X7 Phenom Chopping

I have heard recently that there have been a very few bolts that are shipped with less than 100% machining on the bolt ends.

I have the same issue with mine - purchased 12/28/09.  I took it to the shop a bought it and the tech there whom is very experienced, could not find any flaws with the marker and gave it back to me (he said all is good).  I took it home and again same issue with no improvement...  I have not been able to play a single game since I purchased it and it is now in transit to Tippmann.  Huge dissapointment to say the least.  Balls break in mech mode and electro alike and all breaks are at the bolt or in the barrel.  I'm fortunate to have 2 very nice back-ups in my A5 and X7 to have not ruined 3 trips out completely.

Edited by CooterShooter - 30 January 2010 at 2:49pm

I had that problem the last game I had, I chopped paint every round which annoyed me, the first time i used it i only chopped a few. Since then I got a Straight Line barrel, so it could be that or bad paint (it did have dents in pretty much every ball). 

After doing a little search some people have had rough ended bolts and not been fully finished on the edges, apparently if you sand it down it helps a lot. (so some people have said) so I have done this and will be testing it this Sunday, if it helps I will let you guys know. 
I'll try get a picture up of my bolt (haven't got a before one but the holes in the middle of the bolts face had quite sharp edges) i'm guessing if it hit the ball hard enough it could of sliced it.

EDIT - seems someone has already said this, sorry. :P

EDIT - This seems to have helped ALOT! Out of 3000+ balls I got 2 breaks.

Edited by monkeytennis - 21 February 2010 at 5:39pm

So...  I just received my Phenom back from Tippmann.  Looks like the fix on this from them is sanding down the bolt as well.  I haven't gotten it out to test yet.  But after hearing some more feedback on the bolt being a issue, I'm guessing that should solve it.  I only wish that I would have been offered that as a suggestion when I called in.  Could have saved the shipping and not having the gun for the past month.

So after getting my Phenom back after being shipped off to Tippmann for a month, and 3 balls fired.  What do think happened???  CHOP!  Unbelievable...  For what I can tell, it looks like Tippmann's finest filed/smoothed down the front bolt to fix the problem.  Only problem is that it didn't work = GARBAGE.  I'm completely baffled on how this could happen.  Certified dealer couldn't fix the issue after 2 chances, and now even Tippmann can't fix the problem.  Absolute B.S. at this point and can't be more dissapointed in Tippmann Customer Service for completely wasting my time and money (had to pay shipping).  After 3 and a 1/2 months since purchase, I still have yet to play a game with my Phenom.  Now I'm just waiting for some genius tech to tell me that I should switch from Evil and Marbs to see if it's the paint...  I will be placing a friendly phone call first thing on Monday and am going look forward to testing the customer service reputation these folks have built their business on.  If I am asked to send it in one more time, this will be my last Tippmann.   There is absolutely no better way to start off a day of paintball than to find out that your marker has come back yet again - unfixed.

Not trying to redirect any frustration toward you Hitman, but my Phenom set-up is listed above.  I'm not bashing Tippmann in this instance.  I am however expecting accountability beyond a set of pro Tippmann Homer Goggles that some may chose to have.  Customer service starts on many different levels, and not only at the point of contact from a dissatisfied party when a problem arrises - see Toyota.  From a world class organization, I would expect proactive measures to address flaws in a particular model or product.  Phenom being the case in point.  If you don't believe or understand this - see X7OG.com.  Under the Phenom threads you will find that there a great many of us whom are experiencing the same difficulties.  I have also just learned that the Flatline barrels do not match up with the Phenom and are creating breaks as well.  It is dissapointing that there has been nothing said about this and unknowing consumers like myself will continue to purchase Flatlines and will suffer the same frustrations as many others have.  Again, proactively addressing these issues would earn even more respect while also saving some face to the very loyal customer base that exists.  It is 100 times harder to gain confidence than it is to lose it.  I love my A5 and I love my X7.  I'm hoping that I will say as much about my Phenom some day... You can talk about how fantastic Tippmann customer service is all day until you are blue in the face.  If you hear a dog barking behind you.  Are you going to wait until it bites you in the ass before you turn around?

Help would be appreciated!

I have not seen any yet, If i come across one i will post it here. Glad to hear you fixed ur gun! I Switched to RPS Premium after grinding my bolt. And i Have shot 10 cases though it and have not had one break!

CooterShooter wrote: Not trying to redirect any frustration toward you Hitman, but my Phenom set-up is listed above.  I'm not bashing Tippmann in this instance.  I am however expecting accountability beyond a set of pro Tippmann Homer Goggles that some may chose to have.  Customer service starts on many different levels, and not only at the point of contact from a dissatisfied party when a problem arrises - see Toyota.  From a world class organization, I would expect proactive measures to address flaws in a particular model or product.  Phenom being the case in point.  If you don't believe or understand this - see X7OG.com.  Under the Phenom threads you will find that there a great many of us whom are experiencing the same difficulties.  I have also just learned that the Flatline barrels do not match up with the Phenom and are creating breaks as well.  It is dissapointing that there has been nothing said about this and unknowing consumers like myself will continue to purchase Flatlines and will suffer the same frustrations as many others have.  Again, proactively addressing these issues would earn even more respect while also saving some face to the very loyal customer base that exists.  It is 100 times harder to gain confidence than it is to lose it.  I love my A5 and I love my X7.  I'm hoping that I will say as much about my Phenom some day... You can talk about how fantastic Tippmann customer service is all day until you are blue in the face.  If you hear a dog barking behind you.  Are you going to wait until it bites you in the ass before you turn around?

Hay Dude,

Hey guys. Good to hear that someone else is having the same troubles. I have sent my Phenom back to Tippmann 3 times now. They are amazingly fast and seem to be all about helping their customers, but have not been able to fix my ball breaking problems. The 3rd time, I insisted that they replace the gun with another. (I knew SOMETHING was wrong with my gun because my buddy has an identical setup and we shot the same paint side by side, mine broke 1 out of 20 balls and his broke none) I just shot it tonight. MUCH better. I shot almost a whole bag of 500 Spectrum paintballs and broke 10. Not bad, but still enough to leave you cleaning your barrell while the guy with the 98 custom snipes you off with his flatline. So I have not taken it apart to check the bolt yet but am incouraged to hear that this has been a solution for so many of you. I also plan to "pretend I'm a paintball" and check the entire path for burrs/sandable roughies.

Edited by Binga - 30 January 2011 at 10:43am