SpudFiles

Hey guys! I'm buying a 2.5" PVC ball valve (can't find a sprinkler valve anywhere) for my spud gun, and someone has told me that after a while it starts to become stiff and harder to turn. Is this true, and if it is, around how long does it last until it starts to become stiff?

They get stiff, and you'll need to lubricate it, I use vaseline, some people swear by silicone spray. Don't use WD40 or the like.

Why not build a piston?

Ah thanks. I have a bottle of silicon spray right next to me! I'm not building a piston because a ball valve is so much simpler
However, I have a problem: How am I supposed to lube the ball valve if there are tubes on both sides? (I can't reach the ball valve)

can you find a union?



Because if so, screw ball valves, go burst disk!

From another thread:

If you want a high performance big bore without breaking the bank, consider something like this design:



You can make the chamber and barrel out of the same type of tubing, all you need is the chamber capped on one end with a valve of some sort in order to supply the air, and on the other end you attach a union.

All you have to do is sandwich a disk of frangible material (foil etc.) and when a certain pressure is reached in the chamber, BOOM!, Robert's your mother's brother.

It is a bit of a pain in the arse having to install new burst disks for every shot but really this is the only way to get the best performance out of a pneumatic on a very low budget.

At 100-150 psi with a long enough chamber and barrel, performance should be quite impressive.

Jack's right, barring valveless that's the highest performance you can get from a pneubmatic. Chuck in a spark gap and you've got the option for a very low mix hybrid or combustion.

To lubricate the ball valve if you can't be convinced out of it, spray the silicone onto a rag, and poke it down against the BV, then rotate it a few times.

No luck with finding any unions either...
How can I lube a ball valve with tubes on both ends???

Surely both sides aren't closed? Tie the rag to a stickand poke it down.

Zeus wrote:Tie the rag to a stick and poke it down.

This method also works for unclean members of the fairer sex

Ah thanks, I guess I'll do that. You only need to lubricate one side of the ball valve?

jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:

Zeus wrote:Tie the rag to a stick and poke it down.

This method also works for unclean members of the fairer sex

Haha

I was hoping you'd get that JSR. I don't recommend silicone spray though, unless your partner is made of the same.

Edit: It'll spread out over a few turns, like the fairer sex...

To lubricate the other side as well, the ball valve would have to turn at least 180 degrees...
I am under the impression that ball valves can only turn 90 degrees. Right?

EDIT: My ball valve looks somewhat like this
http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/inde ... _valve.jpg

Not if you dremel down the plastic nubs, or reverse the handle of a threaded metal BV.

Ah I see now! you have enlightened me Thanks!