Best way to learn ?

Nuke1973

Right,

I want to get more familiar with the internals of aeg's(mainl).

Is the best way just to get a cheap/broken aeg and open it up to have a look or are their tutorials\manuals online somewhere for what you should and shouldn't do ?

There is no one within 50/60 miles of me that does this so felt it was about time i learnt seeing as I have some of the tool - allen\hex keys, scredrivers\soldering iron\etc.

No problems having a go\look but felt it was better not to start with my masada or stoner.

What would the guys here recommend tool wise and learning wise ?

Bobby Baccala

Find a disassembly video on youtube.
Follow all the steps but make sure to label all your parts after taking them out of the gun so you remember where they go and what they are.
Then all you have to do is find a video showing you how to reassemble it.:)

Zomg Okay

SitRep Magazine have a few articles on the matter.

glicster

theres lots of vids on youtube and a site called mechbox.com is good.

learn by doing i reckon, if your any way savvy.

main thing,when you first open the gearbox make sure not to let it fly apart.
then you can take your time having look at where everything should be and how each part interacts with the next.
hold the trigger in place, simulate firing and see what happens(no battery ofcourse),see what moves and figure out what it does and why.
follow wires from battery connection to trigger switch to motor and see how that works.
with the main spring removed turn the gears manualy and again,see what they do,what parts move with them and why.
if your gonna remove parts taking a good clear foto might help for when your putting them back together.

its not hard to work on a gearbox,closing the shell with spring in might be the hardest part you come across.

shimming is a main feature to concentrate on so do some research on that aswell

yeh probably better to source a cheap gun/gearbox before you tamper with your much loved aegs

EDIT: the gearbox and screws are soft metals so its easy to pull threads and ring screw heads so just be aware of that

c28omzk7ihsxv0

Go to mechbox.com, watch a video ad take apart a cheap gearbox you self. Simple as. Just make sure you have all the tools necessary to take apart beforehand. Not that there are any advanced tools or anything.

Inari

Why do you want to get familiar with AEG internals? Is it for upgrades? Maintenance? Repairs? All of the above?

I am very much of the opinion that if it isn't broken, then stay the hell away and don't try 'fixing' it...they tend to work an awful lot longer and better that way If you're just looking to learn for your own gear, then I'd be patient and let your gear teach you.

Maintenance on your gear will vary depending on 1.) Materials used (i.e. what grease etc) 2.) Usage and 3.) Internal quality. If your gun is of decent make, and bought brand new, you shouldn't really have to go near it for maybe a year, or perhaps after 6 months. Basically all you'd be doing is cleaning your gearbox (removing old caked on grease, and replacing with new/fresh silicone grease), checking parts for wear (trigger contacts, gearbox springs for tappet plate & trigger etc, piston, gears etc), and checking your cylinder's compression. Then it's just a reassemble, and you're sorted. This is the infuriating part of the process - reassembling requires patience. Do not even go near it unless you have the time to give it.

Upgrading...no need unless you have need. Unless you're actively pursuing a specific end-goal, I really wouldn't bother - it just winds up costing a lot of money for a placebo effect. If you're unhappy with range, replace barrel & hop. If unhappy with ROF, replace battery and motor. If you want burst fire, improved trigger response, and even greater ROF, increased barrel length etc, then by all means dive into the gearbox...but if there is no need, then simply put there is no need.

Repairs...these are probably the main reason to learn. It keeps costs down, and means if something goes wrong you have the competency to at least diagnose the problem. Just remember that if you aren't confident in what you're doing (i.e. what parts to replace etc), then ask someone that does. A lot of people cause quite a lot of problems for themselves when repairing their own gear; replacing 1 gear with an incompatible replacement etc. There are no stupid questions.

The road is long...and we're mostly a friendly bunch. Ask any questions you have. But yeah, my advice is don't bother until you have to. I don't see a need to actively search out a 'practise' gun or anything of the sort. Your own gear will suffice - it will drive home the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't attack it with a screwdriver until it is broke"

Nuke1973

Inari wrote: »

Why do you want to get familiar with AEG internals? Is it for upgrades? Maintenance? Repairs? All of the above?

I am very much of the opinion that if it isn't broken, then stay the hell away and don't try 'fixing' it...they tend to work an awful lot longer and better that way If you're just looking to learn for your own gear, then I'd be patient and let your gear teach you.

Maintenance on your gear will vary depending on 1.) Materials used (i.e. what grease etc) 2.) Usage and 3.) Internal quality. If your gun is of decent make, and bought brand new, you shouldn't really have to go near it for maybe a year, or perhaps after 6 months. Basically all you'd be doing is cleaning your gearbox (removing old caked on grease, and replacing with new/fresh silicone grease), checking parts for wear (trigger contacts, gearbox springs for tappet plate & trigger etc, piston, gears etc), and checking your cylinder's compression. Then it's just a reassemble, and you're sorted. This is the infuriating part of the process - reassembling requires patience. Do not even go near it unless you have the time to give it.

Upgrading...no need unless you have need. Unless you're actively pursuing a specific end-goal, I really wouldn't bother - it just winds up costing a lot of money for a placebo effect. If you're unhappy with range, replace barrel & hop. If unhappy with ROF, replace battery and motor. If you want burst fire, improved trigger response, and even greater ROF, increased barrel length etc, then by all means dive into the gearbox...but if there is no need, then simply put there is no need.

Repairs...these are probably the main reason to learn. It keeps costs down, and means if something goes wrong you have the competency to at least diagnose the problem. Just remember that if you aren't confident in what you're doing (i.e. what parts to replace etc), then ask someone that does. A lot of people cause quite a lot of problems for themselves when repairing their own gear; replacing 1 gear with an incompatible replacement etc. There are no stupid questions.

The road is long...and we're mostly a friendly bunch. Ask any questions you have. But yeah, my advice is don't bother until you have to. I don't see a need to actively search out a 'practise' gun or anything of the sort. Your own gear will suffice - it will drive home the old adage of "if it ain't broke, don't attack it with a screwdriver until it is broke"

I did write a resonably long reply to this but walked away from my PC's and my login timeout out I think and it was lost when I clicked "Submit Reply"

The jist of it was - I'm curious and I like seeing how things work and some day I think I'd like to build an AEG from scratch, just so that I know I can. Have previous done this with computers, cameras, radios and other assorted items but then once I know it works I'm happy.

My wife thinks i'm a complete nerd which I think might be a compliment coming from someone with a phd in astrophysics haha

I currently have a Masada and G&P Stoner and don't think I want to practice on those as they are working perfectly and would be expensive to replace so I'm thinking of getting a cheap new or 2nd hand aeg and stripping it down.

I'll have no problems asking questions as I come from the "better to ask and look a fool for 5 minutes than not and be a fool for life" school of thought.

Thanks for all the advice guys

Johnny.G

as the guys above recommended, just go on youtube and find a dissasembaly guide and follow it.i did it and have learned pritty much all you can about most aegs and i'd say im just under the standard of a proper tec.its not that im great(i am:)) but the videos are easy to follow and pritty educational

Stercus Accidit

Don't over tighten screws and strip them, don't have your shims too tight, grease in moderation, silicon oil on fast bits, set your sector gear to rest just before the piston and with the nub not yet engaging the tappet plate for reassembly, do all your work in a shoebox or a flat table where you can keep your screws.

There are some basic tips. Gearboxes on AEGs are pretty simple really, you can ask on here if you get stuck. Things like installing a new hop rubber have their own nuances but you can ask specific questions as you go.