tippmanns cyclone feed system for 98custom

[98 c sniper 88]

go to http://www.tippmann.com/product_guide/accesDetails.aspx?id=65

is it worth it

if anyone knows does it work for a metal flatline shroud

$60 +-

[InFeStEd]

10/10

Very worthwhile upgrade for any tippmann 98c user. Feeds 17 bps and will worth with your flatline. Uses blowback gas to run meaning no batteries.

Keeps a mechanical marker mechanical.

[Raleigh Allen]

read the reviews, but yes it is worth it.

[paintballa665]

Do you have to do anything to your flatlinje to make your cyclone fit? If yes is it hard to do?

[snaretan]

use the search button please. There is already a thread about this.


Tan

[iliveforthis99]

I'd get an electric loader. I mean come on you can't do 17bps on a tippy.

[Coenen]

Just know and remember this, if you are ever going to get another faster gun, you WILL NOT be able to transplant the Cyclone. That $60 will stay with your Tippmann forever.

If you're going to keep your 98C for forever it is a very nice up IMO. If you're going to keep moving up with your level of play and equipment you'll be better served to get an EggII and Z-board or a Halo.

[John Sullivan]

Yeah I would just get a eggy.:|

[iliveforthis99]

Originally posted by John Sullivan
Yeah I would just get a eggy.:|
Or an apache.

[John Sullivan]

But eggs have the ability to be z boarded later on.

[iliveforthis99]

You mean egg2s. Apaches don't have z-boards.

[John Sullivan]

Oops that's what I meant.

[cheddarbob]

does anyone know if the cyclone feed is compatible (all together as a whole if i were to install everything) with the expansion chamber and the Dead On Paintball 98 Custom pro seal bolt? Also does the cyclone feed interfere with the plastic of metallic flatline shroud? I went to the tippman site....they said that it IS compatible, but you know how things are...when i got my flatline and installed it the elbow was pressing up against and bending the shroud. So for anyone out there who has the cyclone with a flatline....is it a nice snug fit between the two (plastic or metal shroud) or did you have to do some grinding and cutting?

[InFeStEd]

it should all fit and be compatible.

[devilnevel]

Buying an electric hopper for a tippmann is pointless due to the elbow. The only way to use an electric loader would be with centerfeed, and that is another $50. Also, it is quite easy to hit the 17 bps cap on the custom pro e-grips on turbo mode. The cyclone should work with the Proseal because it is still a powertube. Just make sure you take out your velocity screw from the old powertube and put it in the new one.

[iliveforthis99]

Originally posted by devilnevel
Buying an electric hopper for a tippmann is pointless due to the elbow. The only way to use an electric loader would be with centerfeeD You don't need a centerfeed for an electric loader to work on a tippy. I have an apache that works fine on mine. And my friend has a revi on his and it works fine too. And i'd just stick w/ the stock powertube and bolt. Those ups aren't any better then the stock parts.

Edit: Originally posted by devilnevel
Also, it is quite easy to hit the 17 bps cap on the custom pro e-grips on turbo mode. Some one correct me if i'm wrong. But isn't turbo mode illegal in tourneys? If it is then you would have just waisted $60.

[devilnevel]

I know turbo is illegal, but the point is a tippmann can go 17bps. An the fact that the elbow on a tippmann will not allow that fast of feeding without centerfeed is my point. A revy or apache is fine for like 13bps, but after that the elbow will restrict your ROF to around 13bps. And the cyclone comes with a new PT. You can't stick with the stock one anyway because there is no adapter for the airline to the cyclone.

Edit:
It wasn't a waste of $60 and it wouldn't have been even thought turbo is illegal. I can still get like 14 bps on semi. Plus its a force fed hopper for $60 and a great upgrade for any 98c.

[iliveforthis99]

I still hold to opinion.

[Eladamri]

I don't feel like repeating myself so here is my view. BTW, the stock feedneck limits the BPS to 13 and the cyclone feed is only reliable to 16.7 bps. At a solid 17 you will get some misfeeds with the cyclone.
Originally posted by Eladamri


I don't get the sudden love affair with the cyclone feed system, I would say the cyclone is a good feeder system, but not the best. For my money I'd much rather have a new feedneck (Lapco Direct feed, rufus dog vertical feed, or the Pro Team Powerfeed) and a nice electronic hopper like an Apache, Evolution II, HaloB, or Reloader B.

