Problem with Airbrush(Evolution)

[Eretik]

I had discovered that pressing on Air lever to open air is not so smooth as before.

disassembling shows that valve rod in my lovely Evolution is delicately scratched.

Probably, something penetrated into the valve channel an damaged it - I had found very small strange red grains inside valve body from the compressor side. And I never sprayed red paint from this AB.

Polishing of rod gets no effect at all, in few second rod is almost blocked again in channel with new delicate scratches.

Polishing of channel gets some effect - airbrush works "as before" but now I am not sure that it is real "as before"

So, what to do?

Replace valve rod

Replace valve rod body?

Replace both?

Continue polishing both?(I am using Tamiya fine polishing compound).

Should I lubricate the valve rod?

[CBREEZE]

Eretik,

Is this a brand new airbrush for you? I believe that I once had the same problem with mine and it was just after I got it and was not really familiar with it. I found that after taking it apart, I hadn't re-assembled it properly. The scratches your are reporting suggest that this is what is happening with yours and that metal is rubbing against metal somewhere. Keep us posted.

Chuck B.

[Eretik]

Eretik,

Is this a brand new airbrush for you? I believe that I once had the same problem with mine and it was just after I got it and was not really familiar with it. I found that after taking it apart, I hadn't re-assembled it properly. The scratches your are reporting suggest that this is what is happening with yours and that metal is rubbing against metal somewhere. Keep us posted.

Chuck B.

I am working with this AB almost 6 month. No problem at the moment. Never disassembled air valve unit(not necessary). First disassembling happened after malfunction had been noticed. And, believe it is quite difficult to assemble air valve unit wrong.

Btw, how to detach valve rod body from the AB body?

[Bob Beary]

Hi, Could the red particles be rust from the compressor? Disconnect the a/b from the hose and turn on the compressor and blast some air onto a clean light colored rag. If you're getting red particles on the rag it is rust from the compressor. Try running the compressor for 5 minutes with just the hose attached and the drain open to try and blast out the rust. Do you drain your compressor every time you use it?

A light coating of a/b lube might also help.

Let us know what works here.

Bob

[Huey Gunner]

Maybe the red is thread lock,aka "Loc-Tite". I have dealt with Iwata customer service on the phone twice and have had the issue's resolved both times. Give 'em a call!! Good luck. I love all 3 of my Iwata's.

[Eretik]

I never dried my compressor filter. My fault.

Red particles looks as paint or Loctite-something, not as rust.

After polishing internal valve rod channel in valve body problem looks as fixed. But I am absolutely not sure.

[metroman]

What brand 'Evolution' are you talking about? Harder & Steenbeck or some other brand?

[Eretik]

metroman, yes it is brand from H&S

Answer from Harder and Steenbeck

===============================================

Dear Mr.

Thanks for writing about your problem with the Evolution.

It's a familier problem. Please unscrew the valve. You can see a little

o-ring. Please bring only a small drop sewing machine oil on this o-ring

and press down the valve rod two or three times. Now the valve must work

korrekt.

Your questions:

c) Should I replace valve body and/or valve rod?

No. Please try it with oil.

d) If I should replace valve body how to detach valve rod body from

airbrush body?

No. You don't have to clean the valve because there is no contact with the

paint. So you only clean the needle, nozzle, cup and the front of the body.

But if you want to insert the airbrush body in cleaner please unscrew the

valve, the waist and also the end piece.

e) Should I clean contact place between Air/Paint Lever and Valve rod

every time I did some paintings?

No. The scratches on the valve rod are normal. The valve is made from metal

and also the valve rod. There is a little friction inside. So the valve rod

get scratches. But that is not the problem. The dry o-ring make the

troubles.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitat to write me again.

Best regards

Anke Matthiessen

Harder & Steenbeck Airbrush, USA

===============================================

I will try tomorrow. But very nice and detailed answer.

[Huey Gunner]

Nice response.

[metroman]

That's the kind of response I got last year when I had a leaking aft seal problem (no jokes please!), Anke was helpful and explanatory.

[Eretik]

So finally,

if your Evolution has troubles with smooth movement of Air Lever up and down, just disassemble valve, remove rod and add small amount on Q-ring over valve rod.

[Jose]

metroman, yes it is brand from H&S

Answer from Harder and Steenbeck

===============================================

Dear Mr.

Thanks for writing about your problem with the Evolution.

It's a familier problem. Please unscrew the valve. You can see a little

o-ring. Please bring only a small drop sewing machine oil on this o-ring

and press down the valve rod two or three times. Now the valve must work

korrekt.

Your questions:

c) Should I replace valve body and/or valve rod?

No. Please try it with oil.

d) If I should replace valve body how to detach valve rod body from

airbrush body?

No. You don't have to clean the valve because there is no contact with the

paint. So you only clean the needle, nozzle, cup and the front of the body.

But if you want to insert the airbrush body in cleaner please unscrew the

valve, the waist and also the end piece.

e) Should I clean contact place between Air/Paint Lever and Valve rod

every time I did some paintings?

No. The scratches on the valve rod are normal. The valve is made from metal

and also the valve rod. There is a little friction inside. So the valve rod

get scratches. But that is not the problem. The dry o-ring make the

troubles.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitat to write me again.

Best regards

Anke Matthiessen

Harder & Steenbeck Airbrush, USA

===============================================

I will try tomorrow. But very nice and detailed answer.

I do have an H&S Infinity which I love. Great airbrush! Can you share with me H&S's email? I do have a few tech questions for them.

Regards,

Jose

[Eretik]

H&S email germanairbrush@mindspring.com

[ThatJeffGuy]

Does the Infinity and the Evolution use the same air-valve? I've noticed mine (Infinity) is rather 'mushy' for lack of a better word. When

I dis-assebled it from the the body though it doesn't look like it comes apart any more than the one piece that unscrews from the

body. There's a small hole though.....is this where you would apply some oil?

[Eretik]

Does the Infinity and the Evolution use the same air-valve? I've noticed mine (Infinity) is rather 'mushy' for lack of a better word. When

I dis-assebled it from the the body though it doesn't look like it comes apart any more than the one piece that unscrews from the

body. There's a small hole though.....is this where you would apply some oil?

It seems, that air valve is identical(rod is the same). But H&S states that tensionless behavior is intentional but you may add more tension.

My advice.

1. Remove hose.

2. Look inside the valve body

3. You should see screw. Below this screw(or above, depending how you look into valve) there is spring which define the tension.

4. Take medium screwdriver and rotate the screw right(to increase tension) or left(to decrease) one half of turn.

5. Check tension under lever.

6. Repeat step 4-5 while tension is satisfying.

Warnings

1. count your rotations to be able return to "entry point"

2. If you turns too much lever will be fixed in topmost position. But it is normal. Just unscrew back.

[ThatJeffGuy]

Thanks