How easy to fix?

[MrBig]

The last owner “fixed” the side air line on this Annihilator. How hard would this be to clean up?

[infamoussmiley]

Define "fix".

[Axel]

Well that's not a promising response, is it?

[XEMON]

The best way would be to desolder it, clean it and solder a clean fitting on top.
as long as you got contaminated material (the bad solder) re-work will not cut it.

NB: this "contaminated" solder is solder that didn't got good protection from the oxygen when molter and oxidized. This oxide will prevent any good bonding.

I would offer to help with the fixing, but I'm way behind on what I already have on my work bench.
Hit me up in a few months if you still need help.

[DocsMachine]

Depends on the damage under all that solder.

What probably happened, was the gun was originally side-tapped, the tap stripped out somehow, so some owner rapped it larger, probably up to 1/4" pipe. With the coarse thread and thin wall he couldn't get it to seal with tape or dope, so he tried to solder it in there.

And it's very cold solder on dirty metal so it, too probably leaks like a sieve.

The fix depends on what you're after. Quick and dirty would be to heat the solder, turn the larger fitting out, clean, flux and try to resolder. Still wouldn't be pretty, but might be functional, and likely your cheapest bet. Possible issues might include the larger bushing intruding in the valve chamber and maybe contacting the cup seal and spring.

The previous owner may have also overheated and damaged the 12-gram seal, if not the valve itself if he didn't pull it when attempting to solder.

A more proper repair would be, in my opinion, to fab a better-fitted bung to fit into that hole, and solder it cleanly. Wouldn't be a particularly cheap fix, but done right would look good and be pretty permanent.

I'd say send it to Walz, as he's a top-notch solderer, but I understand he's out of easy commission for a time. Want me to have a look at it?

Doc.

[infamoussmiley]

Marc,

What everyone has just contributed is viable and accurate. Another option is to install a new valve core.

Best,

Smiley

[snaparen]

Marc,

What everyone has just contributed is viable and accurate. Another option is to install a new valve core.

Best,

Smiley

Brilliant!

[infamoussmiley]

Brilliant!

Yes, but no one that I know makes the valve cores any more. I used to use Big Matts, but he is out of stock and no longer does that work.

Best,

Smiley

[DocsMachine]

How many do you need?

Doc.