20 replies to this topic

[Nerfgirl36]

So I recently modded my 3rd nite finder and it doesn't shoot near as hard as it should. I added a coupler and removed the ar. If im using my new beige foam in cpvc(tight) it doesnt leave the barrel, if I use petg, it goes 20 feet max. If pictures are needed I can upload some. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated. I also want to say no air is leaking from coupler.
Thanks

[Mr cleaver]

If I were you I would lube the plunger tube and head. If that doesn't help try a spring replacement/addition/stretching because the stock NF spring seems pretty weak to the other options. My last word of advice would be to either Teflon tape under the o-ring or replace the o-ring with something a bit thicker.

[CigarBaby]

How long is your barrel? Also, a spring replacement would be very beneficial. An Ace #49 spring works well though you will have to beef up the catch.

[Alfatrooper]

If I were you I would lube the plunger tube and head. If that doesn't help try a spring replacement/addition/stretching because the stock NF spring seems pretty weak to the other options. My last word of advice would be to either Teflon tape under the o-ring or replace the o-ring with something a bit thicker.

Stretching the spring will for the short term improve performance. But, over time it will weaken the spring. How long is your barrel? You may not have enough spring power to get your dart out of the barrel, especially because of the tight dart fit. I recommend using a #10 o-ring from Home Depot with some e-tape or teflon tape under it for your plunger head.

[Nerfgirl36]

My barrel is 4 inches. I actually have a beefier spring but no upgraded catch spring and lowes is 50 miles away. I originally had etape under o ring and it made it worse. I also have everything lubed up good. If anyone wants to send some catch springs I have foam and a sales thread. Thanks for everything so far.

[Drev]

You might have too much friction in you plunger tube. If it is hard to move your plunger rod forward, there is too much friction.

[Nerfgirl36]

Thats what I thought at the beginning, but after etape adjustment nothing changed

[CigarBaby]

Hmm. The only things I can think of now is a bad plunger seal or friction in the plunger tube as Drev pointed out. When you say beefier spring, what spring/spring combo are you running right now? If you didn't have to replace your catch spring, that makes me think that your main spring is a bit weak. It still should be getting over 20ft. though.

[Nerfgirl36]

My spring is a stock one. I have a stronger one laying around. I have no Idea what is wrong with it.

[Mully]

Your NF isn't shooting well because you need a spring stronger than the stock spring.
If you have an Ace near you, pick up a #49 spring. If Home Depot's closer, get one of these.
If you get the Home Depot spring, make sure to reinforce your NF. It's quite a powerful spring; I have a couple of bolts in the nitefinders I'm using right now that use that spring.
I haven't personally tried the #49, I've heard it's pretty decent though.

Edited by Mully, 28 October 2013 - 08:19 PM.

[CigarBaby]

There's your problem right there. Don't do a barrel replacement if you don't put in a heavier spring. Definitely use your stronger spring. The dart doesn't have enough power to go through the barrel whereas the stock barrel fit was much looser.

[Nerfgirl36]

I have a home depot spring. I got it in a trade. Does anyone have a pack of springs for the catch?

[Sam-underscore]

I have a home depot spring. I got it in a trade. Does anyone have a pack of springs for the catch?

I personally would just use one or two pen springs threaded together, but that might just be me being cheap.

[Nerfgirl36]

I thought of the pen springs but dont know if they will be strong enough. Hopefully someone has pack but I will try that if not. Thanks

[Nerfgirl36]

Don't want to double post, but I doubt people would see this. I forgot to mention that when I hold my hand over the coupler to test seal, it barely slows down so there is like no seal. I have quadruple checked the coupler, and it is not leaking. No clue what is wrong but even if my dart fit is a problem, it should still seal somewhat. Maybe some more experienced people can think of a reason. Thanks again

[Mully]

Don't want to double post, but I doubt people would see this. I forgot to mention that when I hold my hand over the coupler to test seal, it barely slows down so there is like no seal. I have quadruple checked the coupler, and it is not leaking. No clue what is wrong but even if my dart fit is a problem, it should still seal somewhat. Maybe some more experienced people can think of a reason. Thanks again

I get a decent seal with a few wraps of Teflon tape under the plunger head.
Add a few wraps, test, take a couple off... Getting a decent seal is pretty much trial and error.

Edited by Mully, 29 October 2013 - 05:58 PM.

[Nerfgirl36]

So instead of doing homework, I worked on this. I took pics too.

just looking down pt

coupler. It is gooped on inside, just hot glue to make sure no air is leaking

etape under oring. still didn't do any good.

and finally, this is a test fire shot. I dug out old crappy foam darts that have twist fit in cpvc. I shot as pic was taken and the dart is in the circle. That is all the farther it went.

[Mully]

Again, your problem is your spring. Find a better catch spring, (springs are everywhere, you're bound to find one eventually), mod you're plunger rod a little, install the better main spring, and your NF should shoot a lot harder.
I've never personally used E-tape on plunger heads, and I doubt I ever will. Teflon tape is a lot less thick than E-tape, you'll have better seal-control with it. I highly recommend doing what I said earlier; replace the spring, reinforce as necessary, remove the E-tape and replace it with Teflon tape... If you do all that it should work perfectly.
Good luck.

[Nerfgirl36]

Again, your problem is your spring. Find a better catch spring, (springs are everywhere, you're bound to find one eventually), mod you're plunger rod a little, install the better main spring, and your NF should shoot a lot harder.
I've never personally used E-tape on plunger heads, and I doubt I ever will. Teflon tape is a lot less thick than E-tape, you'll have better seal-control with it. I highly recommend doing what I said earlier; replace the spring, reinforce as necessary, remove the E-tape and replace it with Teflon tape... If you do all that it should work perfectly.
Good luck.

Ok. Thanks. But im still questioning that it is my problem. It shoots worse than it did stock. And a bad spring wouldnt make me have no seal.

[Mully]

Ok. Thanks. But im still questioning that it is my problem. It shoots worse than it did stock. And a bad spring wouldnt make me have no seal.

I'd count on that being your problem. The reason it shoots worse than it did stock, is because the dart fit is a lot tighter. If you wave a stock NF around, the dart's gonna fall out of the front. The fit's incredibly loose. When modified in the way you chose to do yours, the dart-fit is a lot tighter. It takes a lot more power to move a beige dart through CPVC, than it does to fire a stock dart out of a stock barrel setup.
The way you're going to get it fire well is by replacing the stock spring with a stronger one.
I just remembered to mention something here; if you decide to go with the Home Depot spring, be warned. It's absurdly powerful. I have ~5 bolts running through each of my NF's that use this spring, I also had to mod the plunger rods a little to get them to catch.
You could also just add another spring, that works too.

Edited by Mully, 29 October 2013 - 10:44 PM.

[Nerfgirl36]

Ok. Thanks I will try that and hopefully pen springs work for the catch cause that is all ive got