A.P.S. ASR 103 Blowback plate issue.

Michael Devers

(BEFORE READING: IF YOU ...... OWN/SEEN/NEVER SEEN/WILL BE/YOU DIDN'T KNOW ...... A/ BUYING A/OF A.P.S. (ACCURACY PNEUMATICS SHOOTING) AIRSOFT RIFLE PLEASE VOTE IN THE POLL ABOVE. THANK YOU).

Hey everyone. Really need help on this as I'm getting pissed off.

I was firing my A.P.S. ASR 103 about two days ago at my cousins house and I just noticed that when I was firing it in semi for full auto that the blowback plate wouldn't go back.

Last night I sent A.P.S. a message to say that it wasn't working and how to fix or disassemble it. This is what I got from them:

Hello Michael
Just replace the RB-50 Blow Back Holder with a new one
This is the weakest part in all EBB guns. Because the gun is EBB, this parts is consumable.
I saw some player disable it, so you won't need to change and replace this parts anymore

Hello Michael
The blow back has nothing to do with the motor and electric wires. You don't need to do anything on the motor and wires
Just remove the RB-50 and the small spring connected with it. Thats it

Not really necessary to open the whole gear box
In the Gear Box, Just unscrew the top two screw near the RB-50 and you will be able to take the RB-50 out

So when I got the messages from A.P.S. around four on the night I decided to disassemble my airsoft rifle at around three in the afternoon.


That's my A.P.S. ASR 103.


The current battery I'm using is my friend's 8.4V 1100mAH as my 9.6V 1600mAH battery is ruined because of this airsoft rifle.

(If you noticed the tape I soldered the wires better onto the battery).


Managed to disassemble my airsoft rifle without breaking anything... phew...


Parts in the picture shown:
--- Lower receiver with stock, pistol grip and gearbox.
--- Charging handle.
--- Upper receiver with upper handguard.
--- Fuse connector.
--- Hop-up with barrel.
--- The 300rds Hi-cap Magazine supplied with the airsoft rifle.
--- Lower handguard.
--- Receiver pin is on the lower handguard.


A.P.S. ASR GEN.II Gearbox.


I also checked the hop-up for no reason at all to see if that had any effect on it... it didn't...

Now this is the tricky part. The person I was talking to from A.P.S. said:

Not really necessary to open the whole gear box
In the Gear Box, Just unscrew the top two screw near the RB-50 and you will be able to take the RB-50 out

If I'm correct this is what I want to remove to disable the blowback plate... (See blowback plate screws).


But then again... (See gearbox screws).


Can't be bothered to send it back to the retailer as this is the fourth problem I've had since I got it two and a half months ago. For €39.00 I could of got a battery box and a grip. Wasting my money on postage for nothing...

I'm still able to pull the blowback plate back and use the bolt lock feature which is awesome but what the hell am I supposed to do without the blowback feature:

--- Does anyone know how to fix or disassemble the blowback plate (Clear instructions).
--- Does anyone own a spare blowback plate (Not might be able to buy one but I'm just curious).

To everyone who helps me on this thread... THANK YOU.

MonkeyGuy

Top two, has to be the top screws. You don't need the blowback do you?

CpcRc

Ok, few things to say.

Is the problem that you can't see the electric blowback actually working? As in the faux bolt (grey slide under the dust cover) is not moving with each shot?

First off, have you tried using a good brand AEG battery or borrowed one from a friend with another AEG such as a JG,Dboys or higher quality brand? JG stock batteries do operate in the APS, I've used them when my main battery has died without issues. This is because the stock battery that comes from asia with the APS is crap and is too weak to operate the blowback. There was a youtube video showcasing this but the link to it is now gone

Now if that doesn't work, I have an idea of what it could be.

First off, re-attach the battery wires, don't reassemble the whole AEG. The gearbox still in the lower receiver with the pistol grip and motor attached is enough for now. Now pull the trigger in semi auto. Now a few questions.
Can you hear the gearbox working?
If the gearbox is working, can you see the faux bolt moving while it is firing?
If the faux bolt is not moving with each shot, this excludes it shaking from the vibrations caused by the operating of the gearbox, then the slider, the silver piece on top of the gearbox, that moves the faux bolt is broken.

The faux bolt is attached to the slider by two small screws on the top like you've seen. If you remove these two screws then you will see a small spring underneath, this is what moves the slider forwards after it has been pulled back by the piston in the gearbox. Now, one end of the spring is actually attached to the gearbox shell so it can't be removed without opening the gearbox to free it. Unless you just cut it near the point where it is attached to the shell, but that's only if you REALLY don't want to open it up. The non-attached end just rests in a groove underneath where those two screws are so it's just pop off once the screws are removed.

Now you should just have the slider left on top of the gearbox. To remove that, the gearbox has to be opened as one end is positioned in the gearbox behind the piston. This end is pushed back by the piston and in turn is what pulls back the faux bolt. It's a small bit that protrudes from an arm on this piece which gets hit by the top side of the piston. Seeing as this is quite a small piece, is can be broken and cause the electric blowback to stop working as it's necessary for it to operate. That is how the APS electric blowback works. It's now really necessary to do this once the faux bolt has been removed unless you feel like removing all pieces entirely.

