SOTAR AB Trigger Feels Weird

Hi Chrisk-k,

No, that doesn't seem 'normal'. Mine works as you describe for your Iwata's. You must have some friction somewhere in the needle path or the tension adjustment is very loose. Does the needle move back and forth easily when you pull on it from the open sides? Have you tried to increase spring tension? I'd just remove the needle, check and clean (little 'needle juice), reinstall and check the tension adjustment. There's really little to go wrong in the needle path unless the 'teflon seal' is mangled.

Without the needle in place, the SOTAR trigger behaves like my Iwata's: it snaps back.  I cleaned the needle, applied Iwata lube, reinstalled it and tightened the tension adjustment screw.  The trigger, after being pulled, slowly returns to its original position.  So something causes some unnecessary friction in the needle path. Very disappointing!

Can't figure out what's grabbing the needle. Time to send it back to Amazon.

I've experienced this before when my badgers are stored for some time, even thoroughly cleaned and lubed when put away. I've narrowed it down to the Badger lube drying over time, after another good cleaning with alcohol and a good wipe down of the needle, then re-lube and assemble, it's back to normal instant snap back when the trigger is released. I always polish my needles well, even when new.

The dried lube can also affect the interior of the needle bearing, where the needle passes through. Many of the dental cleaning implements can be passed safely through the needle, and will hold up to alcohol. Just be SURE you don't run a WIRE bristle dental implement through the needle. If you can get one long enough, go through the front of the brush and through the length of the bearing with a bit of alcohol, that should clear the old stuff away. I'll bet with a little work and time you'll make it work well.

For needle polishing, starting with used 600 grit and folding the sandpaper so I'm using both sides, I slide it back and forth rotating the needle as I go, for uniform surface contact, Then an alcohol cleaning, go over it again with 1200 grit, clean, lube and it's squared away like new. I must agree with a post I saw years ago, the newer production needles don't appear as finely polished as those of 20 or so years back. But since I always do my own polishing, even after purchase, that is not something that affects my use. You might try that.  

Don Wheeler is on here frequently and you could leave a question for him. Don's Airbrush Tips is the name of his site, what he doesn't know about brushes isn't worth knowing. I suspect you may just have a Sotar that has been stored for a time, some cleaning and lube should have it happy and well.

Good luck with it, once it's tuned you'll have a great time using your Sotar.

Patrick  

Good information, Patrick.  It seems that most Sotars that Amazon has recently sold don't have a problem.  I probably received a dud.  

BTW, is it possible to remove the plastic end from the needle.  Because of it, it's impossible to take out the needle through the front end of the Sotar.  I always take out and insert the needle that way in order to avoid the risk of damaging the needle tip/

Let me correct a mistake I made in my prior post, I meant to say passing a cleaning tool through the BEARING, not the NEEDLE, dumb error.

You could remove the ball tip on the rear of the needle by careful cutting, or possibly carefully pulling it off, but after cutting you'd have to make very sure the end is perfectly smooth, otherwise you would run the risk of damaging the needle bearing interior when withdrawing to the front. The cutting sounds easier than it actually is, I think it poses a high risk of needle damage..

When finished with rinse spray and partial dis-assembly, simply pushing the needle forward as much as possible and then carefully cleaning the exposed end, is sufficient to prevent dragging anything back through the bearing when removing needle to the rear.

Sure hope you get it squared away, I've used a friends Sotar and it's quite a fine piece of kit, but way advanced for my more simple needs.

Patrick

It should "snap back", but just to give an advice, don't do it. It is a common reason for cracked, deformed and prematurely worn out nozzles.

While we're discussing the Sotar AB, where is the best source to buy needles?  I have the 20/20F model with a fine needle and I'd like to have a medium as well.  Uh, they will interchange in the 20/20F won't they?  Thanks for any help guys.

Gary

You'll need the medium hold down ring, the medium tip as well as the medium needle.  TCP Global, Costal, Badger and others sell them - don't know the best price.

Hi Chrisk,

Your needle bearing is too tight.  You shouldn't have received it this way.  I would contact Badger.  You should feel just a little drag when you remove the needle.  The Sotar needle bearing is non-adjustable.  You could polish the needle shaft and that might free it up enough.

If you don't like the ball on the end of the needle, Renegade parts will fit the Sotar.

Don

Bick

You'll need the medium hold down ring, the medium tip as well as the medium needle.  TCP Global, Costal, Badger and others sell them - don't know the best price.

Thanks!

Texgunner

While we're discussing the Sotar AB, where is the best source to buy needles?  I have the 20/20F model with a fine needle and I'd like to have a medium as well.  Uh, they will interchange in the 20/20F won't they?  Thanks for any help guys.

Gary

Amazon sells the parts you need. The total cost would be like $60, which is comparable to the price of a typical AB conversion kit.

Don Wheeler

Hi Chrisk,

Your needle bearing is too tight.  You shouldn't have received it this way.  I would contact Badger.  You should feel just a little drag when you remove the needle.  

I felt a huge drag when I removed the needle. Hopefully, a replacement one will be perfect.

I had a similar problem with a Krome I got on Amazon.  My bearing was too tight, but was adjustable.  Call Badger, they were very kind.  Good luck.

Just aa a thought, have you tried soaking the needle in some cleaner for a few?  Doesn't take much to cause an issue.

John