Karma Karma EQ in pieces..

[trapdoor2]

Seen one apart?

Yah...I tore it all down today. Very interesting build. Took a good bit of study to get it to this level.

I've been having screwy issues with the regulator...at least that's what I'm hanging my hat on at the moment. So...I yanked it out.

Actually, it looked fine (the whole rifle). Clean, no bad o-rings, well lubricated. The reg had some corrosion on the pressure bar (tiny little bar that sits crosswise under the adjustment screw. I polished it up. The nylon seat looked good too. I don't have a split screwdriver to get to the spring washer stack, so I just put it all back together. I'll test it and either its good or I'll make a special-tip screwdriver and try again.

At least I know how it comes apart and reassembles now!

The only "pick" I can mention is that the barrel screws were torqued down unevenly (one was loose). When I pulled the muzzle plug/shroud mount, the barrel was so tight to one side (at the muzzle) the damn thing took a lot of force to unscrew...and once it was off, I could see the muzzle was off center in the shroud.

In removing the barrel, I noticed the barrel screw issue...and going back together I took care to balance the torquing sequence, checking centering, etc. Now the muzzle plug spins out comfortably with my fingers. Might shoot better with less side pressure on the barrel too...

I've got it mostly back together...but I'm gonna work on the trigger tomorrow. I removed the e-clip from the trigger push-rod and replaced it with a 1/8" stop-collar (which has a grub screw). No more chasing that tiny e-clip all over the workbench and floor!

 

[Dstrac]

Seen one apart?

View attachment 577808
Yah...I tore it all down today. Very interesting build. Took a good bit of study to get it to this level.

I've been having screwy issues with the regulator...at least that's what I'm hanging my hat on at the moment. So...I yanked it out.

Actually, it looked fine (the whole rifle). Clean, no bad o-rings, well lubricated. The reg had some corrosion on the pressure bar (tiny little bar that sits crosswise under the adjustment screw. I polished it up. The nylon seat looked good too. I don't have a split screwdriver to get to the spring washer stack, so I just put it all back together. I'll test it and either its good or I'll make a special-tip screwdriver and try again.

At least I know how it comes apart and reassembles now!

The only "pick" I can mention is that the barrel screws were torqued down unevenly (one was loose). When I pulled the muzzle plug/shroud mount, the barrel was so tight to one side (at the muzzle) the damn thing took a lot of force to unscrew...and once it was off, I could see the muzzle was off center in the shroud.

In removing the barrel, I noticed the barrel screw issue...and going back together I took care to balance the torquing sequence, checking centering, etc. Now the muzzle plug spins out comfortably with my fingers. Might shoot better with less side pressure on the barrel too...

I've got it mostly back together...but I'm gonna work on the trigger tomorrow. I removed the e-clip from the trigger push-rod and replaced it with a 1/8" stop-collar (which has a grub screw). No more chasing that tiny e-clip all over the workbench and floor!

Wow! You tore that down! The one thing that bothers me about my eq 30 is the regulator. I asked my dealer , the 1st time I was told all regulators creep and the 2nd time I didn't even get a response. If I shoot fast it's no problem if I pause to reload a magazine my regulator creeps up a few hundred psi. When I store it overnight the regulator creeps 3-400 psi.

 

[trapdoor2]

Wow! You tore that down! The one thing that bothers me about my eq 30 is the regulator. I asked my dealer , the 1st time I was told all regulators creep and the 2nd time I didn't even get a response. If I shoot fast it's no problem if I pause to reload a magazine my regulator creeps up a few hundred psi. When I store it overnight the regulator creeps 3-400 psi.

I had the opposite issue. My reg creeps down 200psi in just a few shots...and I can't get above 870fps with 33g pellets (it's a .25) no matter what I do.
I want to shoot slugs...but I can't get the velocity.

 

[Rizz01]

Well, now I think I'll hold off on buying one...

 

[trapdoor2]

Well, now I think I'll hold off on buying one...

I wouldn't recommend one for somebody who doesn't want to experiment. No manual, no parts breakdown, very little knowledge-base. Support from DonnyFL has been good but even they don't have much knowledge of the platform.

Fortunately, I went in knowing it would be a challenge. I think it is a good design, well executed. It just needs some sorting out to achieve its potential, no different than old, well documented war horses like the Mrod. That's what happens with new designs.

I'm enjoying the process!

 

[Cantona256]

I wouldn't recommend one for somebody who doesn't want to experiment. No manual, no parts breakdown, very little knowledge-base. Support from DonnyFL has been good but even they don't have much knowledge of the platform.

Fortunately, I went in knowing it would be a challenge. I think it is a good design, well executed. It just needs some sorting out to achieve its potential, no different than old, well documented war horses like the Mrod. That's what happens with new designs.

I'm enjoying the process!

Hahaha this sounds a lot like owning a barra 250z…probably dumb to pick a brand new gun as my very first pcp but it’s worked out amazingly well. After a LOT of work and asking a million questions of course.

I say all that because this gun looks really cool but I was kinda hoping for something a bit more easy to deal with for my next gun haha. Sounds like I need to wait.

 

[Dstrac]

I had the opposite issue. My reg creeps down 200psi in just a few shots...and I can't get above 870fps with 33g pellets (it's a .25) no matter what I do.
I want to shoot slugs...but I can't get the velocity.

