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FT-12 problems when cold

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combatzone View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 February 2013 at 5:34am
Hi All,
Just wanted to send in a short post about the FT-12.
Having used a few different markers over the past 13 years for our paintball site, we decided to upgrade 100 markers to the tippmann FT-12.
I will say from the start they are excellent markers. Very accurate and easy to maintain. They do however have a major flaw. When the marker gets cold (generally zero degree and below) and in the UK that is a lot, the bottom o-ring in the grip frame becomes to rigid and does not seal properly. This means the marker leaks very badly. For our business this is not good. 
According to our supplier Tippmann are now aware of this problem. We have been sent about 35 new o-rings which are not effected by the cold, it does however leave us with a further 65 markers that wont work.
I am now in the position that I have had to contact Tippmann USA directly to try are get spare o-rings,. I now await a reply.
So all in all, great markers but make sure if you buy them you get new o-rings if you are in a cold climate.
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tallen702 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 February 2013 at 9:23am
In all fairness, virtually all standard paintball o-rings fail to keep a proper seal when subjected to sub-zero ambient temperatures combined with even colder C02.

As a tech for many years, I can't tell you how many leaking cup seals I've dealt with on cold days with virtually every marker out there (Tippmann being the exception)

Have you tried lubricating the o-ring in the grip with a white-lithium grease? That should help quite a bit with the issue. Also, CO2 is hardly an ideal propellant at low temperatures, using remote lines, anti-siphon tanks, or HPA would prevent the issue completely.
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combatzone View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote combatzone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2013 at 3:55am
We are currently using HPA and not CO2. I understand that o-rings can fail in the cold, but this was a design fault by Tippman. Tippman should not be taking £7500 from customer for markers which do not work in cold conditions. I would not mind if they would send me the new o-rings which they have produced to solve the problem. 
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tallen702 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tallen702 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 February 2013 at 6:02am
That's interesting because I've seen no troubles at all when using HPA on my FT-12 in very cold weather. My guess is that if you're repeatedly mounting and de-mounting the assembly from the o-rings that you'd potentially put wear on them that would cause them to fail more quickly, but without that added factor, I doubt the cold would affect them that much with HPA.

If I were you, I'd contact Tippmann Customer Service by phone directly to get the new o-rings to you faster. I don't know about over in the UK, but stateside, they're extremely responsive to customers who call up and explain their needs.
<Removed overly wide sig. Tsk, you know better.>
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combatzone View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote combatzone Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2013 at 11:24am
Finally got a response for Tippman (many thanks to Paul Banks). This is a problem with the markers and not user error. I have now been send 100 upgrade kits which I will be fitting tomorrow. I will post feedback to see if this has resolved the problem.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Parts Tech Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 March 2013 at 1:03pm
How long have you had the guns?  I know there were a few issues with the first release.  Tippmann figured out the fixes and adjusted their production.  Anyone who had an issue got parts (like you are).  They are on top of these things as fast as they can be.
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The Guy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote The Guy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 March 2013 at 3:19am
This also hasn't been mentioned. But the Marker Gallery is for people to show off pictures of their equipment. The geneal rule is "No pic, no post".
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