X7 Phenom Chopping
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: Paintball Equipment
Forum Name: Gun Maintenace and Repair
Forum Description: Important info for keeping your marker in top shape
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=184337
Printed Date: 22 December 2024 at 9:15pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: X7 Phenom Chopping
Posted By: bolt148
Subject: X7 Phenom Chopping
Date Posted: 25 January 2010 at 1:48pm
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I used my phenom for the first time on Saturday, but was a little surprised that it was chopping paint. I heard that the phenom almost never chops, but mine chopped quite a bit. Does anyone know why? Details: -Fresh Draxxus Blaze Paint -Balls popping in the breach, not cyclone -Lapco bigshot barrel, and stock barrel -65 to 70 degree weather -Pops in electronic mode -269 FPS Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: Wamba
Date Posted: 27 January 2010 at 6:09pm
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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 would pull the bolt, and closely inspect the forward portion for any burrs or metal shavings. If no problems are found, I would check the feed area next. Even a small cut in a PB will weaken the shell enough to pop it with normal bolt pressure during firing.
Lastly, pretend you are a paintball and climb from hopper all the way through to the barrel connection point, feeling for any sharp "leftovers" that may have been missed.
I've known 2 Phenoms that have done this, and it was fixed by removing small burrs from the bolt end.
Of course, Tippmann customer service is top-notch. Send it in for diagnosis.  ------------- 
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Posted By: bolt148
Date Posted: 28 January 2010 at 1:09pm
Thanks for responding! Thats kind of what I figured was the issue, and I checked the bolt and the cyclone. I didnt find anything, but i will take a closer look before I use it again this weekend. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. I guess this is a tough topic because I haven't received hardly any responses! And Im not new to paintball  Update: Does Anyone know if replacement bolts are available for the Phenom? The front end of my bolt is pretty rough. |
Posted By: CooterShooter
Date Posted: 30 January 2010 at 2:45pm
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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. * I shoot evil or Marbs and have run both through the marker - same result
* I have changed barrels from stock to 16" CP, Flatline (has worked flawlessly on X7 for over a year), and 20" JJ Ceramic - same result
* Velocity has been under 290 at all times and I have switched cyclones from my X7 as well as A5 - same result.
* C02 or compressed - same result
I have no visible flaws to any of the components or internals on mine however. I'm confident that Tippmann will get it fixed, but just want to be sure that others that may have this issue can know that it is NOT an isolated issue.
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Posted By: bolt148
Date Posted: 30 January 2010 at 6:29pm
| Well its good to hear that I'm not the only one! I will be interested to hear what TIppmann says, I am still waiting for them to call me back! |
Posted By: monkeytennis
Date Posted: 18 February 2010 at 9:53pm
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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. |
Posted By: bolt148
Date Posted: 23 February 2010 at 12:15pm
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I called Tippmann and had them send me a new bolt. Ironically enough, the bolt that they sent me was worse than the one that is installed on my marker! So I did a little test. I pulled out the old bolt and unwrapped the new one. I took a piece of toilet paper and draped it over my hand. I then took the original bolt and pressed it against the toilet paper, and I slowly rotated it. Immediately the bolt cut through the toilet paper. I conducted the same test with the new one, and it tore a hole right through it! So to make a long story short, I sanded down the bolt with some fine grade sand paper and conducted the test again. This time, it took me applying excessive force on the bolt, to tear the paper. Much better! So if anyone is having this issue, don't go to Tippmann. I had to wait like three weeks, when all you have to do is sand down the bolt very carefully (5 minutes). I have been a Tippmann owner for a long time, and it saddens me to see that they are using such shoddy machining. It also makes me wonder when they claim to test fire every weapons before they send it out. It would seem that this is not true, otherwise they would have caught these issues right away. |
Posted By: CooterShooter
Date Posted: 26 February 2010 at 9:43pm
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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. |
Posted By: Hitman209
Date Posted: 04 March 2010 at 7:59pm
