The Vortex Mod is for those looking to have the fastest and most reliable cyclone feed available. Initially we were looking to make parts that were just more durable than the stock plastic internals. However, through our testing we started to realize that we could, and should, actually make the design of the parts better. The result was awesome!!!
We found that we were able to make the loader work at much lower pressures. During testing we ran the A5 until we ran out of air. The result was that the loader continued to load balls all the way down to 100-150 psi. At that point the gun stopped re-cocking.
Typically the stock parts stop loading balls at about 350-400 lbs. That's enough pressure to still shoot about 200fps, but you are forced to manually feed each ball by hand. With the Vortex Mod, that will never happen again.
It makes sense that if the parts make it so the loader takes less air to work, that they also could make the loader work faster. We are not making any promises just yet, but this week we are working on seeing how much faster we can make the loader go. This week we will be testing the parts and maxing out stock parts vs. our parts. We'll have a video to show you.
So, if you are sick of buying replacement internals for your Cyclone Feed, and you want the most durable, efficient, and fastest parts available, these little beauties are for you.
Kit includes all pins and screws you will need, however you will need the stock springs for the ratchet.
Product Availability
The TechT A-5 Vortex Mod is newer, so it should be commonly available, both new and used.
Places to Buy
No Stores
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Tippmann A-5
Polished internals
TechT zero kick hammer
TechT fang trigger
TechT Squishy Paddles
TechT Vortex mod
TechT QEPH
TechT Lightening Rod
TechT Hair Pin Trigger Kit
Metadyne MP5 Magwell Gas-Through Clip
MP5 Collapsing - Sliding Stock
custom cocking rod
Red Hot power tube
Howitzer bolt
Hammer Head Barrell
Strengths:
No more broken ratchets
Weaknesses:
Periodically needs to be greased up
Review:
Got weary of breaking and replacing stock ratchets,albeit Tippmann would always send me out a few at a time free of charge but during a firefight you do not want to break a ratchet especially when you have a great position.Now that I have this it's one less thing I need to worry about and the less you have to worry about the more Fun you have!!
Absolutley love this product! for Tippmann cyclone users a definate must have!!
Conclusion:
Absolutley love this product! for Tippmann cyclone users a definate must have!!
Tippmann A5
Polished Internals
HammerHead Barrel
Tippmann E-Grip
APE Rampage Board
JCS Red Hot Power Tube
TechT Zero KIck Hammer
TechT Fang trigger
TechT Vortex
TechT Lightening Rod
TechT QEPH
TechT Squishy Paddles
CP Regulator
Ricochet R-5 Hopper
CP 68/4500 HPA
NXe Tank Cover
Strengths:
No more breaking ratchets - eliminates the key weakness of the A5
Weaknesses:
Need to grease periodically
Review:
I was tried of replacing ratchets on my A5. At least once every 2 cases of paint I was breaking ratchets. I would call Tippmann and they would always ship replacements at no charge. I finally had enough and bought a Vortex and have NEVER had to worry about that ever again. The VORTEX would be worth every cent at triple the price. If you have an A5 – buy one TODAY
Conclusion:
I was tried of replacing ratchets on my A5. At least once every 2 cases of paint I was breaking ratchets. I would call Tippmann and they would always ship replacements at no charge. I finally had enough and bought a Vortex and have NEVER had to worry about that ever again. The VORTEX would be worth every cent at triple the price. If you have an A5 – buy one TODAY
Tippmann A-5. Tech T vortex mod, lightning rod, squishy paddles, QEPH, Polished internals, JCS power tube v3, CAR Stock, remote w/ slide check, Flatline barrel, 20oz canister
Strengths:
Polished metal, Less co2 usage, reliability
Weaknesses:
No manual with packaging, some difficulty when installing
Review:
I first heard of this product on pbreview and decided to purchase soon after buying my A5, for the reason that I experienced the dreaded low pressure manual feed issue.
