Why should you replace a plastic spring guide with a metal spring guide?

Eye Safety Should Always Be Worn While Performing Any Airsoft Gun Gearbox Repairs.

Lets begin with a repair photograph...

The mechanical purpose of the airsoft guns "spring guide" is to absorb the impact shock associated with the compression and decompression cycles of your airsoft gun's main spring during normal operation. This means each time you fire a bb the spring guide absorbs an impact from the spring. For upgraded type airsoft gun's, with high speed gears or high torque springs installed, this impact's energy release will be further enhanced.

To reduce production cost's for airsoft gun's many manufacturer's install the cheaper grade plastic spring guides in stock guns. You can expect these to fail in 3 to 6 months or (around 10,000 bb's fired) depending on use and care of the gun.

Replacing or "upgrading" the plastic spring guide with a metal spring guide is easy if you are familiar with internal gearbox repairs.

What You Need To Know

You will need to correctly identify your gearbox model and version in order to purchase the correct metal spring guide for your airsoft gun. The version two and three style gearboxes are most common in guns and the spring guides are not interchangeable. The version six gearbox will use the more common version three style spring guide while the version seven gearbox uses a version seven style in most applications. Some airsoft gun manufacturers have started using proprietary parts as well. It is always best practice to physically remove your plastic spring guide before ordering the new one, so you do not order the wrong style.

Metal Spring Guide Upgrading

If you are upgrading your airsoft gun for more durability then you will want to use a standard metal spring guide like the ones shown on the left, above. If you are upgrading and would like to achieve a slight velocity increase then it is best to use the enhanced style metal spring guide. The enhanced style will typically increase your overall BB (velocity) by 30-50 foot per second (FPS) increase. The standard metal spring guide adds little or no velocity increase.

How to Properly Install Your Spring Guide

Installing a new metal spring guide in your airsoft gun is simple. Once you have removed and opened your gearbox, just remove the old spring guide and replace with the new metal style. Be sure to align the tabs on the spring guide with the slots machined into the gearbox.

Adding a light coat of silicone grease to the spring guide will help reduce friction but is not a requirement.

Be sure you properly re-shim your gears before re-assembling gearbox to adjust for any height differences caused by the installation of the metal spring guide.

Proper alignment of the spring guide tabs in the gearbox slot will be required to properly close and re-assemble the gearbox. On some models you may be able to insert a small rod or screwdriver in the back of the spring guide to help hold it in place while you replace the gearbox side cover.

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