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I had the same problem. In the center of my bolt there was a sharp point. I took a paintball and pushed it against the bolt, and sure enough it dimpled my paintball. I took a dremmel tool and took the point off along with all the burs. now it is smooth as silk. I have not had a break since. ------------- Wipers are Cheaters! |
Posted By: CooterShooter
Date Posted: 14 March 2010 at 12:12pm
| 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. |
Posted By: Hitman209
Date Posted: 15 March 2010 at 12:43am
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When you send a gun into tippmann they dont just change parts and send it back, they test it. I am sure that it worked fine over there or they would not have sent it back. Honestly dude, I dont think its right that you sit here and bash tippmann, and there costomer service. They stand by there products. Why dont you try some different paint... whats ur bore size? what size is your paint? Evil is very soft. and are you sure that its chopping? or are you having barrel breaks? Something that you are doing is wrong. how cold is it over there? brittle paint and cold air dont mix. switch paint and see what happends... I use a mid grade paint with my phenom, and i have my gun shooing 20-25 balls a second. and have never had paint in my barrel, and I have shot 10 cases through it. take off your bolt and rub you finger on the bolt. is it rough? if it is then thats the problem. what is your setup? maybe i can help you... but bottom line is that the phenom is a great gun, and once you figure out the problem you are going to have a blash with this gun! Tippmann Phenom
.689 14" custom products barrel
Apex tip
Ar-15 vented shroud
Butt Stock
------------- Wipers are Cheaters! |
Posted By: CooterShooter
Date Posted: 15 March 2010 at 9:31pm
| 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? |
Posted By: Hitman209
Date Posted: 15 March 2010 at 10:44pm
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I hear you... I was the one on that website informing all about the flatline, because i too bought the flatline and learned the hard way that it does not work with the flex valve system. I had contacted tippmann directly and they told me that they were working on the problem. The moment i took my flatline off the barrel breaks stopped. I got tired of waiting so I sold the flattline barrel and got the apex barrel system. I wish you luck in getting your gun working. After getting all the bugs out... it has been my best tippmann yet ------------- Wipers are Cheaters! |
Posted By: slim and shady
Date Posted: 22 March 2010 at 9:31pm
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Help would be appreciated!
I used my phenom this weekend, it was 10* above freezing, paint was new and keept at room temperature (draxxus rec sport) Marker was chronoed to 275 using HPA all day and chopped 1 out of every 10 balls at best sometimes every 4 or 5. Tried different paint (3 different kinds in total including frostbite) yeilded no better resaults. Marker was cleaned and re lubed before I would try each new kind of paint.
I sanded the front of the bolt and that helped alot I only chopped about 1 in every 75-100 balls after that. The balls would go through the barrel with very little effort to blow them through so bore size I think is out. There was little to no paint that would go into the cyclone. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to tame the chopping?
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Posted By: callmepainter
Date Posted: 12 April 2010 at 12:33am
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Yeah good to hear I'm not alone. What a dissapointment!!! Bought mine 2 weeks ago. I changed to Squishy paddles in feeder and even bought a new barrel. Found out after the 9th time of cleaning my marker full of paint that it was the front face of the bolt that kept breaking the balls. I found small burrs of aluminum on the front edges and face. Since that piece never comes in contact with anything metal and it's brand new, it could not have occurred during usage. Sure enough it breaks about every 10-15 shots. I was going crazy! Lost faith in having tippmann provide me with one and I shouldn't have to dremel a $500 marker. Ridiculous! Are there any good after market bolts for the X7?
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Posted By: Hitman209
Date Posted: 12 April 2010 at 11:55am
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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! ------------- Wipers are Cheaters! |
Posted By: Enos Shenk
Date Posted: 26 April 2010 at 6:13pm
I contacted Tippmann regarding the rough X7 bolt faces. Here's what they had to say:
If you're having success after smoothing the bolt yourself, stick with it. But if it continues it sounds like Tippmann has a fix available. ------------- 
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Although, we have only a few complaints come through regarding ball breakage on the Phenom, wePosted By: TK7873
Date Posted: 02 January 2011 at 5:18pm
Have you got your marker sorted yet?