There was no manual to speak of but I suppose that keeps the price reasonable. I found the best help was the TechT website as well as Youtube where one customer filmed the install process...and he wasn't kidding with the "gentle tapping". I used grease, a small hammer and a micro screwdriver to force the pins into the construction.
Install took me 22 minutes and one cigarette.
I must agree with the rest of the reviewers that regular cleaning and greasing is a must with this mod as it gently wears itself in (noticeable by the grooves).
Before the mod my a5 could shoot about 600 rounds before making me manually reload.
With this mod I have shot 800 rounds before my gun farted aloud with no manual feeding required.
Conclusion:
I don't know how Tech T came up with the idea, but it is a must for every A5 (and X7?) owner. In fact I will go so far in saying that Tippmann should consider integrating this product in a possible future upgrade of their markers.
I give this product an 9 due to the missing manual and moderate installation difficulty.
Tippmann A-5
Flatline, Apex, Ricochet R5, Adco edot, Vortex mod, Lightning Rod, QEV kit, JCS Red Hot Power Tube, ShockTech Supa Fly Bolt, polished internals, R-2000 regulator, JCS laser sight with Spira grip, JCS folding stock
Evil Omen 2.0
All stock, evo 2 hopper, Pure Energy tank, Stiffi barrel, Lapco barrel
Psychoballistics Lightning
Shocktech bolt, CCM front block, evo 2 hopper
Spyder Compact
After market bolt and barrel
Strengths:
Smoother action than stock
Weaknesses:
Breaks with light lubes
Review:
Installed my Tech T as soon as I recieved my gun. Used during two scenarios and a private game. During the private game it snapped. I don't blame Tech T, I blame my self for using light weight oil. Use correct oil that manufactor recommends and lube often. Good product you will notice the diffence between stock and after market.
Conclusion:
I would recommend to any one. Just use a heavier oil and lube often to avoid problems.
TechT vortex mod on two other A-5's,now installed one in my X-7
Marker Setup:
Tippmann X-7,E-grip,Apex barrell,HPA 68/4500 w remote,polished internals
Strengths:
Will not break or fail if lubed, shoots faster and requires less air to cycle
Weaknesses:
None
Review:
I have waited to write a review on this product one part simply because I for got I installed them,The TechT vortx mod just plain works,it is a piece of your gun you no longer have to worry about failing,no more lost fights from a failed stock rachet,faster speeds (I shoot at 20bps with my X-7)no more losing the cyclone at low tank pressures.It is a must have.
Do not be discouraged about installation,If you are mechanically inclined you CAN install within a short period of time.I also like the fact that the pins are a tight fit rather than loose,chances are they won't fall out .read the directions/watch the video and step into a new level of reliability for your cyclone
Conclusion:
it is a must have,Tech T all the way,dont get fooled by copycats,techt has super fast shipping and great comunication
Needs to be whistle clean, not to mention, lubed after playing.
Review:
I got my X-7 with a responce trigger. Had no problems. Then I went to the E-grip, and as soon as I did, I started going through ratchets. My first ratchet broke after 6 cases of paint. The second after three cases. The third after four cases.
So I got the vortex and the lightning rod and installed them as per the directions. No problems since. I have shot three cases of paint so far with no problems what-so-ever. In fact, thier claim that the cyclone works at lower pressures seems to be true.
Before, I wouldn't even notice a decrease in velocity before my cyclone would quit. It would just quit, and I'd have to play pump. (by manualy pumping the push rod) Now....there is a noticable decrease in velocity before my cyclone quits. It gives you quite a bit of warning to get out of the game and go get your tanks filled. So I know my cyclone is working at a lower pressure than before.
And I would just like to say.... Shame on Tippmann for puting X-7s on the market without testing these cheap new plastic ratchets. Why switch from the plastic used in the A-5 ratchet? I know people with over fifty cases of paint out of thier stock cyclones on thier A-5s. If it's not broke.......Don't fix it!!!
