Its time fellas, under the hood of the Phenom
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: Tippmann Paintball
Forum Name: Marker Gallery
Forum Description: Show us your guns!
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=183456
Printed Date: 27 June 2025 at 9:39am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Its time fellas, under the hood of the Phenom
Posted By: Enos Shenk
Subject: Its time fellas, under the hood of the Phenom
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 6:30pm
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Oh man, christmas came early! The UPS man just made his rounds and stopped outside my house. I certainly wasnt expecting one of these to show up on my step this soon. So it looks I get to show everyone inside Tippmann's new "flex valve" system. Most everyone thats interested has seen the basic field strip in videos and pictures, but nobody was showing the inside of the valve. So some first pics...Unboxed and put together. Initial impressions, its way lighter than the regular X7. Its also much shorter as advertised. In terms of feel, its definately very high on my list of nice milsim type guns. It also seems like Tippmann decided to spiff out a few bits that I wasnt aware needed spiffing. The push pins have a black dust ano job now instead of the glossy ano. Also its worth mentioning the first new stock barrel ever for a non-98 Tippmann. At least Im pretty sure, and thank god. The ancient middle-ported barrel that was stock since the Pro-Am was showing its age. The new stock barrel seems to have a nicer internal bore, and tight grouped porting at the tip. I didnt get any pictures of the reciever halves split open, because honestly theres absolutely nothing in there. The only 2 parts inside the reciever halves is the ball detent and the barrel adapter. Also interestingly, since the design doesnt require smooth sliding surfaces for a rear bolt, the entire inside of the reciever halves is hollowed out for weight reduction.  And field stripped. Not much to say here, it comes apart fast thats for sure. One worry I noticed is the extra "push pin" that retains the valve in place is plastic. A bit odd, considering it has a pretty narrow neck in the middle.  The trigger group is interesting, and a fairly clever layout. In manual mode, the area of the trigger that intersects the safety sinks into a slot cut into the safety. In electro mode, the trigger is sortof "half-stopped" by the safety, so it cant engage the "sear" or whatever the term for the piece on the right is. In mech mode, the top of the trigger lifts the "sear" and that piece in turn presses a simple on/off type valve in the bottom of the main valve. In electro mode, the "sear" is actuated by the solenoid. Pretty standard stuff. Now heres where it gets weird....   I have absolutely no idea how switching the safety to electro mode activates the board...I really really dont. Theres no physical switch on the board except for the mode select button. The board detects the trigger using 2 hall effect switches at the top that detect 2 magnets set in the bottom rear sides of the trigger. Also notice in the trigger picture that the area with the magnets is adjustable in some fashion by a set screw in the trigger. Im not exactly sure what it adjusts, most likely fire sensitivity, because this isnt mentioned at all in the manual. Im already imagining plenty of folks messing with that set screw and throwing the sensitivity out of whack, then getting utterly confused because its not in the manual. I like the fact that they added the plastic frame to the board. Should prevent folks from knocking components off. Also check out the nifty brass internal hardline. Someone must have had fun programming the bender to crank THOSE out... Well here goes with the valve. I like the way they decided to just make the thing completely self contained. Its a bit fun to open up all the way, all that it requires is removing the velocity adjuster, unscrewing the rear housing with a crescent wrench, and everything drops out the back.  Its a bit of an interesting method. From what I can figure, the rear spool (second from left) functions as the on/off on a mag does, shutting the source off once the dump chamber is charged. The main spool (first on the left) plugs the powertube, and works like a balanced spool valve. The trigger valve on the bottom simply adds enough pressure on one side to pull the spool back, opening the dump chamber to the powertube. Also along the way in the firing cycle, at the very end of the bolt extension, a small internal hole is opened, which operates the cyclone feed. Most of the weight of the reciever comes from the brass regulator piston and the velocity adjuster. Theyre both pretty hefty for their size. Its pretty amusing the way they plugged the holes that were used to drill the internal air passages in the valve. And theres a lot of them, someone put some time into thinking of how to physically build this into a self contained unit. Overall Im pretty damn impressed. Im not even sure how to classify it, a blow forward spooler with a sear tripper e-grip that doesnt actually use a sear? Keep an eye on the Replacement Parts Guide thread in Maintenance & Repair, Ill be updating it with hardware and o-ring specs from this thing in the next couple days. ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Hades
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 7:45pm
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I really like how Tippmann eliminated the outer air-line and figured how to run it through the grip. The outer air-lines have always bugged me.
I also love how few moving parts they used to put this marker together. And not having to take the receiver halves apart to work on the internals, much appreciated. I am glad you took yours apart first. Now I do not have to do so and risk breaking it, when I get mine. ------------- 
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Posted By: TinMan
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 8:23pm
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Nice job Enos
I'd love to print that out, roll it up, and hit the "it's a mag copy" guys on the nose.
The push pin has two orings on it. Without the orings the valve will leak.
As far as I can see, the valve will not fire with the pin removed. The balance air will not allow
the valve to operate. I assume so that someone doesn't fire the front bolt into their forehead
while trying to see how it works.
Best question of all... did you shoot it?
It's glorious.
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Enos Shenk wrote:Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 8:47pm
It is a mag copy it is a mag copy!
*Ahem*
The X7 Phenom borrows technology derived from the best marker ever manufactured by man, the AutoMag, as does every high end marker today for the most part
On a serious note, what SN do you have Enos? Tippmann should be mailing mine out soon, so im curious if I get one in the first few hundred. ------------- 
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Posted By: Enos Shenk
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 9:06pm
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#25, its in the first picture :D
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Posted By: Reb Cpl
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 9:15pm
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I'll find out for myself soon, but how does one change firing modes? It was advertised that you no longer had to stick the screwdriver in the grip....what's different?