Im new to PB and got a phenom, there are a few tips that I can give that I have done:
Remove and clean the bolt and power tube, I noticed alot of flashing that haddent been removed from the main casings, on the bolt file the edges of the cutouts on the front of the bolt to make them smooth, clean the cyclone feed plug also, cleand the hole that it plugs into on the power tube this was full of flash, I also smoothed off the sharp edges of the bolt spring (just me being anal) clean the gas line as well, lightly re lube and put back together.
Turn up the velocity and give it a go using a full tank (HPA 300 Bar) and watch the cyclone to see if it is feeding / working
Keep us posted
Daz
If its still chopping try resetting the board back to factory ------------- Enjoy life as much as you can |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 02 January 2011 at 5:31pm
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year old topic... ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site 
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Posted By: Binga
Date Posted: 29 January 2011 at 9:25pm
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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. Here are my questions:
If I see paint in my cyclone, does that mean that the cyclone is chopping or could it be blowback from the breach?
Also: Has anyone used squishy paddles (it makes sense to me) and are they an improvement?
Also: What IS the best paint? What paint does the Tippmann techs use? (because they told me that they ran 3 hoppers through it trying to get a break, it must be some really good paint)
Thanks! ------------- Binga |
Posted By: TK7873
Date Posted: 30 January 2011 at 12:00pm
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Hi,
I'm using squishy paddels, I have upgraded all my stock parts in the cyclone much better.
Hving problems at the mo with the balls jamming against the metal arm in the cylone, time for another strip down. Thinking of getting another feed system as the cyclone has its problems but, wil stick with it for the mo.
Daz ------------- Enjoy life as much as you can |
Posted By: estabillo18
Date Posted: 17 April 2011 at 3:52pm
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Hello Guys I Read All the things that you guys talked about and brought up and I\m kinda nervous to buy a Tippmann X7 Phenom now after seeing this, Which one should I buy? Tippmann 98 Custom Pro Platinum Tippmann A-5 Tippmann X7 Proto Rail 2011 Which one will not have the most problems and will Fit in Woodsball and Speedball? Please, Any advice or Help would be appreciated!! |
Posted By: Yogi
Date Posted: 19 May 2011 at 9:02am
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Hi folks, here is a X7P customer from Germany. A couple of weeks I had my first BigGame in Poland where you can play in full automatic mode. ( in Germany it isn´t allowed ) What should I tell you ... I had a ball break every 30-40 shots ! Locally was an experienced Tippmann technician who has tried to fix the problem. We changed the whole Flex-Valve system and he still tinkered around with some parts. At this time I already used the squishy paddles, and even the Techt MRT Bolt !! The technician said that the squishy paddle is not really intended for the X7 Phenom and I should first build back all parts to the original one. Of course, I had not all parts in place. Now I have everything dismantled. Tonight I'm going to check the edges of the standard bold. Perhaps there is indeed a cause. But slowly I am afraid that the purchasing decision for the X7P was a mistake! And I not really want to accept the statement about the paint ! Finally, you have to play the paint is offered in the field and the other guys also do not have these problems with it. |
Posted By: TK7873
Date Posted: 19 May 2011 at 2:09pm
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The TechT bolt is longer than the standard bolt, this can cause feeding problems, go back to your standard bolt and make sure there are no burrs on the tip. ------------- Enjoy life as much as you can |
Posted By: Yogi
Date Posted: 21 May 2011 at 1:17pm
| Thanks for the note, I have found a sharp edge and ground off. I'll have to test in the field when I play again. |
Posted By: Yogi
Date Posted: 14 June 2011 at 8:34am
Still the same problem! I think now it may have nothing to do with sharp edges. It seems to me rather as if the CyclonFeed-system is not "fast enough" or completely get the balls into the loading chamber before the bolt travels forward! I will send in now my X7P and hope the technician can resolve the issues . 