I will update this review a little ways in to next season. For the price of this thing, it better work this good for a long long time to earn it's keep.
Conclusion:
If you like to shoot fast and are sick of having your ratchet break in the middle of a game, buy the vortex and the lightning rod. Works better. Lasts longer.
stock cyclone parts/ vortex is much smoother, and works well
Marker Setup:
tippmann A5, ops gear g36c kit, ops gear m4 barrel (16 inch), bt bipod, bt bipod barrel adapter, tiberius laser site, tiberius tactical flashlight, techt vortex mod, techt cyclone feed lightning rod, jt tactical sling, tiberius vertical fore grip, beoranged howitzer bolt, rap4 hopper offset, pure energy remote line, pure energy 20oz co2 tank.
Strengths:
Strong
Long lasting
Smoother
Higher feed rate
Weaknesses:
Tough to install by yourself
Review:
go online for the techt instructions @ techtpaintball.com
the parts are made to last longer then the stock parts so you wont have to worry about replacing them anytime soon. the cyclone feeds smoother with the vortex in it, feeds more bps. it works as advertised. works better with the lightning rod. make sure to grease the ratchet and axle!!! it will not last long unlubricated! also oil the piston rod ( lightning rod if you have one ) do not grease it, it will not work properly. greasing it causes it to chop balls. Just follow the instructions on the website and you will have it firing like crazy in no time.
Conclusion:
Works as advertised! Worth buying becase you will only install it once and wont have to worry about it anymore.
Rating:
10 out of 10
Last edited on Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 4:20 pm PST
Durable metal construction
Low drag
Clicks until you're out of air
Weaknesses:
Installation, but only if you don't read the instructions
Needs to be lubed
Review:
We'll start out with the not-so-great. It's not too much fun trying to install this thing if you just try to throw all the parts together without reading the instructions. You're guaranteed to loose some little spring or pop a pin in the wrong place. However, unless you're an ape, you shouldn't have this problem. Mine came with a website that had extensive instructions and pictures on the box. Also, the Vortex needs to be lubricated to work properly. I used automotive grade silicone based grease, but it seemed a little thick, so I added some white lithium to the mix. This concoction has served me wonderfully for thousands of clicks.
Now for the good. This thing does exactly what it says it will. It's stronger than the stock piece. It's smoother than the stock piece. If you manage to break this ratchet, you should stop using your marker as a pry bar. Also, it allows the Cyclone to keep clicking right down to the last shot before the tank runs out, which is nice. I love it, and I'll have one in every marker that's got a Cyclone.
Conclusion:
Every Cyclone should have one of these. Anyone who's ever broken a ratchet or been annoyed that the Cyclone stops clicking when you still have dozens of shots left will find relief with the Vortex
Tippmann A-5, A.P.E. Rampage board/e-grip, DOP front bolt, Pure Energy remote coil, Dye Throttle 4500PSI/70CUI HPA tank, Trinity rear drive spring, Palmer brass barrel, JCS Duel trigger, JCS "Jet Click" mod, 3 point sling
Strengths:
High durability, replaces the fastest wearing part in the A-5, increases BPS rate
Weaknesses:
Instalation is dificult and can require 2 people. Requires frequent lube.
Review:
*IMPORTANT NOTE TO ANYONE WHO GETS THE TECH-T VORTEX -OR- JCS JET-CLICK: You MUST lube the moving parts with silicon lube. Dye Shocker lube, Dow 33, Smart Parts SL33K, & Evil Puss are all good examples of the CORRECT lube to use. DO NOT USE MARKER OIL!!! Also, RE-LUBE after EVERY GAME*
My brother and I did back to back tests on the Tech-T Vortex and JCS Jet-Click. Both of these mods do the exact same thing and are the only 2 such mods available for the A-5/Cyclone. Here are the results for both the Tech-T Vortex AND JCS-Jet-Click. This info can also be found under the review I wrote for the JCS modification.