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Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 9:23pm
I hate you. -------------
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Posted By: sinisterNorth
Date Posted: 30 October 2009 at 9:33pm
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Looks really good. I'm sure I'll be seeing plenty of those at Skirmish. ------------- Pumpker'd; (V.) When a pump player runs up and shoots you at point blank range because you thought 20bps made you good. |
Posted By: choopie911
Date Posted: 31 October 2009 at 4:49pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfRe9Du960 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wfRe9Du960 Select fire |
Posted By: Reb Cpl
Date Posted: 31 October 2009 at 4:52pm
I've seen that vid a few times, must have missed that info. ------------- ? |
Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 01 November 2009 at 10:08pm
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Enos: Where is the Phenom made?
I was extremely dissapointed today in Walmart to see a Chinese made 98.. -------------
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Posted By: Monk
Date Posted: 02 November 2009 at 1:29am
| So essentially it works the same way a balanced valve air cannon works, but with an extremely convoluted trigger mechanism. |
Posted By: Ceesman762
Date Posted: 02 November 2009 at 11:45am
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and still no randon forumer selected for field testing.... ------------- Innocence proves nothing FUAC!!!!! |
Posted By: choopie911
Date Posted: 02 November 2009 at 2:51pm
| Also interesting that their box now says "The most customizable marker in paintball", because as I recall that was the 98 custom's claim to fame. |
Posted By: Mack
Date Posted: 02 November 2009 at 3:55pm
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^^^The 98 is "customizable," this one is "customizabler" and the next one will be the "customizablest."
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Posted By: Ruska
Date Posted: 05 November 2009 at 8:41pm
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So I just got mine! Looks amazing, and I looove the packaging design, very smart and tiny. I'm just curious though about the shroud on the front, my push pins were extremely hard to put in. I dont really see any way I could get these things out now to remove the shroud without some SERIOUS elbow grease and a good pair of pliers. Anyone else like that, or just me? ------------- 
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Posted By: God
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 12:43am
| Mine was really tight as well. At least we dont have to worry about the push-pins falling out. |
Posted By: Ruska
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 2:25am
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Just a little unsure on how I'll remove them now if I want to change it, etc...or put it back in the box. Pliers I guess. Otherwise, holy crap! I see what enos was talking about a few days ago with the trigger feeling electro even when mech because of the delicate touch. Getting a battery tomorrow to go test it out methinks. -------------
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Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 3:38pm
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With consecutive serial numbers like 25, im not so sure Id want to play paintball with it :P -------------
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Posted By: Evil Elvis
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 5:33pm
No but there where Dozens of players who are not with the Moderator Staff that where on the Test Team. I have to say I have never seen such a large test group as with this Marker. There where Markers sent around the world for testing. Tippmann wanted real time input from it's player base from around the world. ------------- 
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Posted By: Evil Elvis
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 5:36pm
take the allen wrench on the rear side and push the Pin out with it. Actually the Push pins are easier to put in and out than on my E-gripped X-7. -------------
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Posted By: Evil Elvis
Date Posted: 06 November 2009 at 5:39pm
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and oh yeah...
the Phenom is Made in the USA!!!  -------------
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Posted By: morkh
Date Posted: 10 November 2009 at 4:38pm
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can you take a picture of the insides of the phenoms cyclone? any improvements over there? |
Posted By: God
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 12:21am
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Here are some pictures of the Phemon's cyclone feed. As you can see below, the paddles have been changed. I haven't had any chops yet.    |
Posted By: morkh
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 1:45am
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thank god :) can you take some shots of the axle, ratchet and other insides as well? are there any improvements? |
Posted By: merc
Date Posted: 13 November 2009 at 6:17am
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when did automags get so bulky?
looks like fun man, thats a newer gun i might consider for my collection... ------------- saving the world, one warship at a time. |
Posted By: Enos Shenk
Date Posted: 16 November 2009 at 8:11am
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The rest of the cyclone doesn't seem to have changed. Still the clear plastic style ratchet. The cylinder is vented, but with less holes than the stock X7.
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Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 16 November 2009 at 8:52pm
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well the Phenom can run at a lower pressure than the rest of the guns right? Maybe there's less venting to accomodate those that want to hook up a regulator.
------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site 
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Posted By: TinMan
Date Posted: 21 November 2009 at 12:12pm
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The Phenom runs perfectly on my Low Pressure tank. It will shoot until the gauge
is at 0 which I'm sure is 100 to 200. The tank gauges are horribly inaccurate.
Using a regulator wouldn't really do anything, it has a regulator in the marker.
I hope to do another shots per tank test tomorrow on video. It's a waste of two bags of paint,
but may be proof to some of the efficiency critics out there.
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Posted By: champion1258
Date Posted: 29 November 2009 at 10:09pm
| im probally getn a x7 phenom for christmas or possibly sooner but does anyone know if tippmann is going to have any other mags??? for the x7 phenom??? |
Posted By: Mack
Date Posted: 29 November 2009 at 11:22pm
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If you mean "mags" as in mil-sim, every one that fits the basic X7 should fit the Phenom.
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Posted By: champion1258
Date Posted: 30 November 2009 at 8:18pm
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thnx ..i like the magazine on the x7 phenom but i want to be able to change it with a m16 ...m4.. or ak 47 style |
Posted By: PaulJ69
Date Posted: 01 December 2009 at 11:43am
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I just got mine Yesterday! S# 1040. The only thing they screwed up on it is the mag well. It should be closer to the trigger. The fact that there is a gap between the trigger guard and the mag well makes it look a little...weak. Does anyone know when they are releasing the different mags? ------------- 
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