Ataman AP16 Compact - Problem

After a long wait, I was finally able to get my hands on this pistol.

It just came with a magazine, an allen key, 2 probes, a moderator and 2 small o'rings, which I presume to be replacements for the fill probes.

It had no owners manual but I downloaded one from the web.

The manual states that if one has a completely empty air cylinder, I should cock the gun before attempting to fill. I did that but immediately air started rushing out from the barrel.

I unscrewed the air cylinder and tried filling it and it topped up just fine, but as soon as i reattached it, all the air leaked out. 

Further, the manual also says 'It is possible to store the pistol depressurized, but it may be necessary to disassemble the cylinder and lubricate all the rubber seals before using', which rubber seals are those and how do I get to them. This is a brand new gun but it must have been kept depressurized at either the store or before it was put on a flight here, which too has been a few weeks by now.

Also, please, could any one can tell me all the right sizes and hardness of the o'rings for this pistol so that I may have a few sets in hand. If i have the correct numbers, i can try finding them from oringsandmore.

I would really appreciate HELP on this, I have been waiting a long time for this and need to make it work. soon.

It really is a beautiful pistol ! attaching a picture.

Thanks in advance

1544216570_15517802175c0adffa2575b4.97129455_Inked20181207_234006_LI.jpg

 
The manual, at least the one I have (and should be the same as the one online), has more detail on parts than any other I've seen without searching out part diagrams so i'd go there first for parts ID. Just about to leave for carpool duty or I'd scan mine.

My guess is that your valve isn't seating. At your own risk.... I'd put the tube on and fire once or twice (make sure there is pressure in the air tube!!) If you don't want the risk... call your retailer. If it was PA, they are a service center for these last I saw so they should be able to help..
 
Edited for modification

I don't own that particular pistol you have but I can offer you 3 possible solutions.

I would send it back before taking it apart myself.

1- call the vendor you got it from for input and return warranty instruction

1.5- be sure the freshly filled air cylinder is ON TIGHT give her a little muscle.

2- while pointed in a safe direction or at your backstop, load a pellet into the pistol then screw on your fully charged air cylinder always pointing at your backstop or a safe direction. Safer yet if you have a felt cleaning pellet load that instead. It may give you sufficient back pressure to force the valve to seat.

3- last resort. STOP...HAMMER TIME. May sound ridiculous but it just may work. Plan everything ahead make everything ready to do. Fill up the air tube, screw it onto the pistol, wrap it good in a towel, bash it really hard with a rubber mallet as if you want to kill it until it stops leaking. Note to hit the area the air cylinder screws into the gun flip her over onto the other side and repeat if necessary. You are giving it some jolts to seat the valve and to release any dirt, dust or debris. In many instances the check valve if its at the filling end thats leaking. Sometimes just snugging the air cylinder tigher does the trick.

Don't worry shes an Ataman I think she may even like it rough.



CA
 
The manual, at least the one I have (and should be the same as the one online), has more detail on parts than any other I've seen without searching out part diagrams so i'd go there first for parts ID. Just about to leave for carpool duty or I'd scan mine.

My guess is that your valve isn't seating. At your own risk.... I'd put the tube on and fire once or twice (make sure there is pressure in the air tube!!) If you don't want the risk... call your retailer. If it was PA, they are a service center for these last I saw so they should be able to help..

thank you.

i shall take the risk. i dont have any retailer support. i shall open up all things openable and put them back together and see what happens.
 
Edited for modification

I don't own that particular pistol you have but I can offer you 3 possible solutions.

I would send it back before taking it apart myself.

1- call the vendor you got it from for input and return warranty instruction

1.5- be sure the freshly filled air cylinder is ON TIGHT give her a little muscle.

2- while pointed in a safe direction or at your backstop, load a pellet into the pistol then screw on your fully charged air cylinder always pointing at your backstop or a safe direction. Safer yet if you have a felt cleaning pellet load that instead. It may give you sufficient back pressure to force the valve to seat.

3- last resort. STOP...HAMMER TIME. May sound ridiculous but it just may work. Plan everything ahead make everything ready to do. Fill up the air tube, screw it onto the pistol, wrap it good in a towel, bash it really hard with a rubber mallet as if you want to kill it until it stops leaking. Note to hit the area the air cylinder screws into the gun flip her over onto the other side and repeat if necessary. You are giving it some jolts to seat the valve and to release any dirt, dust or debris. In many instances the check valve if its at the filling end thats leaking. Sometimes just snugging the air cylinder tigher does the trick.

Don't worry shes an Ataman I think she may even like it rough.



CA

cant send it back. no vendor to call :)

shall try 1.5 & 2 and if that doesnt work, shall try and grow a pair to attempt # 3 hehehehe


 
Yes by all means don't hesitate and you should do it before attempting to open the gun up because you probably wouldn't need to open up the gun.

CA

i tried all you suggested, still the situation remains the same... the felt cleaning pellet flew out as soon as i tightened the air cylinder. the air seems to be only coming out of the transfer port.

i opened up the gun as far as i could go. i have come to this point and i see this black thingy which seems to be stuck. as there was a spring over it i presume that it should be something which should be moving and isnt. 

attaching a few pictures, in case you can advice.