Testing info:
Testing was done at sea level, running 300FPS (@+/- 3FPS), climate was dry and ambient tempature was ~70* F. All the tests were done using WPN Toxic paint (cheaper mid-grade paint @ ~$35 per case, w/ a rather thick shell).
The test guns specs are as follows:
My marker (with the JCS Jet-Click):
Tippmann A-5 (later style model), A.P.E. Rampage Board/E-Grip, Palmer Brass Barrel (12" unported), JCS "Duel" trigger, Trinity rear drive spring (purple/low velocity), DOP delrin front bolt, Dye Throttle "peanut" 70/45 HPA tank, Pure Energy remote coil, X7 hopper, and of course the JCS Jet-Click.
My brother's marker (who used the Tech-T Vortex mod):
Tippmann A-5 (later model), JCS "Duel" trigger, GTA Flatline barrel, W.A.S. board/E-Grip, 20oz C02 tank w/ anti-syphon tube, & Tech-T Vortex
*NEITHER GUN HAS ANY OTHER MODS DONE TO THE CYCLONE. NO QEV, LARGER DIAMETER TUBING, OR ANYTHING ELSE! ALL GAINS ARE STRICTLY DUE TO THE Jet-Click OR Vortex MODIFICATION!*
And now for the review:
I picked up both the Tech-T Vortex mod and JCS Jet Click mod for the A-5 cyclone. I installed the Tech-T on my brother's marker and the JCS on mine. I must say, to start, that the end result from both mods are about the same. Also, product quality/durability are about equal as far as I can tell.
Now the primary difference between these two modification (as far as the score goes) is the install. Both the JCS Jet-Click and the Tech-T Vortex require you to disassemble your Cyclone & it's internals... HOWEVER, the install of the JCS was MUCH easier then that for the Vortex. The Vortex uses two rolled pins (in the stock location) which require a lot of force to install. In fact, (as per tech-T) It takes 2 people to install it (although I did it by my self, having 2 people decreases the dificulty). One person is needed to hold the ratchet while the other installs the pins. Because the pins are rolled and not solid a lot of force is required to get them into place. In fact a hammer may be necessary due to the tight fit.
With the JCS, it uses a single (vs 2 for the Vortex) solid pin which slides in with NO force. JCS's design gets rid of one pin (vs the 2 for the stock ratchet and Vortex) which is very nice for the installer. Not to mention the ease in which it slides into place.
To put it in the nut shell, it took me half an hour to install the Vortex (by my self) and 10 minutes to put the JCS product in.
After the install, the end results were almost the same. The Vortex mod feels smoother. This is due to the ratchet design. There is less "force" required to advance the ratchet to its next position. The JCS, however, uses more force at first then "snaps" into place. Both are better then stock and offer the same basic level of performance increase, they just go around doing this is different ways.
As for the BPS increase. I have an APE e-grip installed. The stock cyclone only let me hit 15BPS without chopping/skipping paintballs. Same goes for my brother’s marker. With the Vortex and JCS mods installed, we were able to hit 20 and 21 BPS (20 on mine with the JCS, 21 on my bother’s with the Vortex) without a single skip or chop, pop, or break!
I came to this figure due to the fact that this the fastest we could continuously fire without chopping or skipping a single ball out of a case of 2000 rounds. These tests were also done with us firing non stop through completly full hoppers with ~ 200 rounds at the start.
Of note, I was able to hit 25 BPS on both markers with only 4 or 5 chops out of 2000 rounds, which isn’t TOO bad. But id rather have NO chops then even 1 or 2 per case, let alone 5 or 6. Besides, 20 BPS is more then enough for almost ANY game and ANY player. Plus, you can crank it up to impress the friends when you only want to shoot a hopper full or so worth of paint. You shouldn’t get any popped balls with that few rounds being put down range.
