Purchased new on 4/14/21. Fired 273 times, using FX (44 grain,) Hatsan Vortex (48 grain) and JSB (44 grain.) Averaged four to six inch groups at 50 yards. Never apart, in any way, till 11/21. Only used Power Wheel settings of #1 and #7. Dealer claims paperwork to show FX-Sweden shipment as new inventory. Dealer doesn't service, just visually inspects, test fires and ships, if OK. 
This is what happens when using standard Allen wrenches instead of metric. Noticed chewed up adjust hole in Power Wheel and hammer screw marks inside Power Wheel, at more than #1 and #7. Still haven't heard back from FX-USA on warranty claim. WM
Tuning Ever See a Butchered Wildcat? (Graphic)
- Thread starter WorriedMan
- Start date
I just had to remove the stock from my most recent Crown purchase for the first time (to adjust the hammer spring micro-adjuster).
I think that my gun had been assembled by some guy named Guido. I normally use Bondhus straight handled ball end hex drivers. That way when I tighten things back up, I just use 2 fingers on the handle to not overtorque.
Hammer spring 'Power Wheel' screw would not budge. Went to handy t-handle driver next - this is a cheaper quality tool, and I felt like it was going to slip. So I went out to the garage and got a straight-end (not ball end) Bondhus T-Wrench, and finally was able to break it free. Then it initially felt like someone had used Loctite on the screw.
Now your gun may have been a return which was fiddled with and re-sold as new. My gun didn't have any screwed up screw heads. But maybe we're seeing the results of new build staff recently hired at FX to try and catch up with demand?
I think that my gun had been assembled by some guy named Guido. I normally use Bondhus straight handled ball end hex drivers. That way when I tighten things back up, I just use 2 fingers on the handle to not overtorque.
Hammer spring 'Power Wheel' screw would not budge. Went to handy t-handle driver next - this is a cheaper quality tool, and I felt like it was going to slip. So I went out to the garage and got a straight-end (not ball end) Bondhus T-Wrench, and finally was able to break it free. Then it initially felt like someone had used Loctite on the screw.
Now your gun may have been a return which was fiddled with and re-sold as new. My gun didn't have any screwed up screw heads. But maybe we're seeing the results of new build staff recently hired at FX to try and catch up with demand?
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Don't know anyone would consider my gun, on 4/21, was new. Not seeing manufacturing issue, more like messed with and returned. You'd think any return would, at least, have stock removed for visual inspection, Power Wheel, too. Maybe I'm asking too much.
WM
WM
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FX-USA contacted me this afternoon and wanted pictures of damaged items needing replacement, under warranty. I forwarded these pics, just now. I'd requested a replacement but they don't provide guns directly to customers, said has to go through Dealer. I'm not sure how that works, maybe, someone knows. If they determine gun to be replaced, they forward to Dealer? I'm not sure if just replacing all bunged up parts will restore fully, never know long term effects of this butcher job.
WM
WM
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This could also be a gun returned by a youtuber, after doing a review, and being sold as new. I find it hard to believe it came out of fx Sweden that way. In my 35 years in the mechanical trades I’ve uncreated all sorts of equipment new from the factory, with tons of nuts, bolts, etc, and have never seen fasteners ruined by factory workers. This is the work of other hands that have touched this gun long after it left fx.
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Bigragu,
Just gave you a "plus 1." for accuracy. I think you nailed it. I doubt FX even keeps non-Metric tools in the manufacturing area, would be just asking for trouble. I agree, sent to some stateside YouTuber for review, then the yahoo decided to try an Ernest Rowe Performance tune. I also doubt FX would let a butcher like this near their plant, they'd loose the guard dogs out the gate after him. Question is, will anyone expose the truth of a history search of the serial number? I've asked FX-USA three times to do the search, no reply to that request yet.
