Supa-Valve Maintenance

[cook85743]

Sorry if this is posed somewhere else. I'm new to this forum. I have a pneumatic cannon using two of Spudtech's Supa-Valves. I aquired it from a friend. As far as I know, it's been sitting for 5 or 6 years. Is there anything I should check or any maintenance I perform before shooting it?

[Gun Freak]

I would take out the screws and take out the back plug, then check the piston/bumper and all the stuff in there. Cleaning it will help. If you think it needs lubrication, go for it.

[mattyzip77]

Test it at low pressure and if it fires fine leave it. I have one and I wouldn't take it apart unless necessary

[mark.f]

If you take it apart, add an alignment mark on the back plug and tee, as IIRC Joel/New Guy didn't/doesn't use any type of jig or measurement for placing the screws that hold the plug in. With 24 of them, it may be tough to line it back up correctly without the mark.

They're supposedly lubed for life, though, although I've never personally been able to achieve such a feat. If you're relubing, clean all of the old lube off with some sort of weak solvent, replace the seals (o-rings, gaskets, etc.), and relube with silicone grease and reassemble. It shouldn't be a tough exercise to replace the seals, although you may have to order hard to find o-ring sizes. Gaskets can be cut yourself. If you're ordering o-rings, order some good high durometer buna-n/nitrile sheeting along with them to cut gaskets with.

Lastly, take care not to nick any sealing surfaces with tools, wristwatches, screws, etc.