Got my VM 68 running nice....but one problem

itsallgood25 · 05-12-2010, 07:01 PM

I am racking up the notches on the belt with my VM 68! I am playing at a field called Soldier of Fortune in Hamilton.
The gun is great but the problem is with the hopper Feed elbow. Its plastic and its broken on me 3 times! And their box of spares is getting low.
So what can I do to fix or eliminate the elbow? I was thinking of shaving the hopper or cutting or something!

So any suggestions?

Ps I might go to D-day if I grow a money tree by then

HP_Lovecraft · 05-13-2010, 07:40 PM

The standard age-old trick was to use copper pipe elbows. Just add a bit of electrical tape on the hopper side to help it stay in.

Another alternative is aluminium hopper elbows. They make them, though they tend to be pricey. You can also hunt around for different elbows. Some are definetly beefier then others. I have some floating around my gear bag for the last 20 odd years!

Another option is to convert to vert feed. Its a simple enough process. You would then need a "straight elbow".... (love that name) which tend to be far less likely to break...

Schmitti · 05-13-2010, 07:44 PM

You don't even need a copper elbow, you can run with just a short piece of copper pipe.

But yes.. hit the hardware store, it's that easy.

E

infamoussmiley · 05-13-2010, 08:46 PM

A vm-68 can be rebuilt at the local hardward store. I even joke that i am sponsored by Lanes Tru Value and Arnolds and Sons Tru Value stores

Smiley

HurtCow · 05-13-2010, 09:08 PM

The Atomic Elbows sold by Titus are pretty heavy duty and hard to break.

Giuseppe · 07-22-2011, 03:39 PM

For over ten years I used the standard VM-68 metal elbow and a plastic reducer that I originally purchased to use with my...um...Stingray.

A little bit of hockey tape for friction and it worked great:

Recently, though, the best thing I've found is the Sheridan Feed Yoke from Palmer's Pursuit:

The yoke takes the place of the stock ball insert tube and fits directly into the VM's ball feed adapter. The hopper clamp is very secure and it will feed as fast as any other neck/elbow combo I've used. The fit on mine was a little tight, so I used a bit of soapy water to help slip the yoke into the feed adapter. Then I used a soft rubber mallet to seat the yoke and fine tune its position:

At $45.00, it's not cheap, but it's a slicker solution than anything else I've seen. Plus, I figure that this one elbow might just outlast both of my VMs!

itsallgood25 · 07-24-2011, 01:58 PM

Wow, thats a nice Elbow but a bit pricy. I think I am going to hit the hardware store. VM needs a bit of tlc anyways so now is a good time.
Thanks for the replys and pics

Giuseppe · 07-26-2011, 10:53 PM

Yeah, but when you only buy one paintball gun every seventeen years, you can afford to splurge on parts!

05-12-2010, 07:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
itsallgood25 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007	Got my VM 68 running nice....but one problem I am racking up the notches on the belt with my VM 68! I am playing at a field called Soldier of Fortune in Hamilton. The gun is great but the problem is with the hopper Feed elbow. Its plastic and its broken on me 3 times! And their box of spares is getting low. So what can I do to fix or eliminate the elbow? I was thinking of shaving the hopper or cutting or something! So any suggestions? Ps I might go to D-day if I grow a money tree by then

05-13-2010, 07:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
HP_Lovecraft MCB Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern Maine	The standard age-old trick was to use copper pipe elbows. Just add a bit of electrical tape on the hopper side to help it stay in. Another alternative is aluminium hopper elbows. They make them, though they tend to be pricey. You can also hunt around for different elbows. Some are definetly beefier then others. I have some floating around my gear bag for the last 20 odd years! Another option is to convert to vert feed. Its a simple enough process. You would then need a "straight elbow".... (love that name) which tend to be far less likely to break... __________________ www.montneel.com "the evidence strongly suggests that neither Billy nor Adam (Smart Parts) could have invented the electronic paintgun" -Garr M. King, U.S. Judge

05-13-2010, 08:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
infamoussmiley . Join Date: May 2006	A vm-68 can be rebuilt at the local hardward store. I even joke that i am sponsored by Lanes Tru Value and Arnolds and Sons Tru Value stores Smiley Last edited by infamoussmiley; 05-13-2010 at 09:00 PM.

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05-13-2010, 07:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Schmitti Red=Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Schen. NY	You don't even need a copper elbow, you can run with just a short piece of copper pipe. But yes.. hit the hardware store, it's that easy. E

07-22-2011, 03:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Giuseppe Back in the woods! Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rock City, TN	For over ten years I used the standard VM-68 metal elbow and a plastic reducer that I originally purchased to use with my...um...Stingray. A little bit of hockey tape for friction and it worked great: Recently, though, the best thing I've found is the Sheridan Feed Yoke from Palmer's Pursuit: The yoke takes the place of the stock ball insert tube and fits directly into the VM's ball feed adapter. The hopper clamp is very secure and it will feed as fast as any other neck/elbow combo I've used. The fit on mine was a little tight, so I used a bit of soapy water to help slip the yoke into the feed adapter. Then I used a soft rubber mallet to seat the yoke and fine tune its position: At $45.00, it's not cheap, but it's a slicker solution than anything else I've seen. Plus, I figure that this one elbow might just outlast both of my VMs!

07-24-2011, 01:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
itsallgood25 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007	Wow, thats a nice Elbow but a bit pricy. I think I am going to hit the hardware store. VM needs a bit of tlc anyways so now is a good time. Thanks for the replys and pics

07-26-2011, 10:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Giuseppe Back in the woods! Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rock City, TN	Yeah, but when you only buy one paintball gun every seventeen years, you can afford to splurge on parts!