As always, opening the gearbox should be the last step after you are 100% it is not an issue that can be resolved externally.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

P.S. I have an APS ASR101 and have never had issues with the blowback or other technical issues with the gearbox. There have been some hiccups but they were because I installed some components wrong, it wasn't the AEGs fault. They were nothing major, I just had to tweak a few minor things and then my APS was ready to go again.

Michael Devers

@ MonkeyGuy

I don't really need the blowback in it.

Michael Devers

@ CpcRc

There's a lot of words there and my eyes are fecked up but yet I managed to read it all.

Thing is:

1. I have the whole airsoft rifle reassemble.
2. I'll try to get my friend's 8.4V 1100mAH FireFox battery tomorrow.
3. Do what you told me to do (Plug in fuse connectors and just plug in the battery and fire it).
4. Badly need some sleep so I can do this tomorrow.

I'll try to do it tomorrow and I tell you what happens CpcRc.

Thanks.

Michael Devers

@ CpcRc

I did what you told me and I had a good look at the airsoft rifle without opening the gearbox.


When I looked at the blowback holder (Part: RB-50), it seemed to e like a capital 'I' shape.


I looked at the blowback spring (Part: RB-51), it wasn't broken/loose in any way.


Now this kinda freaked me out, I was looking down the gearbox and I noticed an 'x' shape at the bottom if it and I don't really know what it is.


It seems to me that the blowback holder is very loose as I'm able to lift it up. I thought it would be kinda stronger.


As well, this seems to be like a small circle bit coming out. Not really sure what this is.

CpcRc

Ok, I'll answer your questions, taking one picture and questions at a time.

Michael Devers wrote: »

@ CpcRc

I did what you told me and I had a good look at the airsoft rifle without opening the gearbox.


When I looked at the blowback holder (Part: RB-50), it seemed to e like a capital 'I' shape.

At the bottom part of that I shape is a little arm that runs parallel to the top of the piston toward the back of the gearbox. At the far end of this arm is a little flat bit that extends downwards a few millimetres, as I said this is the part which gets "hooked" by the back of the piston and is the most likely part to break as it's small. This is the RB-50 part I believe that you've been hearing of. Now that RB-50 is a one piece part, from where the faux bolt screws on to it on top of the gearbox to the arm inside with the little piece behind the piston.

Michael Devers wrote: »

I looked at the blowback spring (Part: RB-51), it wasn't broken/loose in any way.

Now the spring shouldn't be free at one end so long as the screws attach the faux bolt to the RB-50 part or unless it wasn't installed properly where it's attached to the gearbox shell. But this is pretty doubtful. This part is reliable enough so long as it isn't installed wrong.

Michael Devers wrote: »

Now this kinda freaked me out, I was looking down the gearbox and I noticed an 'x' shape at the bottom if it and I don't really know what it is.

I'm about 99% sure that x shape is the screw at the top of the piston head and it can be visible through the air nozzle. This is nothing to worry about and here is a link to a piston outside if a gearbox showing the screw in the middle; http://m27.photobucket.com/image/screw%20on%20piston%20head%20airsoft/lengendsecko87/IMG_8596.jpg.html?src=www

Michael Devers wrote: »

It seems to me that the blowback holder is very loose as I'm able to lift it up. I thought it would be kinda stronger.

The faux bolt isn't attached very tightly alright and there is always some play with it but you can tighten the two screws on top to reduce how much it moves about. These screws will naturally loosen over use as the shock from the gearbox will wiggle them loose with time. So it's a good idea to tighten then from time to time and it's a simple, quick and easy job to do; remove upper receiver, tighten screws, re-attach upper receiver.

Michael Devers wrote: »

As well, this seems to be like a small circle bit coming out. Not really sure what this is.

That little circle is just protruding from the top of the RB-50, it's there to help you align the faux bolt and top of the RB-50 when screwing them together. It's just there to help reassembly and is nothing to worry about.


Have you managed to test the AEG on a different battery yet and seen if that solved anything? I wouldn't worry about the parts until you're sure that they aren't working properly. An electric blowback system AEG is slightly more draining on a battery than a regular AEG so weak or almost empty batteries mightn't be able to cycle the faux bolt.

Hope this helps.

Michael Devers

Thanks for answering my question CpcRc.

I think the bottom of the RB-50 ( Got a ASR GEN.II Gearbox Part Guide from A.P.S.) is actually worn at the bottom where it should meet with the piston as everything else looks fine. So if I ever get the chance I might try to find a RB-50 part.

As for the battery, yes, I got my friend's 8.4V 1100mAH FireFox battery and tried that out and the blowback holder still didn't go back.

Also, if I ever wanted to upgrade my gearbox from the inside, can I just disconnect the connectors on the motor. A rough idea is like when you disconnect the fuses in the handguard.

Thanks again CpcRc.

CpcRc

So the faux bolt isn't moving at all, not even a little, when you shot it with the upper receiver off? But the gearbox is shooting fine and you can see it working?