WM
Just gave you a "plus 1." for accuracy. I think you nailed it. I doubt FX even keeps non-Metric tools in the manufacturing area, would be just asking for trouble. I agree, sent to some stateside YouTuber for review, then the yahoo decided to try an Ernest Rowe Performance tune. I also doubt FX would let a butcher like this near their plant, they'd loose the guard dogs out the gate after him. Question is, will anyone expose the truth of a history search of the serial number? I've asked FX-USA three times to do the search, no reply to that request yet.
WM
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If it were me, I’d focus my energies on either
1. Getting a new replacement
2. Have FX send you new fasteners, a new rear tower to replace the stripped one, new power wheel and any associated parts in that area that were buggered up
3. Have FX replace the parts and get it in new, factory condition and tune.
non of the three I suggested are in order of importance, btw.
I say to focus your energies more towards repair, as I don’t think FX will incriminate a vendor or YouTube star who probably does a lot of reviews for FX.
This reminds me like when I got notified by my bank that a guy came in claiming to be me, with a personal check of mine, and wanted to cash it out. The bank wants to see identification, he says it’s out in his car, walks out and never comes back.
I go to the bank as they instructed me to, and ask that I go thru a series of security measures with them, along with giving them 10 signatures. I ask them if the would be fraud punk was caught on video but they were not going to show me. Who knows? Might be someone I know, right?
And if You did find out, wouldn’t it just tee you off if it was indeed your vendor, and they outright lied to you? Well, what now? Yeah, just get the gun like new again, and enjoy it like I know you will
1. Getting a new replacement
2. Have FX send you new fasteners, a new rear tower to replace the stripped one, new power wheel and any associated parts in that area that were buggered up
3. Have FX replace the parts and get it in new, factory condition and tune.
non of the three I suggested are in order of importance, btw.
I say to focus your energies more towards repair, as I don’t think FX will incriminate a vendor or YouTube star who probably does a lot of reviews for FX.
This reminds me like when I got notified by my bank that a guy came in claiming to be me, with a personal check of mine, and wanted to cash it out. The bank wants to see identification, he says it’s out in his car, walks out and never comes back.
I go to the bank as they instructed me to, and ask that I go thru a series of security measures with them, along with giving them 10 signatures. I ask them if the would be fraud punk was caught on video but they were not going to show me. Who knows? Might be someone I know, right?
And if You did find out, wouldn’t it just tee you off if it was indeed your vendor, and they outright lied to you? Well, what now? Yeah, just get the gun like new again, and enjoy it like I know you will
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To me…this looks like a serviced gun. Hopefully u didn’t pay new price, if you did. Return it.
imperial hex keys, wouldn't remove metric bolts with loctite. they would totally strip the head out.
From the work I’ve done on fx guns they tend to loctite all bolts.
dunno what happens to the threaded hole under the power wheel. Almost looks like somebody took a drill bit to it.
if the only option they give you is replacement parts, I would strip the gun down and get any part replaced that shows damage. And make sure to pull apart the barrel assembly and air tube. Don’t focus to much on hex bolts with damage, they can be replaced. Focus on damage to the expensive components, that could be the reason for your accuracy issues. Action, valve, reg, barrel. Also, make sure u talk to FX about maintaining warranty.
I don’t think it matters at this point who did it…this rifle got back into FX distribution, and was sold. IMO that’s on FX.
imperial hex keys, wouldn't remove metric bolts with loctite. they would totally strip the head out.
From the work I’ve done on fx guns they tend to loctite all bolts.
dunno what happens to the threaded hole under the power wheel. Almost looks like somebody took a drill bit to it.
if the only option they give you is replacement parts, I would strip the gun down and get any part replaced that shows damage. And make sure to pull apart the barrel assembly and air tube. Don’t focus to much on hex bolts with damage, they can be replaced. Focus on damage to the expensive components, that could be the reason for your accuracy issues. Action, valve, reg, barrel. Also, make sure u talk to FX about maintaining warranty.
I don’t think it matters at this point who did it…this rifle got back into FX distribution, and was sold. IMO that’s on FX.