As for air/c02 use (my brother uses C02, I use HPA)... I got about 100 shots per fill extra. That could be the temperature or another reason. But as it is those are the facts. For my brother with the C02 & Vortex... I don’t have info from that since we didn’t test it on the same day and we arent using the same propellant. COmparing numbers would be worthless.
Conclusion:
EVERY CYCLONE USER SHOULD OWN THIS MOD (OR THE JCS Jet-Click)!
***CLIFF'S NOTES FOR THE LAZY:
The Tech-T Vortex and JCS Jet-Click works as advertised. Performance and quality are top notch. I prefer the JCS Jet-Click, however, due to its much easier installation. This is why the JCS Jet-Click gets a 10 vs the 9 for the Vortex.***
Expanded conclusion (for those who care):
The Tech-T Vortex (and JCS Jet-Click) are a great addition to the A-5. It will allow you to properly amp up your BPS rates to match those guys with the uber expensive electric guns like DM6's and A1s'.
Shooting long ropes of paint @ 20+ BPS becomes a reality WITHOUT breaking a single ball. With the Tech-T Vortex (or JCS Jet-Click) modification, the A5 becomes capable of emptying full hopper after full hopper @ a non stop rate of 20+BPS!
Even 25BPS firing rates are achievable without any other modifications; however, this is the limit of the Cyclone with this modification and its not flawless (e.g. you will get some breaks and skips).
Adding 1/8" ID tubes and a QEV (and/or the Tech-T "Lightning Rod") should allow you to properly shoot 25+ BPS without any breakage. I experienced 4 to 5 breaks out of 2000 (1 case) @ 25BPS, where as none occurred @ 20 BPS. No matter what you do to the Cyclone, though, you wont be able to properly shoot over 25BPS or so. The Cyclone gets a "popcorn" effect with the paintballs and it skips shots too often for it to be useful in a game. This is simply due to the physics of the Cyclone's design, and no amount of mods will fix this issue. The only way you can PROPERLY shoot an A-5 over 25NPS is to replace the Cyclone with a Q-Loader. That will allow you to hit 30+ BPS rates... Then again, who the hell needs to shoot over 25BPS anyway?
Also, I’ve gone through 2 stock plastic ratchets over the last 2 years. Since both the Vortex and JCS are made of 100% metal, there should NOT be an issue of this happening again. That alone saves me time and money. Plus I broke a stock ratchet in a game and I was out of luck for the rest of that day. NEVER AGAIN!
For $25.00-35.00 bucks, you can’t go wrong with the Tech-T Vortex (and JCS Jet-Click)! EVERY A-5 owner should get one, even if they don’t care about BPS. It will save you a LOT of time and grief down the line.
*IMPORTANT NOTE TO ANYONE WHO GETS THE TECH-T VORTEX -OR- JCS JET-CLICK: You MUST lube the moving parts with silicon lube. Dye Shocker lube, Dow 33, Smart Parts SL33K, & Evil Puss are all good examples of the CORRECT lube to use. DO NOT USE MARKER OIL!!! Also, RE-LUBE after EVERY GAME*
Rating:
9 out of 10
Last edited on Tuesday, February 20th, 2007 at 3:13 pm PST
A-5 RT
Palmer Male Stabilizer
Rufus Dawg Bolt and Power Tube
Flatline
Palmer Cyclone QEV
RT and Cyclone 1/8" ID Hoses
PMI 4500 88 Tank
Tipmman LPK
Cyclone Ratchet and Lightning Rod
Strengths:
Bearing at ratchet interface
Weaknesses:
Price...
Review:
Worked as advertise. Allowed cyclone to feed smoother and at 300psi. At 325 I noticed cyclone skip feeds but otherwise worked when stock wouldnt not. Stock stopped at ~350 and started skipping at 400 even with 1/8 hose. Shoot a case and a half through it at the last scenario and no issues.