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Posted By: dangerclose
Date Posted: 19 June 2011 at 2:06pm
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Hi well i just got my phenom 2 weeks ago and all i have to say is this i will never again buy a tippman product it breaks paint ! ok i know what you going to say , did you try this and that new paint, the bolt,new paddels yes i did try everthing and more. now it still breaks paint all i can do now is try to sell it as a used marker but i feel bad for trying to sell pice of junk to other paintball palyer oh and yes its not just my marker my friend got one at the same time and guess what ... its just as bad ive been playing paintball for 4 years and i did try many markers in my time i do have 98 custom a5 and few others non tippman markers and the tippmann products always i mean every singel one of them have some sort of a problem wich yas you can fix after spending some money on after market part but why should you ? my advice for phenom owners try to get your money back and dont ever buy tippman again |
Posted By: Yogi
Date Posted: 27 June 2011 at 6:32am
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I can understand your frustration ! I see the same way! Why should I buy any paddles or make other modifications to achieve just what the marker should be made available from the factory!? I sent the marker back to the technicians of the shop where I bought it. The technician told me, that he also had the suspicion that the ball is choped because of to low pressure at the cyclone feed. He now has increased the controlpressure of the CF a little bit. He said if that does not help he would need to check my HP system if the regulator always deliver a constant pressure. I have an old 200 bar HP system, so i will change my actually 300 HP System ( Ninja Regulator) on the next matchday if my X7P still chop the paintballs . If the problem persists, then it seems to be a problem in the Tippmann technology of the X7P ! But, others have no problems with the X7P so I hope that the problem is solvable. Fingers crossed....  |
Posted By: Yogi
Date Posted: 27 June 2011 at 8:17am
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Hey guys, I found a nice Video about a "Cyclon Feed Chopping" analyses which sounds a little bit like my own story ! PART1 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n-SKeRGgDI PART2 = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLCymT8lrdc It seems to me, that in some marker settings such things like a Tech-Bolt and/or "Cyclon Feed Tuning parts" like "Squeeze paddle" can cause more problems instead of fix them ! Like an overrotating of the paddles ! So my personal opinion is, don´t put your hands on this parts ! Ok my problem goes one step futher at the moment. I still have the problem with stock parts... To be continued |
Posted By: thenewday007
Date Posted: 23 September 2011 at 1:33am
| -wow-spam-deleted- |
Posted By: TK7873
Date Posted: 23 September 2011 at 9:44am
Yes totally agree with you, I still have this under rotation problem, its nothing to do with the marker, it the cyclone itself. If you rotate they cyclone by hand it will miss alighn the paddles after a couple of cycles, if you take the top set of paddles of its fine so my concluesion is that the top set is fouling on the cyclone body.I think this may be due to too much play in paddle shaft. If Tippmann made the bottom of the cyclone thicker it would support the shaft better and may eliminate alot of cyclone problems maybe Daz ------------- Enjoy life as much as you can |
Posted By: Ceesman762
Date Posted: 23 September 2011 at 10:34am
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I have Double Stack Squeeshy Paddles and have NEVER had a single issue with the product in either of my A5's.
------------- Innocence proves nothing FUAC!!!!! |
Posted By: SaintsPaintball
Date Posted: 21 November 2011 at 6:25pm
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We had a customer come in with the same issues as listed, namely, chopping paintballs. After looking at everything, we finally discovered that the gears that came stock in the cyclone feed were manufactured incorrectly. They were off by just a few millimeters, but that was causing the paintballs to roll back into the cyclone feed and thus chop paint. We compared the position of the paddles with the stock gears and with a TechT Vortex Mod. We have informed Tippmann about our findings including pictures. ------------- Saints Paintball 282 N. University Ave. Provo, UT 84606 www.saintspaintball.com info@saintspaintball.com |