Cyclone Feed Problems

Setup: Brand new Tippman 98 Platinum Ultra Basic with e-trigger, Hammerhead barrel, cyclone feed with tech t squishy paddles and RAP-4 upgrade package (replaces all plastic internal parts with Al), remote coil and Empire 45/3000 tank.

Update: I fixed the leaky valve. It was either my valve body or the gas line where it meets the valve body; I replaced both and gently snugged it in, now it holds air just fine.

Problem: Cyclone feeder chops 1 ball for every three fired (roughly); usually happens on 3 round burst or full auto, but does rarely happen on semi auto.

Partial solution: I took apart the CF and used a dremel to sand and polish every sharp edge that could possibly come in contact with paintballs; this mitigated some of the breakage but it still happens 1 out of ten on full auto, three round burst. It is definitely chop; there is paint all over the inside of my cyclone, mostly around the exit hole.

Yet to try: The above data is using cheap left over balls from my local field; I don't even know what brand they are, but they seem a bit brittle; I need to try better paint. I ordered a chrono to make sure I'm in the proper velocity range.  I also suspect  that balls may be bouncing out of the breech and back toward the cyclone due to blow back? So I constructed something to prevent balls from bouncing all the way out, and back in the direction of the CF. CF can push balls in, no problem. I have yet to test this, but don't have high hopes.

ACT upgrade package has been ordered, should arrive this week.





Edited by SciFiGuy - 13 May 2014 at 6:48am

Are the breaks occurring in the chamber or barrel? Old paint will be a problem for sure.

I have zero experience with the cyclone but you may end up with this which seems commonplace;

(Votex Mod, Lightning Rod, Squishy Paddles, QEPH)

That will occur with just about any hopper that is near empty.   After looking at your upgrades I would make sure that your aluminum power tube does not extend past the face of the bolt.

Try putting the Tippmann internals (bolt/powertube) back in and see if it behaves differently.  Several people have had performance problems with non-stock internals in their markers.