can I modifiy this sprinkler?

Boomer58cal · Sat May 31, 2014 8:19 pm

surfcaster wrote:Thanks so much, it will make it easier to transport with being able to screw the barrel on site with out shagging aroung with thread tape,
just hope its not going to take too long to pump up the 116 cubic inch chamber

What type and size of pump are you using? Foot pump, t-handle bike pump, air compressor?

surfcaster · Sat May 31, 2014 8:34 pm

foot pump that goes up to 100psi on the dial.Its a double barrel foot pump and it didn't take long to pump up a bike tire to 60 psi.
Got to wait till later on today before I can pressurise the launcher as the glue needs 24hours.

Next mission is working out a sabot for the fishing rigs ect....

Boomer58cal · Sat May 31, 2014 9:47 pm

Well pumps very volume, I would guess around a hundred pumps, plus or minus 20 pumps depending upon the size of the pump. My T handle bike pump is the largest volume bike pump I could find in town, it takes about 80 pumps to reach 100 psi with my 110 ci chamber.

Wood dowels would be a environmentally friendly sabot

surfcaster · Sat May 31, 2014 10:22 pm

sweet I was thinking I would be there for ages,going to chuck a spud in it in a couple of hours....

surfcaster · Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:01 am

well well well this thing sure has some grunt!!!!
took it up to 50psi first then a few at 80psi.

It was pretty crap using the solionoid powered up but when I (by accident) turned by hand the solioniod it was very impressive,so not sure if the solionoid is too slow and me turning it is quicker.

It took the side off a piece of ply at 15 feetby hand turning the switch and I could have thrown it harder using the switch,it almost seemed like more air came out after the spud had already came out.

I just need to muck around a bit with it n maybe shorten the barrell

surfcaster · Sun Jun 01, 2014 5:00 am

heres a pic

surfcaster · Sun Jun 01, 2014 5:05 am

heres another

Boomer58cal · Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:25 am

The solenoid valves open super slow. Modding the valve either with a blowgun or another smaller sprinkler valve I'll give you a dramatic increase in performance. You cannot have to large of pilot valve.

Using the solenoid, the valve opens with a whoosh. When you mod the valve with a blowgun they go pop, but when you pilot them with another sprinkler valve they go BANG!.

surfcaster · Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:11 am

ok so I now have modded the sprinkler valve from the side (leaving guide rod ect in place),1/2 inch thread into the side of the valve,got a 10$ blow gun,just waiting for the epoxy to harden.

heres some modd pics

surfcaster · Mon Jun 02, 2014 3:16 am

in the last picture the hole at 1 oclock should I have poxied that one?It joins up with a hole that runs to the exaust side of the bottom half of the valve.

Boomer58cal · Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:22 am

I would plug the little hole at 1 o clock, it will probably allow the valve to stay open longer.

surfcaster · Tue Jun 03, 2014 3:16 am

all good .

What an amazing difference the blow gun has made.As soon as I pulled the trigger on the blow gun there was a hole in my plywood target (spud ammo).Took it to 70psi.Amazing power.

Thanks so much for your help.

watch this space

Boomer58cal · Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:11 pm

Glad I could help.

To quote WikiSpud.
" When it comes to pilot valves, bigger is always better"

Now filler up to 120 psi and it will blow your mind. :bom:

Welcome to the club.

surfcaster · Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:53 am

so I made up some ice clyinders with baited hooks and weights and connected them to the fishing line and pumped it up to 80psi and fired it into the sea,prob went 100m.
next ond I pumped to 90psi and fired it ,the line snapped and it went about 200m I was impressed..

must have bumped the blowgun because the epoxy came away from the valve and the blow gun came off.bugger.

so I need more epoxy and some shock leader.

all good

Wed Jun 11, 2014 8:10 am

DON'T EVER...put ice in a PVC barrel!!

PVC will become brittle and crack...violently!
Trust me..I've been there.
Cut my finger up , my hand went numb asif Ii'd had a firecracker going off in it...bruised my leg..had a purple-blue mark for a week..the size of my thigh..
The barrel split and the entire pistonvalve ripped apart with it.The back of the valve and piston just nearly missed my brothers head.
I held on to the cannon as he was operating the ballvalve pilot.

Seems I'm trying to scare you right?
Indeed I am...keep it safe!