That Interesting? Complete opposite. Im shooting aea master slugs 52.2gr around 890fps. I had trouble with zan slugs they were all over the target. I tried a sample pack and gave up at 59 gr I never tried the 63 or 68 gr. Shoots 45 and 50 gr pellets decent but i typically shoot the slugs. Hopefully you can get the regulator squared away.

 

[trapdoor2]

That Interesting? Complete opposite. Im shooting aea master slugs 52.2gr around 890fps. I had trouble with zan slugs they were all over the target. I tried a sample pack and gave up at 59 gr I never tried the 63 or 68 gr. Shoots 45 and 50 gr pellets decent but i typically shoot the slugs. Hopefully you can get the regulator squared away.

One of the reasons I disassembled it was thinking there was an obstruction somewhere. I could not get to 900fps, even with 25g pellets.

I need to recheck the barrel seating depth. There's a plug on top that allowed them to drill the transfer port. I forgot to check it yesterday. Although the barrel has 360° of porting, it is possible there's something I missed there. The transfer port adjuster is fine, nothing I could see there...but it acted like it was closed down.

 

[Cantona256]

One of the reasons I disassembled it was thinking there was an obstruction somewhere. I could not get to 900fps, even with 25g pellets.

I need to recheck the barrel seating depth. There's a plug on top that allowed them to drill the transfer port. I forgot to check it yesterday. Although the barrel has 360° of porting, it is possible there's something I missed there. The transfer port adjuster is fine, nothing I could see there...but it acted like it was closed down.

Has anyone been able to fully take the reg apart? I ask because my 250z (also a Chinese gun) had a good amount of reg creep when I first got it. Turns out the lube was just crap. I took it apart, gave it a tiny polish and applied the Airshootist reg butter. That stuff is actual magic.

 

[trapdoor2]

Has anyone been able to fully take the reg apart? I ask because my 250z (also a Chinese gun) had a good amount of reg creep when I first got it. Turns out the lube was just crap. I took it apart, gave it a tiny polish and applied the Airshootist reg butter. That stuff is actual magic.

I'll have to check it out!

 

[CanMike]

That’s a lot of REG creep. Especially in the short time of a magazine change. That can’t be right.

Mike

 

[blackdog899]

Trigger is bad and I believe uncorrectable with just adjustments.
Have not found any combinations where I could say it’s accurate.
Been through about 2000 pellets.

 

[trapdoor2]

I won't say the trigger is bad. I have mine at 2lbs (which is really too light for me)...but the sear needs stoning. I'll get to that later. Triggers on bullpup designs are always a problem. They're always going to be different from a "normal" trigger.

I haven't seen any indication that mine is inherently inaccurate...but with a iffy regulator it is difficult to produce consistent groups. I'm working on that...

 

[trapdoor2]

I did get the reg apart, cleaned, polished...no more creep, solid from 1000 to 3000. I should get my Reg Butter soon. The washer stack requires a spanner screwdriver...which also should be here soon.

Still chasing velocity issues. At 1800psi reg (4300 cyl), I got just over 700fps with AEA 33.9g pellets. I went up in 200psi reg steps and at 3000psi, only 840fps! Transfer port verified wide open, ran the hammer spring thru its range...only velocity loss.

Am pulling the valve body today. There's gotta be a restriction somewhere.

 

[trapdoor2]

"There's yer problem!"

Yup, the valve body/plenum wasn't screwed completely into the action. The picture I took when it arrived back in June shows a distinct gap...so it has been a problem since day one. It took a lot of larnin' to finally figure it out. Of course, now I can disassemble/reassemble it in my sleep...which is pretty normal for me.

After reassembly this afternoon, I did some chrono testing. With the .25cal, 33.9g AEA pellets @ 1800psi reg, it now shoots 900fps. @ 2000psi, I was able to run a full magazine averaging 916fps with a max of 930fps. SD over 26 shots was 7.9.

I'm very much relieved. Now I can stop being a detective and get out on the range for some groups!

 

[trapdoor2]

Addendum:

I woke up this morning and realized that the valve body seating issue isn't a "bug", it is a feature.

The valve body has spanner holes around its periphery because it is an adjustment. This is the "power wheel" of the EQ. Moving the valve body aft to "fully seated" = max power...and max air usage (meaning fewer shots per charge). Moving the valve body forward (using the spanners holes to turn the body in its threads) reduces how far the valve opens, regulating the volume of air available to the transfer port.

Now we have the full tuning suite:

1. Cylinder pressure
2. Regulator press
3. Power valve
4. Transfer port
5. Hammer Spring

 

[Trucker3573]

Thanks for all the info. When these were first shown I really wanted one as they looked awesome for the price. It’s a shame all the problems these have had. No way these should pass to the market for 1k. I admit I’m harsh on companies but this probably takes karma off my map for good. I guess it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the child with the least thought and love toward it turns out problematic. I mean we all know which kid got all the love and attention.

 

[trapdoor2]

Thanks for all the info. When these were first shown I really wanted one as they looked awesome for the price. It’s a shame all the problems these have had. No way these should pass to the market for 1k. I admit I’m harsh on companies but this probably takes karma off my map for good. I guess it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the child with the least thought and love toward it turns out problematic. I mean we all know which kid got all the love and attention.

As I've said, it isn't for everybody. The biggest problem has been the learning curve...I mean, there's no manual, no documentation.

Now that I understand how it works, I expect it will be no different than any other bullpup PCP.

Yes, I would love to have a Red Panda!