Now, the "Optimal" setup would be a Halo B/Reloader B coupled with the rufus dog vertical feed. It is the fastest setup with the least profile, and it centers the hopper. However, it is also the most expensive and requires permanently modding your marker.

My Second choice would be the Evolution II or Apache with the Pro Team Powerfeed. The Pro Team Powerfeed is a drop in mod so you don't have to mod your marker and it is faster then the stock feedneck. It also moves the hopper to better, more centralized position IMO. You can find the Proteam Powerfeed for $25, the 04 Apache sells NIB for $50 on Ebay, and the Evolution II Y board you can find for $60. The upgrade board/motors for each of those hoppers is around $10 and is nice to have but really isn't required. So the Apache setup is $75 - $85, and the Evolution II is $85 - $95 depending on if you upgrade the hoppers.

The Cyclone is $55 - $60 and the much loved R5 hopper is another $10. So with the Cyclone you are looking at $65 - $70. This means the Cyclone is the cheaper option, but only marginally, and possibly only in the short run. Now if you ever move up to a Higher end marker you can take the hopper with you, which is something I really like. I don't care to spend money on gun specific upgrades that I have to buy again if I buy a different marker. The other main detractor of the Cyclone feed in my eyes is that it is a new product. The A5 cyclone was not perfect upon its initial release and there is no reason to expect the 98 cyclone will be perfect. There have been some people that have already reported having problems with it, whether they were actual issues or just user error, who knows? I will never recommend buying a brand spanking new product, regardless of the manufacturer. Just because the cyclone works on the A5 doesn't mean it will translate flawlessly to the 98.

Finally, regardless of the performance, I don't like the extra inches it adds to the right hand side of the marker. I prefer to have the smallest possible profile, not add to the bulk of my marker, and unarguably the cyclone adds to the horizontal profile of the marker.

[TheMedievalMan]

Now hold on a minute. Im new to the forums, but Ive been reading them for a while now. And this subject is interesting to me because these past days I have been modifying my 98 Custom with the upgrade loaders you guys are refering to and I would like to add my opinion here.

I second the previous statement about how the Cyclone does indeed add to the reliability of going all mechanical on the 98 Custom. You say that the Cyclone adds a few inches of set up to the side, but what you are forgetting is that it also takes away some space from the top. What I mean is if you measure your Apache for example, you will notice that with the Apache installed onto the 98 Custom there is around 7 inches measured from the top of the 98 Custom, to the top of the Apache. With the Cyclone, it is 5 1/2 inches. So the Cyclone is a shorter set up because it is now off to the side rather than towering up and slightly right because of the stock feed neck.

If you add something like a Rufus Dog straight feed upgrade, it will be even taller. The Cyclone is around 2 1/2 inches from the side of the 98 Custom to the right side of the Cyclone sprocket housing. This makes a difference of only about an inch. Basically the Cyclone moves your set up length from the top, and moves it to the side and adds one inch. That doesnt sound so bad to me, especially since this inch is made up for the slightly lighter weight of the Cyclone over the Apache. The snug fit of the Cyclone removes the annoying wobbly feed neck that 98s are famous for, which I found to be distracting.

And for me, when the weight of the Cyclone set up was placed shorter than the Apache set up, I noticed better balance when tilting the gun. Which is important for those tilt shots off of the side of your bunker. The Cyclone has at least three after market hopper attachment upgrades for it that I know of. Which gives you options such as shape (Ricochete) and ammo capacity, and the old hopper attachment can be sold to help afford the new one. You cant do that with an electric, where the electric hopper stays at its shape and capacity perminately. Next the price becomes cheaper in the long run than electrics because of batteries, even with rechargables. And you dont have to worry about running out of batteries in the middle of the game. Its bad enough to worry about paint and gas running out, now you have to worry about batteries too?

Also the Cyclone can be used in bad weather such as rain or mud. No noise as some electrics do. And if you ever move up to a new marker, the worth of your 98 is more because of the Cyclone upgrade allowing you to get more money for that electric you need for your new gun. I have not experienced any problems with my Cyclone, and I have not heard of any from other people either so far.

