Edgun R3 replacement valve?

[kiba]

Have a bit of a problem and hoping someone can help or has the right part on the shelf...

A few years back a friend bought my .25 R3, and last weekend it finally broke a valve. I thought I had a spare, but did not.

I bought the last 2 R3 valves that Brian at Edgun West had in stock, but they do not fit—the metal rod and plastic spring guide portion of the new valves are too short and do not fit in the regulator properly. While the plastic spring guide portion is barely long enough to engage the valve guide in the middle of the regulator body, the steel rod of the new valves only protrude 2mm from the regulator and I have not even trimmed the valve rod yet. They should protrude 3 to 3.5mm after trimming.

The old valve has a steel rod that measures approximately 43.5mm, and the plastic spring guide portion measures approximately 40.5mm. See the attached picture.

I've sent an email to Francisco to see if he has the correct size valves in stock, but what are my options if he doesn't have any? I figure I could buy some delrin rod and machine my own new piece and press and bond in the old steel rod and brass ribbed retainer. I also recall several years ago a few members playing with very high reg pressures and hammer spring tension were getting custom made metal valves, but I don't recall who made those.

Thanks in advance...

 

[Steyr]

wish i brought an r3 or r3m when i had the chance.

Joost at AGH is a big edgun fan and had/has an R3. he also has lots of spare parts. worth shooting him an email. https://luchtbuks.com/

 

[Steyr]

in fact, i think you in luck! https://luchtbuks.com/en/valvestem-r3m

 

[kiba]

I'll send them an email for dimensions. The valve pictured isn't exactly like the one that came out of the rifle, but as long as the steel rod portion is long enough I can make that one work with a different (shorter) valve spring.

 

[kiba]

Joost is out of stock, so he didn't even have any valves on hand to measure.

Still haven't heard back from Francisco. Hoping he might have a couple that will work.

I'm guessing Ed doesn't make parts for the R3 and older anymore, or if he does they are limited occasional runs. Disappointing, but understandable.

I might have to transfer the old longer rod over to one of the new delrin pieces, or make a new delrin portion myself...

 

[kiba]

Just an update...

I was able to make the new valves from Brian work by transferring the longer steel rod and brass piece from the old valve over to the new delrin portion of the new valves. It's a simple press fit, with the ribs on the brass portion biting into the delrin. With the old longer steel rod transferred to one of the new delrin pieces I had the necessary 3mm to 3.5mm of rod protrusion from the back of the regulator, and the shorter spring guide of the delrin portion of the new valves was still long enough to engage into the valve guide in the regulator body. Rifle is back up and running and shooting great.

Brian also said that Ed isn't going to make any more R3 valves (yikes!) -- but Brian also said he was going to start modifying R5 valves to work in the R3s, which wouldn't be a bad idea. The longer tapered shape behind the sealing face of the delrin portion of the R5 valves is much less prone to breakage than the R3 valve design, but because the tapered portion of the delrin is longer the R5 style valve will need a shorter valve return spring to work in an R3.

Also, Matias from Edgun in Spain got back to me... they were going to dig in the warehouse for any old R3 valves they might still have in stock.