If you need to buy a new RB-50 I'm pretty sure you'll have to get it from APS and with shipping that could be a bit expensive and shipping could take a while. Unless you ask one of the retailers on the retailer forum if they have a spare one in their parts bin if someone had an APS M4 upgraded and had the blowback removed? You could also put up a wanted ad asking anyone who removed their blowback or replaced the gearbox has one they could give you.

First off, I would not suggest that you open the gearbox if you have no previous experience with working on AEGs. I would highly recommend asking an expert techie to do the work for you as messing up your gearbox can be more expensive than the cost of having someone with the know-how doing it properly. I'd be pretty sure that 99.9% of the time when someone opens an AEG gearbox for the first time, something goes wrong that can take to correct. I know that it happened to me and now I'm all the wiser about one type of version 3 gearbox

The following info is about the gearbox. When opening a M4 version 2 gearbox you must disconnect the battery and fuse wires and you must also disconnect the motor wires from the two terminals on the motor, pay attention to which is + and -, in the pistol grip. You can access them by removing the cover at the bottom of the pistol grip. You then must remove the motor and the pistol grip. Take care when sliding off the pistolgrip, paying attention to the wires running from the gearbox making sure not to damage them. Does that answer your question about the motor wires?

Also, the APS gearbox uses many non standard parts so if you lose them or damage them you can't buy regular replacement parts, only APS parts. These include; the tappet plate, tappet plate spring, anti-reversal latch and RB-50. There could be more but I haven't seen the inside of my M4 in months.

Michael Devers

The RB-50 blowback holder didn't even move one bit when I was firing it without the upper receiver on.

If I'm ever looking for a spare RB-50 blowback holder I might ask Derek from www.airsoftguns.ie to see if he has one as he's selling the A.PS. ASR 103's again.

I too will never go near my gearbox. The nearest disassembly I would do on my airsoft rifle is just like the pictures above e.g. Clearing dust, grease etc...

Some fella from A.P.S. told me as well about their own parts in their ASR GEN.II Gearboxes. You pretty much named everything there as to what the fella told me as well.

CpcRc

If you get a hold of a RB-50 you should be sorted I'd say.

Is airsoftguns.ie your usual store? I've passed by there a few times going to college.

Michael Devers

If I do get my hands on a RB-50 I should be fine.

www.AirsoftGuns.ie wouldn't be my usual airsoft store but their the nearest as I live in Co. Mayo and their based in Co. Limerick. So if I'm ever passing through I could ask. They also stock some great stuff as well.

Plus, the service is great from www.AirsoftGuns.ie and from Damian Mikolajczyk.

CpcRc

I dropped in once or twice to see the place, are they still thinking of moving to a bigger shop so they can have more stock?

Also off topic, but do you know the Parkour club in Ballina?

Michael Devers

I not really sure if their moving to a bigger shop.

And believe me CpcRc, I live out in Attymass, a fifteen minute drive into and out of Ballina, and I just hate Ballina. Although I do go to school at Moyne College... I still hate Ballina. It's a mess of a place.

Also, I'm not really the out going type so I don't know Parkour club in Ballina.

Michael Devers

Also, if your from Ballina no offense.

Michael Devers

Just wondering why do you want to know about Parkour club in Ballina?

CpcRc

I know one of the lads running it.

Michael Devers

Ah I didn't know that now.

krzyfu

Hi!
On the picture i see:
1. piston is placed in back side of gearbox
2. recoil cover is in front part of gearbox

Conclusion:
broken blowback holder, craked piece falling down to gearbox and blocked gears.

Suggest:
replace blowback holder, clean gearbox remove small cracked metal pieces

Or:
deliver this gun to Michael for service

Michael Devers

If you mean Michael from www.AirsoftGuns.ie, I didn't get it there. I actually got it from M.I.A.

EDIT: I don't think the blowback holder is broken but the bottom of the blowback holder may be worn as the airsoft rifle is shooting fine.

Michael Devers

Problem solved!

I just disassembled my airsoft rifle there a few minutes ago and I found the missing piece to the blowback holder (RB-50):



When I was looking to see how it came off I noticed that it was, from my point of view, glued on...???:



That's pretty much it, problem was solved in the end, in the future I might look for another blowback holder.

I like to thank CpcRc for helping me on this thread. !!!BIG THANKS!!!

And just to end it, here are a few pictures of what I've been doing over the week and a half:

CpcRc

Michael Devers wrote: »

Problem solved!

I just disassembled my airsoft rifle there a few minutes ago and I found the missing piece to the blowback holder (RB-50):



When I was looking to see how it came off I noticed that it was, from my point of view, glued on...???:



That's pretty much it, problem was solved in the end, in the future I might look for another blowback holder.

I like to thank CpcRc for helping me on this thread. !!!BIG THANKS!!!

And just to end it, here are a few pictures of what I've been doing over the week and a half:

No problem, glad to see you got it fixed. I've disassembled mine so many times now that I have a fair idea of them. Hope you can start to enjoy it again.