4/28/2008 - TechT Modifications Review


It's been two exciting games of paintball since the last update here on sotpaintball.com and I just wanted to thank everyone who showed up to the games on April 12th and 26th. Both game were met but some unsightly weather but we still had excellent turnouts! Keep up the commitment, we really appreciate it. The weather is something we can never control and because of the recent rainfall it's difficult to predict where exactly a game will be hosted. Everyone at SOT is very excited to begin playing at our Shiocton location but conditions of the field are ever changing which has resulted in us having to make last minute decisions.

Last update I stated we were going to review the Vforce line of Goggle systems, but I found some even more worth of a review and just wanted to share my experiences with you as soon as possible.

Today we are going to review 5 upgrades to the Tippmann A5 by our friends over at TechT paintball. The lightening rod, Vortex, Squishy paddles, QEPH, and Hairpin trigger are going to be our topics for the day.

First off, The Vortex Cyclone mod replaces your stock ratchet with an aluminum ratchet. It WILL increase your performance! I noticed a difference right away. My marker seemed to fire smoother, and the Cyclone moved faster. With a stock Ratchet you're able to feed 15 BPS and operate down to 400 psi. With these upgrades you'll be feeding up to 30 BPS and operating at 150 PSI. That means when your marker used to stop cycling balls into the chamber this one will continue to feed shot for shot. On top of that stock ratchets WILL wear out after awhile, especially with fast firing. The vortex mod is a PERMANENT solution. Install was something that I would suggest giving to someone who knows there way around the Cyclone system. TechT offers excellent instruction online(with videos to help out) if you feel you can manage on your own.

Next the Lightening Rod mod to me, is one of the most forgotten but important mods, especially if you already have the Vortex Mod. This mod amplifies the effects of the Vortex mod. This Mod, also of aluminum, reduces friction with a self lubricating Brass bushing that connects to the Ratchet. This mod when used with the Vortex and the QEPH will greatly increase Air efficiency and rate of fire. Installing is simple and can be done in under 10 minutes in a work shop. I would not suggest installing this in the field because you need to oil it prior to firing.

The third Mod to the Cyclone hopper is one of the coolest looking mods I've ever seen. The Quick Exhaust piston Housing or QEPH is a vented piston housing that allows air to escape forward and backwards. This along with the Vortex Mod and Lightening rod mods increase your rate of fire and air efficiency even more. It works by allowing gas to vent making the marker respond instantly. It's more air efficient because it vents gas on the forward stroke and backwards stroke meaning less pressure to move the piston. My only problem with this is that with the vents on the side makes for easy dirt access so cleaning regularly after every game is suggested. Other than that it's and excellent product.

The forth and final mod the A5 cyclone feed are the Squishy Paddles. The Squishy Paddles are designed to prevent ball breaks in the cyclone. The prevention of the "blender" affect is something the A5 users have been looking for, for a long time. These are soft paddles that get installed inside the cyclone feed that replace the hard plastic stock paddles. When used in junction with the Vortex, Lightening Rod, and QEPH it adds that extra protection against ball break. This mod is also by far the easiest mod to install. Everyone should invest in purchasing these paddles. No reason not to.

The next Mod installed doesn't go anywhere inside of the cyclone. Instead it focuses on the Trigger and the Trigger pull. The Hair Pin Trigger kit can make your trigger extremely light! A soft or light trigger pull means less time and distance it required to actually fire the marker. Installation is a little hazardous because this is installed into the trigger set and one wrong move could land your trigger in a pill of messed up part. Caution is the key to this mod. After you get the entire mod placed in. The fun begins! Just play with the different Pin sets and find which one suits you the best. I prefer the 2 pin, 3 pin combo. This is the easiest way to get a upgraded feel to your trigger set, even when using just the stock trigger set!

All of these mods are excellent upgrades to your A5 and really breathe new life into them. Make sure when buying these mods that your get the genuine article, not a cheap rip off! Best way to know is straight from techtpaintball.com or a dealer of TechT products.

Also, one last thing on all of these mods. DON'T FORGET THE LUBE! That's right! And TechT sells the best kind for this job... Gun Sav Grease, the best thing to use on the Cyclone parts.

Well that about wraps this update up for me. I hope you enjoyed it. Next week we WILL be reviewing the Vforce Line of Goggle systems to include the Vforce Profiler, Grill, and Shield. Remember email if you have any questions comments or even a request to have a product reviewed.

See you all on the Field,
Spyder