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Bigragu and Corny,
You guys have given accurate assessments and advice. This morning, FX-USA said they'd pay for return and repair, under warranty, but, if I want replacement, I'd need to go through Dealer. Since I paid $1,700. for this gun in April, I'm not sure a factory refurbished one is what I should accept. I've contacted Dealer to pursue replacement. Agreed, who the culprit is, is most likely now known to FX, so they can keep an eye on him in future. My concern, of course, is why did I have to write the check to cover it?
WM
P.S. First few receiver threads for Power Wheel fastening bolt were ground away, in my opinion, by constant cross-threading attempts. (How FX gonna fix that?)
You guys have given accurate assessments and advice. This morning, FX-USA said they'd pay for return and repair, under warranty, but, if I want replacement, I'd need to go through Dealer. Since I paid $1,700. for this gun in April, I'm not sure a factory refurbished one is what I should accept. I've contacted Dealer to pursue replacement. Agreed, who the culprit is, is most likely now known to FX, so they can keep an eye on him in future. My concern, of course, is why did I have to write the check to cover it?
WM
P.S. First few receiver threads for Power Wheel fastening bolt were ground away, in my opinion, by constant cross-threading attempts. (How FX gonna fix that?)
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Looks like she's heading back for warranty work. Dealer talked to FX for an hour, they told him 7 months was too long for me to discover this problem, thus, window for replacement has closed. Warranty is my only option. That big boom you just heard was FX falling off the pedestal I had them on.
WM
WM
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Thanks Glem, and to all the others for support, suggestions and encouragement. Seems a little easier when you can share it with those who understand best.
WM
WM
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Yeah, not much to be proud of as an FX supporter, today. The customer being held responsible for not catching the companies mistake sooner. Think FX missed a golden opportunity to silence the critics by admitting one got by them and replacing the gun. Now they just don't seem so special, anymore.
WM
WM
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Well, I didn't catch the timing you specified in your initial post until I re-read it. Apparently the gun was working O.K., and you hadn't looked it over for any exterior blemishes for... 7 months?
Heck, probably the most generous dealer satisfaction warranty is 60 days, and that's not common at all. But you didn't look at your gun in 7 months of ownership and use?
I think that FX taking it back for review and repair is pretty stand-up on their part.
7 months? Think, from the perspective of a manufacturer or dealer of any item, what can occur in 7 months of use. And you berate FX for not just sending you a new gun?
I won't deny that I seem to be missing something in understanding your complaint.
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Airgun Adventures in Tavares, Florida. Brian has been a great Dealer, he's both honest and professional, and always did his best to take care of me. (He got me an M3 in 30 days!) He fought for me on this, but being a smaller dealer, FX didn't seem too concerned.
WM
WM
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TMH,
Because of the ammo shortage I only had 350 rounds to shoot. I cleaned it carefully, but missed, the damaged stock Allen bolt heads, pictured above. That was the only outside clue to find. I just couldn't get it to shoot well, but with so little ammo, I was at a loss, blaming the Hatsan Vortex ammo, which I stopped using. It wasn't till November that I got some JSBs from ZAN Projectiles and realized it wasn't the ammo. The top picture shows the cross-threaded stock bolt, which was twisted tight to stock. As I fired more it rotated and loosened up causing stock to feel loose to action. That is when I uncovered the real accuracy problem. Hope this offers a clearer picture.
WM
Because of the ammo shortage I only had 350 rounds to shoot. I cleaned it carefully, but missed, the damaged stock Allen bolt heads, pictured above. That was the only outside clue to find. I just couldn't get it to shoot well, but with so little ammo, I was at a loss, blaming the Hatsan Vortex ammo, which I stopped using. It wasn't till November that I got some JSBs from ZAN Projectiles and realized it wasn't the ammo. The top picture shows the cross-threaded stock bolt, which was twisted tight to stock. As I fired more it rotated and loosened up causing stock to feel loose to action. That is when I uncovered the real accuracy problem. Hope this offers a clearer picture.
WM
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