If I knew then what I know now I'd......

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jking

jking

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May 12, 2015
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Hobbs NM, United States
.....stay away from the mid priced Chines compressors, specifically the Hatsan Lightning and its cousin the AirVenturi 4500. It's the same ole story almost weekly that someones compressor stopped making air. Then the task of sourcing parts and waiting on them to show up. Being a AV owner I've had numerous failures with lots of down time and it's the same story with the Hatsan. I will say this though AV customer service is pretty good actually and they do have parts on hand but from what I've heard from Hatsan owners its pretty much non-existent and acquiring parts is futile. I do have mine up and running again (very well actually) but I know it could and kind of expect it break just when ever. 

It's also seems like a lot of the smaller portable compressors are also short lived before the trouble starts.

If someone is inclined to go the Hatsan or AV route I would recommend the Yong Heng or the Tuxing because of the price difference and the simplicity, not near as many un-needed whistles and bells even though they share the same gene pool as the other two. Both of these are very capable of filling tanks at 1/3 the price of the AV and Lightning. If the Yong Heng blows up after a couple of years just chunk it and get another one. 

If I knew then what I know now I'd probably go with a ShoeBox since money is an issue for me. I've been urged to get one by a buddy for years and I kind of blew it off since they are a slow filling booster, but heck I'm not in that big of hurry any more and so far I've been really impressed with it. If money wasn't an issue a high end compressor might be setting in my shop.... but..

Jking
 
I've had my shoebox going on 6 years and only had one problem with it. Rebuilt the pistons and up and running again. It is slow and Doc has chuckle about how long it takes me to top off my tanks but as long as the little engine that could keeps filling my tanks, I'm ok with it being slow. I bought a rebuild kit that will rebuild my shoebox 5 times over so to me that's a good enough to put up with how slow it is.
 
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After reading this post and the other one by bigragu. I’ve decided going forward that I’m not going to go to full 4500 PSI fills on my 45 and 60 min. SCBAs. I will be only filling them to 4000-4200 PSI. Hoping to maximize its lifespan. If and when it utterly dies. I’ll buy a better one or get the slower, more reliable Shoebox. I only have one bottle gun. I can use my hand pump on the others in a pinch.
 
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It never fails to amaze me that folks wont hesitate to pay 2k+ for an airgun, but balk at the price of the equipment to feed it properly. There is some truth to the saying that "you get what you pay for". If you want to pay 300 bucks for a compressor to feed your 2k airgun, don't be surprised when it fails to measure up in both the short and long haul. Chinese Mickey Mouse compressors will let you down in the long run, check that in both short and long.. Unless your the type that charges a tank and shoots off of it for 2 months. Truly I hope you have good luck with your equipment, but then, hope is not a plan.
 
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I agree 100% on JKing and this tread. LLeon, unfortunately I still am struggling to get my Lightning back up. I posted on my own tread that I received the new parts from Tuxing, and with a brand new second stage cylinder head the pressure now went up to 2200 psi, but it took 20 minutes to get there and there it stayed. 

Currently, I have the first stage all opened up, and I’m going to change out the gaskets, clean out a bunch of built up crud, along with install a new stainless blade reed valve(that all came in the Tuxing gasket kit, parts for low and high pressure heads) but I needed to get some RTV sealant cause the coolant is sealed using an RTV vs o rings on that head. Tomorrow’s project, hopefully.

Still trying to look at the glass half full, know what I mean? All concerns of air supply isn’t there with my recent investment of the used Alkin, but my goal was to get this Lightning to 100% or “like new” so whoever I sold it to I would feel confident that he’d get the great use I once had with it. I don’t give up easily.

i want to add here on this open forum, that all help towards trying to get this compressor up and running in the form of parts came from Tuxing and no other manufacturer, even though I have left many calls unreturned, emails with no reply, and filled out service forms asking for help and parts with no reply from the seller of this Lightning. I now join the crowd of the disappointed, whereas before, I thought I never would. I’m actually pretty pissed at the whole situation.

Mr. Slingarian- when I invested in this Lightning I thought I was doing the right thing- air supply a priority over a gun. I’ve said this before, but the budget I was allowed 1.5 years ago allowed me a compressor and my dream gun(at that time) which was the newly released FX Boss in 30 cal. But, I wanted air supply a priority, so I went with the almost $1400 Lightning, and when I counted tax and shipping, well, the Boss wasn’t affordable then, and I settled for my Hercules Bully. So, I’m long winded in telling you that yes, not all folks take gun over air like you mentioned. 



