AirForce PCP Hand Pump mod

BigBang J · Wed May 25, 2011 12:48 pm

Hey guys, I just bought an AirForce PCP Hand Pump. So far it works great for I need, it fills an empty 30 oz. air tank to 1000 psi in 11 min.

I have a question though, there is a little brass screen type air filter that into the base, looks like 1/8" npt threads. For the most part I am only going to be filling tanks to 1000 psi with it, and I was wondering if you guys think it a good idea to take out that little air filter and hook my air compressor up to that inlet port, and send a regulated input of maybe 40-50 psi into that port? And shouldn't that make the fill quicker as well?

What do you guys think, anybody know anything about these pumps??

warhead052 · Wed May 25, 2011 1:14 pm

How much did something like that cost?! Thats insane, 1,000 psi from a hand pump?!

Crna Legija · Wed May 25, 2011 1:36 pm

be careful when you pressurize the input it might rocket the handle up like a air ram and you wont wanna be in its way.

also the seals wont last very long they are made to top off near full tanks not fill from 0

warhead052 wrote:How much did something like that cost?! Thats insane, 1,000 psi from a hand pump?!

lol its rated from 3000psi, they go for $150-$300. sae(i think), made a pump that hit 1000psi

warhead052 · Wed May 25, 2011 1:40 pm

Wow, 3,000? Just as well I don't have that kind of cash, or anything that can take that sort of pressure, other wise you guys might have some serious competition.

wyz2285 · Wed May 25, 2011 3:15 pm

I'm interested

where did you bought it? My fridge compressor is only able of about 70 bar

saefroch · Wed May 25, 2011 3:34 pm

Yeah, my pump can reach 1,000psi, it's really not all that difficult.

If you can set this up as a two-stage DO IT. The results are incredible. Think about it... you're inputting 14.7psi right now, bumping that up to 60psi increases the inputted volume by a factor of 4.

wyz2285 · Wed May 25, 2011 3:50 pm

Hum

any body can teach me how to make a two-stage pump or mod my fridge compressor? My dad had suggested me to make a two-stage pump but I didn't know how

Gippeto · Wed May 25, 2011 4:19 pm

Leave it alone.

It's already a three stage pump, and is designed to produce HIGH pressure. The down side...as you've discovered...is the low flow rate.

Use it as it was intended and all will be good...abuse it...and it'll break.

Also...it's only meant to be used for 5 minutes at a time...then let cool down for 15 minutes. Repeat until bottle is full.

Failure to allow cooling time will result in SHORT seal life.

wyz2285 · Wed May 25, 2011 5:38 pm

Thanks for the advice. I will let the compressor to cool down. But I recently bought a pressure regulator from China that takes 150 bar, I really want something that can reach that pressure, something not to big, can be used at home and has a reasonable price :s

BigBang J · Wed May 25, 2011 9:03 pm

warhead052 and wyz2285:

The pump cost me $195.75 and I bought it from a supplier on ebay, I think there are only 2 suppliers right now and they are having difficulty keeping them in stock.

Gippeto: tell me if I am wrong here. I figured that the pump is made to pressurize pcp gun tanks from 2000-3000psi, which I would think at those high pressures the friction from the compressed air would gennerate more heat than from 0-1000psi. So therefore I shouldn't have as much of a problem with heat. Although after 11min of pumping the cylinder is warm to the touch.

Maybe I should have built a higher flowing 2 stage pump that would reach 1000 psi, but I really have to many projects going on right now and so I just went with quick and simple. Also it is the size of a large bicycle pump, so it doesn't take up much room.

Gippeto · Wed May 25, 2011 9:59 pm

Having heard a great many sad stories from guys trying to get their pcp pumps rebuilt (admittedly more with the Benjamin Discovery pump), can a fellow go far wrong by following the instructions from the manufacturer?

At the least, doing so should not invalidate any existing warranty.

But, at the end of the day, it's your pump... and your problem if it breaks/wears out prematurely.

Have fun.

BigBang J · Wed May 25, 2011 10:18 pm

[quote="Gippeto"]Having heard a great many sad stories from guys trying to get their pcp pumps rebuilt (admittedly more with the Benjamin Discovery pump), can a fellow go far wrong by following the instructions from the manufacturer?quote]

Yeah good point, but there is always that adventurous part of me that wants to try things and try to make things work better.

Crna Legija · Wed May 25, 2011 10:53 pm

wyz2285 wrote:Hum any body can teach me how to make a two-stage pump or mod my fridge compressor? My dad had suggested me to make a two-stage pump but I didn't know how

find the input of your fridge comp, then feed 50ish psi into it from a normal compressor. you will be amazed at how much faster it is and how high it can go.

someone had his fridge at like 1850psi, i forget who

warhead052 · Thu May 26, 2011 11:15 am

Thanks bigbang, but I don't think I can afford one for awhile.

I wish I had the money to support some bigger and more expensive builds, for instance I want to make a howitzer, and possible a flak 88, but I don't think I will ever have the cash, or space, to build those.

BigBang J · Thu May 26, 2011 11:44 am

Whoa dude! a flak 88?
That would be an expensive build. Would be pretty cool though:)

AirForce PCP Hand Pump mod

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