SpudFiles

well today I bought a manual bike pump so I can have my cannon portable...its my rifle. valved by a sprinkler valve...the only problem is when I try to fill it up with the pump it pressurizes some in the chamber but all the air leaks out the barrel. It don't do that when I use my air compressor. I dont know what the deal is. I've seen other people use that kind of pump on a sprinkler valve cannon. =\

Try temporarily blocking the barrel by resting it on a rubber matt or something until you build up some pressure in the chamber, it should seal after that. Most sprinkler valves require a minimum pressure/flow to reseal.

A neater solutuon is to remove the top and add a spring to the diaphragm.

it came with a spring in it... I tried putting my hand over it and it stopped the air but it comes out some where else...but it dont do it when i use my compressor

the problem is
when you fill the canon with air compressor he did not leak because the fast flow from it. he will putt more force in a much shorter time to close the seat

Another problem is if the valve is dusty dirty or has a particle of PVC trapped in it. It may be enough to lift the seal and prevent the low volume of hand pumped air from starting a pressure seal that a compressor will provide.

Take it apart, wash the parts and reassemble.

I took it apart and I"m not sure what side the diaprahm goes up. lol. I dont remember.

EDIT: ok nevermind. I fixed it. lol

Sometimes, even with a spring in place, the diaphragm will still not seal if you are using a small flow pump, such as your bike pump. There are two things you could do

1) Try JSR's method of sealing the barrel. This will allow the air to equalize throughout the chamber and pilot area.
2) Try filling from the pilot side. This will fill the pilot area first, causing it to seal right.

Note: It may help you out a great deal to check out The Sprinkler Valve (linked in my sig).

if I fill it from the pilot side, will it only fill the pilot area or the chamber as well?

boom_o_matic_2.0 wrote:if I fill it from the pilot side, will it only fill the pilot area or the chamber as well?

It fills both. Here, take a look at this. It will explain to you how a piston valve works (which a sprinkler valve is).

well so I moved my schrader valve to the pilot side and pumped it up with my tire pump....
it did work...
after alot of work. lol. who knew 80 psi would take that long to pump up.
but when I try to take the pump off the schrader it pilots it too much and fires the gun. =[
I'm thinkin about putting a check valve under the schrader.
or maybe a ball valve.

boom_o_matic_2.0 wrote: after alot of work. lol. who knew 80 psi would take that long to pump up.

Raises hand.. It's the reason the 2 inch was never tested above 85 PSI. Too pooped to continue. It's a workout to hit 60.