A handful of simple airsoft gun repairs that we can do by ourselves - part 2
Zip ties are airsoft player’s best friend
Probably every home DIY enthusiast knows zip ties. They are an indispensable element of many repairs. Their versatility meant that they found their place also in many other areas and it must be admitted that they perform very well in airsoft. I often have a pack of ties of various lengths with me on a skirmish, so sometimes slight damage to the replica does not eliminate me or her from the game. At this point, I would like to introduce you to some uses of this object that I used myself, but I will not be revealing if I say that the zip ties are like clay. It is only up to us what we use them for, because they can take many different forms.
Anyone who records their games knows that mounting a camera, power bank or other accessories can cause a headache. After a few attempts with other materials, I simply bind most of these items with cable ties. And so, I have the camera cable along the head mount to the power source, which is also attached in the same way. If I need to change the configuration, for example, I go to a game with a helmet, I just cut the bands. A simple and durable solution that is very easy to recreate, so I do not need a separate power bank for a helmet or a cap band.
Recently, I had the opportunity to take a new replica of the AK series from Specna Arms to a skirmish. Unfortunately, I don't have many accessories for these airsoft guns, so to my despair I discovered that I might have a problem with attaching the sling. For a person like me, who is used to operating with the light Core series Specna, it might become very problematic. However, the zip ties came to the rescue. Thanks to a few loops from the ties, I obtained several attachment points, thanks to which my sling had something to catch.
Sometimes we want to try something new. We are bored with all-day walks in the woods and we try CQB. Until one time we see an announcement that they are organizing a night game in the local arena. It may happen that, without expecting such a game, we will not even have a good flashlight mount. This situation happened to me a few months ago. There was no time to order a dedicated mounting bracket, so I used… zip ties. It wasn't the most elegant solution, but it worked so it was worth it.
It is sometimes so easy to change a motor.
A few years ago, for the first time, I wanted to replace the motor in my airsoft gun. Back then, I was using an ordinary serial engine, which just warmed up with a stronger spring and battery. Fortunately, it's not hard to find a good engine. Then my choice fell on the high torque model from the Tornado, which I was satisfied with. I know that the topic of selecting an engine for a replica could easily take a separate article or more, so maybe I will not write about it here. However, I wanted to deal with something much simpler. At least in the case of AR15 and similar replicas. Well, replacing the engine in these constructions is extremely simple! Just unscrew the plate on the bottom of the pistol grip, disconnect the wires, remove the motor and reassemble everything with the new motor in the reverse order.
There is a bit more work with airsoft guns of other designs. On my G36, I need to remove the entire gearbox and engine assembly. Unscrew the engine retainer and only then can it be replaced. A bit more work with it, but it is also not very difficult, because we still manage to do it without opening the gearbox itself.
What should be cleaned?
Many people wonder how they can improve the performance of the airsoft gun right after its purchase. There is probably nothing extraordinary about it, after all, if we can, we will gladly give ourselves a bit of advantage on the battlefield, if we have such a possibility. However, not everyone realizes that, together with a replica, we often get a very good tool that can help us improve its performance. Of course, we are talking about cleaning rod! More than once I am surprised how much dirt can be in the barrel of a replica, even straight out of the box, let alone one that has already had a few games behind it. It is no wonder. We shoot in forests or old buildings, where there is a lot of dust that settles not only directly on our gun, but also on magazines and BBs, which transfer this dirt to the inside of the barrel. Cleaning this element is extremely simple and can help improve the accuracy and focus of our shots. It is enough to put a piece of paper towel on the end of the rod, moisten it with a cleaning agent (I use isopropyl alcohol) and smoothly wipe the entire length of the barrel, taking care not to reach the hop-up chamber, which, however, should be dry. If the piece of paper pulled out after such treatment is very dirty, we can repeat the action and it's ready!
It is also worth cleaning other movable and optical elements of our replica. I use wet wipes once in a while to wipe the lenses in my red dots. I did the same when using the scopes. Thanks to this, there is no problem that dirty glass will worsen our visibility. Besides, I generally try to wipe the replica with wet wipes, for example ones dedicated for office equipment, after a game. Such wipes usually do not have polishing agents like those for furniture and give the replica a nice matt surface. Thanks to these measures, minor dirt does not deteriorate the operation of the replicas, so they will serve us longer.
Finally, consider cleaning your magazines. In my case it is easier because I use the same set of magazines for both main airsoft guns. The procedure here is quite simple to set up, but requires some attention due to the fact that the magazines have a few small parts on the springs that can easily fly out when taking the magazine apart and get lost. In any case, cleaning the magazine requires disassembling it. Most often, the cartridge is placed in the shell and held on with a screw. After unscrewing it, remove the insert and carefully pull out the springs pushing the BBs so as not to lose anything. Using paper towels and a bit of isopropyl alcohol, clean the magazine insert and assemble it back once done. Personally, I do not recommend lubricating the magazine inside. In my opinion, it only attracts dirt. In addition, the BBs in contact with the lubricated spring can contaminate the hop-up rubber in our replica, which may cause it to spin the BBs worse.
Summary
If we want our replicas not to break down, the best way to achieve it is not to use them. However, I adhere to the principle that it is better to use them as intended and take them to airsoft games. Therefore, it is good to know your equipment and be able to take care of it. The advice provided in the text is essential, but will help with some of common minor faults. Maybe thanks to this we will save some funds for the help of service technicians and we will be able to spend them on tuning or dream equipment. Let me know if you repair replicas yourself and if the tips presented today turned out to be useful for you.
Author: Boreq
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