And you must remember that many new hoppers in the past have had their share of first batch problems that have been fixed and/or updated (Apache). But the Cyclone has an advantage that other electric hoppers have not, it has worked in the past with another gun (A-5) and in only a slightly different design. So it deserves some credit for showing the idea has proven itself in a similiar form in the past. Where as a new electric is "a new kid on the block" having to prove itself from square one, where as the Cyclone may already have a head start.

-TheMedievalMan

[paintballa665]

On my friends A-5 he has to shake his hopper a lot to get the balls feeding again, will that happen to the cyclone for 98 custom?

[SEAL34]

You just put the manual advance button and you're good.

[iliveforthis99]

Now if you ever move up to a Higher end marker you can take the hopper with you, which is something I really like. I don't care to spend money on gun specific upgrades that I have to buy again if I buy a different marker. I think the same way. I'd be more happy spending the extra $20-$30 for a setup that i could move over to another gun. Get an egg2 w/ y-board use that. Then down the road you get a faster gun up to a z-board and BANG! You just saved a load of money. Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
Next the price becomes cheaper in the long run than electrics because of batteries, even with rechargables. And you dont have to worry about running out of batteries in the middle of the game. True about the batteries but go to a wholesaler and buy them in bulk. And really as long as you maybe change the batteries before each day of play and have extra you should be good. And most electric loaders have a low battery light. The one on the apache gives you a warning that you have approximately 1000 shots left. Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
Also the Cyclone can be used in bad weather such as rain or mud. No noise as some electrics do. So can electrics. Just make sure you clean them up like you should do w/ any gear that's been played hard in and played out in bad weather. And really, once you start shooting there's going to be noise anyway.

[Eladamri]

Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
I second the previous statement about how the Cyclone does indeed add to the reliability of going all mechanical on the 98 Custom.
I've used electronic hoppers since the VL2000 first came out, that's the predecessor of the Revvy. I've played in rain and snow and have yet to have a single hopper problem that was caused due to the electronics. Now, I've broken hoppers from shear abuse like slamming them into the ground on dives but I have yet to have a single board short out, or refuse to work due to inclement weather. The cyclone has the same issues that e hoppers have (ball breaks, jams,) I don't buy for a minute that the cyclone is more "reliable" except for people that can't handle changing a battery.


Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
You say that the Cyclone adds a few inches of set up to the side, but what you are forgetting is that it also takes away some space from the top. What I mean is if you measure your Apache for example, you will notice that with the Apache installed onto the 98 Custom there is around 7 inches measured from the top of the 98 Custom, to the top of the Apache. With the Cyclone, it is 5 1/2 inches. So the Cyclone is a shorter set up because it is now off to the side rather than towering up and slightly right because of the stock feed neck. If you add something like a Rufus Dog straight feed upgrade, it will be even taller.

My Apache is only 6.5 inches from the top of the 98, For the sake of argument I'll accept your measurement for the cyclone and that it is shorter which I never doubted.

Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
The Cyclone is around 2 1/2 inches from the side of the 98 Custom to the right side of the Cyclone sprocket housing. This makes a difference of only about an inch. Basically the Cyclone moves your set up length from the top, and moves it to the side and adds one inch. That doesnt sound so bad to me, especially since this inch is made up for the slightly lighter weight of the Cyclone over the Apache. The snug fit of the Cyclone removes the annoying wobbly feed neck that 98s are famous for, which I found to be distracting.

First, I have never had a problem with hopper wobble, and it takes about 10 seconds to fix the problem. Second, I will take 1 inch added vert height over 1 inch added horizontal height. 90% of the time you are coming out of a bunker you are coming out from the side (or should be.) Now this makes no difference when you are playing the left side but it makes it easier to get hit coming out of the right side for several reasons. First, with a vert feed you tilt your hopper as you come out of the bunker like / on the left and \ on the right. This keeps most of your hopper covered and you have only your barrel and a small area of your arm exposed making it much harder to hit you. With the cyclone feed, and even the stock feedneck (but to a lesser degree) you are forced to expose more of your marker when you play the right side. I also have noticed that people with A5s (cyclone) tend to broadcast when they are coming out the right, I usually see the hopper before anything else. I would assume the same would hold for the 98 cyclone also.

Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
And for me, when the weight of the Cyclone set up was placed shorter than the Apache set up, I noticed better balance when tilting the gun. Which is important for those tilt shots off of the side of your bunker. The Cyclone has at least three after market hopper attachment upgrades for it that I know of. Which gives you options such as shape (Ricochete) and ammo capacity, and the old hopper attachment can be sold to help afford the new one. You cant do that with an electric, where the electric hopper stays at its shape and capacity perminately. Next the price becomes cheaper in the long run than electrics because of batteries, even with rechargables. And you dont have to worry about running out of batteries in the middle of the game. Its bad enough to worry about paint and gas running out, now you have to worry about batteries too?

I much prefer the balance of a centerfeed marker, but that's personal preference only. If you like the balance of the cyclone that's your call but IMO I think they feel bulky and off balance. Also you claim that you cannot change the look and feel of your electric hopper. You must have forgot about the VL Revolution Tripod which has 3 different size hoppers that you can change out. I may not be able to change the size and shape of my hopper at whim but I can do something even better. I can change markers at whim. I own 8 markers right now, different brands and types, my Apache fits all 8. The cyclone feed only fits the 98. The much dreaded cost of batteries really adds up I guess.
If you can't afford 2 batteries every 3 months then you can't afford to play paintball. My batteries in my Apache have been through at least 10 cases and still work great.
I have never had batteries run out in the middle of a game on a hopper or in a marker. Why? Because I maintain my equipment. Check your batteries before you play and if you are playing a tournament then put new ones in. I've only heard lazy people gripe about their batteries dying on them in the middle of a game.

Originally posted by TheMedievalMan
Also the Cyclone can be used in bad weather such as rain or mud. No noise as some electrics do. And if you ever move up to a new marker, the worth of your 98 is more because of the Cyclone upgrade allowing you to get more money for that electric you need for your new gun.

As I said earlier, I've never had a problem with a hopper due to weather. I've been using electronic hoppers at least 6 years, possibly longer. Only the cheap hoppers (Quantum, extreme rage) make noise unless you are shooting, and if your shooting who cares about hopper noise. Its not really fair to put the quantum in the same category as an Apache or Halo B. When you sell your marker you may get an extra $30 - $40 for having a cyclone, I'd rather have a hopper that I can take with me to a new marker.
Originally posted by TheMedievalMan

I have not experienced any problems with my Cyclone, and I have not heard of any from other people either so far.
And you must remember that many new hoppers in the past have had their share of first batch problems that have been fixed and/or updated (Apache). But the Cyclone has an advantage that other electric hoppers have not, it has worked in the past with another gun (A-5) and in only a slightly different design. So it deserves some credit for showing the idea has proven itself in a similiar form in the past. Where as a new electric is "a new kid on the block" having to prove itself from square one, where as the Cyclone may already have a head start.

-TheMedievalMan

As I said in my earlier post, I would never recommend buying a brand new product from any Manufacturer. I'd give any product at least 6 months or so to work out the bugs. I've heard of a few people with problems with the cyclone both here, pbn, and in the Tippmann forums. Now whether they were the fault of the product or user error I can't say.

I'm not trying to say the cyclone is horrible, I actually think it is a descent product, but it isn't necessary the be all, end all product that it is made out to be.

[snaretan]

Well said Eladamri. I'd like to elaborate on the money part.

With the exception of investments, once you buy something, it begins to depreciate in value.

If I were to buy a used 98c, I would never pay full value for it (duh right). If a cyclone were thrown in with the 98c, I still wouldn't pay full value. I might pay a little more than the normal used 98c, but you aren't going to get your money back on the cyclone. This is the basis behind depreciation

Then, you as the seller of the 98c + Cyclone are going to turn around and have to buy another hopper for your next marker. So what happens? You just ate the depreciation value of the cyclone. If you just had the hopper from the begining, you'd pass it on and not have to rebuy a product and take that loss.


Now, I'm not saying "don't by a cyclone". I'm saying, "don't by a cyclone if you plan on someday selling it".


On a side note, Has anyone put a cyclone on another open bolt blowback marker, or even more impressive, on a closed bolt marker? I'd love to see it on a cocker!


Tan