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My first Badger; airflow does not stop

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
My first Badger; airflow does not stop
Posted by dariencharlie on Friday, May 1, 2009 6:55 PM

I have used the Aztek double action up to now.  I now have the Badger 100LG.  I hooked it up and the air flows all the time.  There is no sense of the trigger moving up and down against anything springy.  Its rests on something solid with no springyness, where depressing the trigger would then let air in that is otherwise blocked off.  (moving back and forth for paint flow variation works ok)

Suggestions on fixing?

Thanks

Brian

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Saturday, May 2, 2009 6:24 AM

Have you recently removed the trigger?

Is this how it was when you received it?

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
Posted by dariencharlie on Saturday, May 2, 2009 8:39 AM
This is how it was out of the box.  I did remove the needle and trigger to see what I could see, re-assembled, and is still the same.  But the problem seems to be with the inlet valve, seems to be stuck open.  I'll get it under a magnifyer (for these eyes...) and see if that can be disassembled.
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Saturday, May 2, 2009 7:57 PM

The air valve CAN be disassembled and it consists of 5 parts.  Remove the hose and unscrew the air valve from the airbrush body.

Before disassembling it press on the air valve plunger.  If it moves smoothly and returns under spring tension there is nothing wrong with the valve.

On the end of the valve where the hose screws on is a hexagonal-shaped hole.  A small Allen wrench fits that hole and can be used to unscrew the end cap.  When the end cap is removed there are a plunger, o-ring, and return spring inside.  Clean it thoroughly, I use lacquer thinner on all of the parts of mine EXCEPT the o-ring. Lubeeverything with airbrush lube or glycerine, and reassemble.  Unless something is physically broken it should be good as new.

Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Sunday, May 3, 2009 12:16 AM
 MusicCity wrote:

On the end of the valve where the hose screws on is a hexagonal-shaped hole.  A small Allen wrench fits that hole and can be used to unscrew the end cap.  When the end cap is removed there are a plunger, o-ring, and return spring inside.  Clean it thoroughly, I use lacquer thinner on all of the parts of mine EXCEPT the o-ring. Lubeeverything with airbrush lube or glycerine, and reassemble.  Unless something is physically broken it should be good as new.

If you do take this approach, disassemnle the air valve over a small, high sided tray (eg. a clean take-away food container), with a tissue or paper towel liner to prevent the parts from bouncing out - they are TINY and you don't want to lose any.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Sunday, May 3, 2009 8:27 AM

Good tips by both Scott and Phil. If you are unwilling to disassemble your airbrush to this level, just box it up and return to Badger. They have a lifetime warrenty and they'll get it working perfectly for you.

Cheers,

Bill

 

So long folks!

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Sunday, May 3, 2009 9:01 AM

I've just been thinking about this a little...

Before you attempt to disassemble the air valve, try this test.

Withdraw the needle. After you do this, it will release the trigger and the curved lever which depresses the needle actuator when you draw back on the trigger. With these parts removed, there will be nothing at all in the airbrush which should be able to open the air valve under normal circumstances. Connect your airbrush to your air source. If air flows out of your airbrush under these conditions, then yes - the valve is stuck open.

If you are not confident in your ability to rectify this yourself, as detailed in Scott's post above, then definitely make arrangements to return the airbrush to Badger, following the procedure detailed here: http://www.badgerairbrush.com/Service-Supprt.asp

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
Posted by dariencharlie on Sunday, May 3, 2009 9:30 AM
Thanks for all the input.  I think I will try disassembly (anxious to use the brush!).  However the hole is round, not shaped for an allen wrench.  The outside is smooth. I think I'll pad it and/or plyers with tape and try to unscrew with as little squeezing as possible.
 
Later...
 
Brian
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
Posted by dariencharlie on Sunday, May 3, 2009 12:36 PM

Here's the scoop.  "I was robbed".  I unscrewed the air intake cylinder, and there is nothing inside.  No spring, no plunger, no o-ring that I could see.

So, am sending it in to Badger...

Brian

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Sunday, May 3, 2009 1:09 PM
Did you buy this brush new or used? Can you get your money back? If it is Badger's fault, rest assured that they will make it right at their cost.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
Posted by dariencharlie on Sunday, May 3, 2009 1:27 PM
Well, returning it would save some trouuble.  I bought it at a local paint/artist type supply store.  Strangely it took 5 or 6 weeks for them to get it however.  I don't know what that was about.  I think I'll mail it back to Badger though.
  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Fullerton, Calif.
Posted by Don Wheeler on Sunday, May 3, 2009 2:40 PM

 dariencharlie wrote:
Well, returning it would save some trouuble.  I bought it at a local paint/artist type supply store.  Strangely it took 5 or 6 weeks for them to get it however.  I don't know what that was about.  I think I'll mail it back to Badger though.

Sounds like they sold you a used airbrush.  If that hole in the bottom is round, it could be because somebody used the wrong size allen wrench on it.  I read in one of the airbrush forums that some people remove the air valve assembly because they prefer having the air on all the time.  Assuming you can't get your money back, Badger is your best bet because there might be other parts that need to be replaced.

Don 

https://sites.google.com/site/donsairbrushtips/home

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