have 1.
If you can source a 14id x 2.5 o ring i will try it or alternatively if you have a spare body of the reg tester i can swap the other parts over myself and return the duff one.
Please let me know as I still have a gun I am unable to test.
Thanks.
Joe.They sent me some larger O rings,and now all I do is fit a larger O ring up against the std O ring on the reg then screw it into the tester. It works fine and seals perfectly although not a technically good solution!. Best Fittings wouldnt admit the design was fundamentally flawed! However now it works ok I do like the setup and the ability to use the buddy bottle to charge it.
For reference, I did try to get one from Bob, but he had no stock at the time and I was desperate for the tester. I would trust kit from Bob to be fully tested prior to release.
How long ago was this? I have just ordered a tester from Best fittings, so I hope they have changed the machining spec since you bought yours. I did not go for a Dr Bob testeras I specifically wanted one that would work direct from the buddy bottle.
Quote from: nevadacowboy on June 09, 2020, 10:43:19 PM
How long ago was this? I have just ordered a tester from Best fittings, so I hope they have changed the machining spec since you bought yours. I did not go for a Dr Bob testeras I specifically wanted one that would work direct from the buddy bottle.
September 2018, so should be ok by now...! -with the extra O ring I fit onto the reg before fitting to the tester it seals fine. So worst case you can still use it with no problems, you just need to remember to remove the O ring before refitting the reg back onto the action!