Tapeworm question

[kingman 1000]

Im getting a Tapeworm on thursday for my impulse, what would be a good operating pressure to lower it to, and what would be a good dwell to put it at

right now its running at 180 psi, and the dwell is 6


Thanx :D

[speedy2k4]

i would leave your settings where they are, the tapeworm is meant for better consistancy and eliminating shootdown, not for lowering the pressure.

[Slow_Target]

As speedy2k4 said, don't change anything unless it need to be changed. Many that I have seen need to raise the pressure some after installing a tapeworm.


Edit: At high rates of fire the tapeworm can CAUSE shootdown because it is a flow restrictor. This goes both ways.

[speedy2k4]

but it will cause far less shootdown from flow restiriction than without a tapeworm in any situation. without it, the solenoid is starved because all of the air that would be used to power the solenoid is released through the valve. this can create shootdown at far lower rates of fire, and can lead to recocking issues, etc.

basically, however you put it, a tapeworm is a good thing

[Slow_Target]

How did you figure that? If you have shootdown without a tapeworm then you will have it with one. Without one, you only have the main reg and the solenoid to cause it. This doesn't get changed at all by a tapeworm.

[speedy2k4]

a tapeworm keeps the flow of air to the solenoid staedy, which is why it is also known as a solenoid optimizer. normally, the solenoid chamber and valve chamber would be connected, and air from the slenoid chamber is allowed to excape through the valve. at a high rate of fire, the solenoid chamber cannot maintain a constant pressure, and the flow of air to the solenoid becaomes erratic, causing varying ram pressures which effectively creates synthetic lower dwell times as the valve will be held open for a shorter perios, leading to lower velocities and shootdown at high speeds.

the tapeworm cuts off the solenoid chamber from the valve chamber, therefore the reg supplies air directly to each seperately. airflow to the solenoid chamber remains constant, and therfore velocities remain more constant.

[Slow_Target]

It really doesn't work the way you think. The solenoid tube and the valve chamber still have the same connection. Only now the pressure has to go through a small hole in between the o-rings. If it can restrict flow out then it will restrict flow in. If the flow in is restricted and the demand is high enough, the pressure will drop. When the pressure drops, the hammer moves slower and hits the valve softer. This is shootdown.
At higher rates of fire a larger hole (i.e. no tapeworm) can supply and maintain more constant pressure to the solenoid tube.

[speedy2k4]

i am wrong again, yeah you are right. at least for the most part. i'm having a senior moment, confusing it with an lpr nipple and the way i drilled my own body. it is still a small hole. sorry i sound like an idiot i guess. i still notice less drop off with a tapeworm, but you are right in everything you said. i'll just go cry into my pillow now :sulk:

[Slow_Target]

Don't take me wrong. I didn't mean to come off harsh. It's just a peeve of mine that people talk up the tapeworm to be more then it is. Some years ago even SP marketed it to only stop bolt stick and allow you to dry fire. Now even they say it can do wondrous things that science cannot explain. :)

Edit: I just noticed the senior moment thing. Believe me I understand. My son is older then a lot of the posters on here.

[speedy2k4]

imo the tapeworm is still great, but no it can't make pancakes. although with some slight modifications to the tapeworm and body, it can do what i had originally been jabbering about.

[kingman 1000]

one more question speedy ic that they come with a hose on the end of the tapeworm whats that for?

Thanx :D

[Team Chokepoint]

Originally posted by speedy2k4
the way i drilled my own body.

You're crazy.

Anyways, the hose serves no purpose as far as I can tell.

[kingman 1000]

so why is it on there ? :confused:

[speedy2k4]

the hose really doesn't do anything, you're right. it would help if you were shooting 60bps, but it won't have any realistic effects.

unless slow target wants to prove me wrong...again :D

and TC, i'm not crazy, just passionate :P

[Team Chokepoint]

We need more people in this industry like you speedy :tup:

[speedy2k4]

Originally posted by Team Chokepoint
We need more people in this industry like you speedy :tup:
recipe for disaster.

[kingman 1000]

ok then thanx for the replies

one more question, am i right on these steps to install it

1. remove the air plug near the vavle cap
2. put dow 33 on the orings of the tapeworm
3 then just serew it in the hole, then im done??


Thanx :D

[Team Chokepoint]

Some people like to loc-tite / teflon the threads first, but I didn't bother and it works fine. I didn't do anything to the o-rings either.

[speedy2k4]

yeah put some grease on the o-rings, but you shouldn't need any loc tite.