1544383235_12139106835c0d6b0375ff60.81174261_20181209_234935.jpg
1544383236_3459196675c0d6b042c9c28.46709400_20181209_235009.jpg

 
The manual, at least the one I have (and should be the same as the one online), has more detail on parts than any other I've seen without searching out part diagrams so i'd go there first for parts ID. Just about to leave for carpool duty or I'd scan mine.

My guess is that your valve isn't seating. At your own risk.... I'd put the tube on and fire once or twice (make sure there is pressure in the air tube!!) If you don't want the risk... call your retailer. If it was PA, they are a service center for these last I saw so they should be able to help..

Sir, what did you mean by putting the tube on fire?

I managed to push the valve seat out and it has a rod in it. After reinstalling it either jumps out or gets stuck again. I think the rod which goes in the small hole beneath sticks. It's slightly rough at the end.
 
repropbate - I was simply suggesting that you fire the pistol once or twice before all the air leaked out, but I think the real key (if I'm on the right track) is getting the valve to seat.

Tube installed, rifle cocked, THEN fill the airtube. If it still leaks, (and this is where the risk of damage to the valve comes into play) insert mag and shoot a pellet or two before it leaks empty (even if the fill hose is still attached). Fireing a PCP with low or no pressure behind the valve is prone to damage the valve/valve seat. So that's your risk if you attempt this.

It's not terribly unusual for a pcp valve to not 'seat' from an empty fill. Having the rifle cocked helps in MOST of those cases. A 'faster' flow at the start of a fill can sometimes get things seated too, especially in addition to the action being cocked. But any success going this route is based on an assumption that the gun came empty, or was shot until the airtube was at a low enough pressure to not reseat the valve and therefore let all the air escape.
 
The little black "thingy" is the valve. That being stuck is your problem. The valve should move forward to fire, and then the spring (which you removed) should push the valve backward to seal.

Once you get that out it needs to be smoother then a babies butt on the backside where it seals.

Looking at your bottom pic it appears as though you should be able to insert a small punch behind the valve and leverage it forward and out.
 
The little black "thingy" is the valve. That being stuck is your problem. The valve should move forward to fire, and then the spring (which you removed) should push the valve backward to seal.

Once you get that out it needs to be smoother then a babies butt on the backside where it seals.

Looking at your bottom pic it appears as though you should be able to insert a small punch behind the valve and leverage it forward and out.

thanks,

yes i managed to leverage it out. it did take some pulling. when i put it back it still gets stuck and does not move freely, which i presume should not be the case ?

what needs to be smooth ? the black thing (valve ?) its underside which is attached to the rod, or the end of the rod (valve rod?) the end of the rod is NOT smooth... should i polish it? 

thanks for the help. and apologies if some questions seem stupid.
 
If it gets stuck you need to make sure the stem is not bent. Put in on a smooth surface like a counter top and roll it with the black plastic off the end so only the stem rolls on the surface. It should be perfectly straight. IF not you need to straighten it or get a new one. If it's straight them you need to take some very fine steel wool (or a scotchbrite pad)and smooth the stem. It likely has some fine corrosion on it. It should be smooth. Keep trying to put it in and see if it moves freely. Once you have it moving freely then the spring should close the valve. You may not need to do any smoothing to the valve sealing surface. Once the stem moves freely it should close and seal. If it closes but them leaks real slowly then the sealing surface might need work. I would just try smoothing the stem first till it moves freely.



I haven't seen the hammer in person. JCD has one of those guns so he should be able to tell you how to get to it. I would imagine it's under that backstrap of the grip frame.
 
If it gets stuck you need to make sure the stem is not bent. Put in on a smooth surface like a counter top and roll it with the black plastic off the end so only the stem rolls on the surface. It should be perfectly straight. IF not you need to straighten it or get a new one. If it's straight them you need to take some very fine steel wool (or a scotchbrite pad)and smooth the stem. It likely has some fine corrosion on it. It should be smooth. Keep trying to put it in and see if it moves freely. Once you have it moving freely then the spring should close the valve. You may not need to do any smoothing to the valve sealing surface. Once the stem moves freely it should close and seal. If it closes but them leaks real slowly then the sealing surface might need work. I would just try smoothing the stem first till it moves freely.



I haven't seen the hammer in person. JCD has one of those guns so he should be able to tell you how to get to it. I would imagine it's under that backstrap of the grip frame.

thank you. shall try this out. wish me luck
 
Still no luck, polish3d it up a bit but the the stem still sticks. It seems not a 100 percent straight. Shall try and set it straight. And check.

Got in touch with a gentleman, Mr. Rustum, from Ataman. He is also suggesting that I get the valve moving smoothly. He says to use a drill 1.5 to 1.6 mm in the hole.

Don't have that size in hand, Shall get it tomorrow and follow his advice. He was kind enough to make a video for me and emailed me. My appreciation for Ataman went up many fold by his dealing and attitude. 2 thumbs up!
 
My AP-16 wouldn't completely cycle the magazine a lot and hung up trying to close the cocking lever.. Sent it back for warranty and they replaced the magazine. Still not right. Sent it back again and it came back with the same problem,even tho I explained that the paw was too short. Fixed it myself by soldering a sliver of steel on the paw and filing it to cycle the magazine correctly each shot. Works perfect and will shoot 2" groups at 55 yards off a sand bag. Very happy with the pistol :)