Knowing what I know now, well, I would’ve gotten a Benjamin Disco as my first gun, and a brand new Alkin compressor or a Bauer. But, how would I have known back then if I would’ve enjoyed this hobby or taken it to the levels I have now? Plus, who all can throw $3200 to $4000 out to a pcp compressor on a whim? It all comes with experience, and learning from my mistakes.



Who knows? Here’s a knuckle curveball at you- what happens if getting a $4000 compressor right out of this pcp gate would have led to a “final straw” with wifey and I end up divorced, lost house, pension, etc., and then I’d be at the local bar crying to the bartender “if I only would’ve just bought a Yong Heng! WAAAAA!”
 
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Good post, my experience:

In 2018 i bought the "best" yh com (auto stop version) was good for 1 year. Before got broke.

In 2019 I got the new not yh digital panel compressor, just love it, better than yh version I had and cero issues but an oring busted. Use it for filling 6.8 and 9 L scba bottles. (Yellow wonder)

Also in 2019 i got the the hatsan spark china version, as back up, travel and for topping off rifles only, not too bad, but it gets hot real fast. 

In the same time 2019, a friend bought a us$ 5.000 dive compressor , got broken twice.

As Jking said, If my yellow wonder got broke, I will just get another one. For about 450 shipping included from China.
 
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It never fails to amaze me that folks wont hesitate to pay 2k+ for an airgun, but balk at the price of the equipment to feed it properly. There is some truth to the saying that "you get what you pay for". If you want to pay 300 bucks for a compressor to feed your 2k airgun, don't be surprised when it fails to measure up in both the short and long haul. Chinese Mickey Mouse compressors will let you down in the long run, check that in both short and long.. Unless your the type that charges a tank and shoots off of it for 2 months. Truly I hope you have good luck with your equipment, but then, hope is not a plan.
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I paid good money for the Lightning so I don’t get the comparisons. Also I’m not using “hope” as a plan. I maintain the unit as recommended. And I am the type that shoots off my two tanks for at least a month. So that where the hoping it lasts longer comment comes from. Filling my tanks once a month as opposed to 4-5 times per month. I believe might get me further down the road. If and when it dies, I’ll replace it with a Shoebox or go bigger still... yet to be determined.
 
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Yeah, I, too was a once a month user of the Lightning, then with the acquiring of two Wildcats and setting up the Huma reg in them, I found myself needing to top of my tank at least once a week. I was very religious about the maintenance. If I only used it for 5 minutes to say, check on the digital gage calibration, that 5 minutes of use got documented. I was also like a hawk on that temp gage as well, giving myself a 10 degree buffer as to when I would shut the compressor down and let it cool off. In the 1.5 years I used it, I’ve only had to shut it off due to high temps one time, when filling a tank from zero to full. 

You can bet your butt that I will definitely post up pics of my work, as JKing had done on his AV, to help other lightning owners should the time come when their compressors give up the ghost. 
 
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It never fails to amaze me that folks wont hesitate to pay 2k+ for an airgun, but balk at the price of the equipment to feed it properly. There is some truth to the saying that "you get what you pay for". If you want to pay 300 bucks for a compressor to feed your 2k airgun, don't be surprised when it fails to measure up in both the short and long haul. Chinese Mickey Mouse compressors will let you down in the long run, check that in both short and long.. Unless your the type that charges a tank and shoots off of it for 2 months. Truly I hope you have good luck with your equipment, but then, hope is not a plan.
Click to expand...

Many people have had excellent short AND long term results from the YH compressors. A little research will take you a long way.


 
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Yeah, I, too was a once a month user of the Lightning, then with the acquiring of two Wildcats and setting up the Huma reg in them, I found myself needing to top of my tank at least once a week. I was very religious about the maintenance. If I only used it for 5 minutes to say, check on the digital gage calibration, that 5 minutes of use got documented. I was also like a hawk on that temp gage as well, giving myself a 10 degree buffer as to when I would shut the compressor down and let it cool off. In the 1.5 years I used it, I’ve only had to shut it off due to high temps one time, when filling a tank from zero to full. 

You can bet your butt that I will definitely post up pics of my work, as JKing had done on his AV, to help other lightning owners should the time come when their compressors give up the ghost.

It never fails to amaze me that folks wont hesitate to pay 2k+ for an airgun, but balk at the price of the equipment to feed it properly. There is some truth to the saying that "you get what you pay for". If you want to pay 300 bucks for a compressor to feed your 2k airgun, don't be surprised when it fails to measure up in both the short and long haul. Chinese Mickey Mouse compressors will let you down in the long run, check that in both short and long.. Unless your the type that charges a tank and shoots off of it for 2 months. Truly I hope you have good luck with your equipment, but then, hope is not a plan.
Click to expand...

I paid good money for the Lightning so I don’t get the comparisons. Also I’m not using “hope” as a plan. I maintain the unit as recommended. And I am the type that shoots off my two tanks for at least a month. So that where the hoping it lasts longer comment comes from. Filling my tanks once a month as opposed to 4-5 times per month. I believe might get me further down the road. If and when it dies, I’ll replace it with a Shoebox or go bigger still... yet to be determined.
Click to expand...


No insult intended, I really do hope your machine continues to work for you. I shoot alot as do my pals. Two of them tried the YH route and were disappointed. I was fortunate to get a surplus compressor over 15 years ago, that served me and them well until it perished last month. Being spoiled by that old machine led me to buy a new one with similar output, that being the Nuvair MCH6. I have to refill my tank about every 3rd day when it's just me shooting. When my buds get involved it turns to daily. Truely I apologise for the tone of my message and hope your equipment continues to keep you shooting.
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I was recently reading everything I could find about these compressors since I was ready to buy one. I’ve just been using a hand pump. Yong Heng is certainly an option that seems to work for a lot of people but I just didn’t want to take the chance, even though it’s one of the most economical options. Then there’s the Daystate and the Omegas that I seriously considered. The good thing is there are many more options now than there was even 2 or 3 years ago, which is great since getting air can be a one the biggest impediments to owning PCPs. With the shoebox being just $499 and many great reviews regarding the simplicity and reliability it was the best choice for me. I think a lot of guys get caught up with the speed of filling and discount the shoebox, which is fine of course. Different needs for different people. But with a little planning I think the shoebox will work out fine and hopefully save a lot headaches with making sure it’s working. Plus you can fill guns directly or tanks. Time will tell. Thanks for the post. 
 
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When you look at the cost of the fully dressed Impacts or the upper end Daystates, you’re truly only a few hundred away from an Alkin, brand new. My suggestion to anyone in the future that inquires about compressor types and is in the level financially of being able to afford one of those high end guns, then that’s what I’ll tell him. 



Its too too bad I, personally don’t have any buddies close by that are into this hobby, cause pooling our moneys together to invest in a Bauer or Alkin would be the way to go. 

If it makes anyone feel any better, I was chatting away on compressors with John of Airhog and he said he’s got a compressor that he’s used to fill paintball tanks and the Airhog PCP tanks, and at 20 years old, he’s had to replace parts on that thing to keep it going, and it’s a Bauer. 

We should one day start a tread on whose got a compressor, from low end to mid range, that’s got the most hours on it and just keeps on going. Sort of a fun tread where we can brag up on the life spans on the Yong Hengs, Tuxing types, and AV compressors. Basically any compressor made overseas. Part of keeping them going is maintenance and parts change out. Sorta living like a MAD MAX lifestyle with our overseas compressors. 

In the end, this tread would be a great source to find out parts compatibility, parts resource, and how each of us maintain them. I truly dislike downer treads like mine, telling everyone my compressor has given up the ghost, but rather would like to see treads saying wooo hooo! Time for new parts, as my air source is down!
 
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I was recently reading everything I could find about these compressors since I was ready to buy one. I’ve just been using a hand pump. Yong Heng is certainly an option that seems to work for a lot of people but I just didn’t want to take the chance, even though it’s one of the most economical options. Then there’s the Daystate and the Omegas that I seriously considered. The good thing is there are many more options now than there was even 2 or 3 years ago, which is great since getting air can be a one the biggest impediments to owning PCPs. With the shoebox being just $499 and many great reviews regarding the simplicity and reliability it was the best choice for me. I think a lot of guys get caught up with the speed of filling and discount the shoebox, which is fine of course. Different needs for different people. But with a little planning I think the shoebox will work out fine and hopefully save a lot headaches with making sure it’s working. Plus you can fill guns directly or tanks. Time will tell. Thanks for the post.
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Seems it should work well for you. Many have noted excellent service and reliability from the Shoebox compressors. Others have noted the same with the YH or other similar compressors. Which, as you note, is fine. All that matters is that you are happy with your choice. 
 
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