UTG L96 Barrel Spacer Help

[recon337]

I'm sorry if there was a post about this before but I didn't see one anywhere when I searched. Anyway I have a UTG type 96 shadow ops sniper and I have read that there were some quality control problems with some of the internals like the placements of the barrel spacers. My bbs had a tendency to veer off to random directions and I guess this could be one of the many culprits. I understand that there are also many other factors that would cause the bbs to veer so I'd rather not have tons of people calling me an idiot for thinking that just adjusting the barrel spacers would fix that problem.

Anyway I was wondering if anyone could give me some good advice on how to fix it properly. I also heard about some people using duck tape to basically make their own spacers for the barrel. It sounds like a good idea in theory but I was hoping someone with personal experience could give me some tips on it. I would also appreciate any other maintenance or simple upgrades I can do to help improve performance before I start buying upgrades for the gun. Thanks in advance!

[fuzzywolly]

Yeah, I own the utg l96, and to make my own barrel spacers I use electric tape. I placed three of these evenly throughout the barrel to the desired length. When you go to put the barrel back into the outer barrel, it should take alittle effort, but not enough to bring out the hammer But you can also use the stock spacers as well. However, simply placing these along the barrel will not do, as they tend to move around too much. Alittle electric tape on each side of the utg spacer (that little foam piece) will prevent the spacer from moving around, and creating uneven balance within the barrel. You can also just ditch the stock spacers and use only your home made ones. But personnely, I just used two stock spacers with some tape wrapped around each side to keep them in place, along with one other homemade one in the center.

To check to see if this might be causing your curving, remove the orange plastic piece. Underneath should be a black metal cap. After untwisting this, put your finger on the barrel and wiggle it around. Obviously do it while its unloaded If the barrel wiggles all over then you know the barrel spacers are messed up. If the barrel stays firm, and does not wiggle much if at all, then it is probably not the spacers.

Also, I had some major curve when using my stock hop up chamber and barrel. To compensate for this I used .4 bbs and all seemed well. However, after some times use, the curve was back and nothing including the barrel spacers could do anything. Thats when I realized that the bucking was most likely torn or misaligned.

These replacement buckings are hard to find, and even if you get your hands on one, the stock hop up chamber is a pain to get apart. I recommend getting the pdi hop up chamber, along with an aeg barrel and bucking as this will prevent you from dealing with a lot of hassle in the future.

Summing up, if you are set on no upgrade purchases, contact leapers and see if they can give you a replacement bucking. However, I heard they will only give you spares under the 30 day warrenty. Not entirely sure though. In my opinion, dish out around $130 and get the suggested upgrades to start off with. You will be able to have way better performance, and less hassle with the stock hop up. Not to mention, the pdi hop up chamber has two arms which compensates for shooting bbs too far left or right.

Any other questions just ask.

Fuzzy

[recon337]

Fuzzy,

Thanks for the info. I was definantly planning on buying some upgrades eventually but I don't have the money yet so I'm just doing at home upgrades for the moment. I like the electrical tape idea a lot by the way, I think I'll use that instead of duck tape. Also do you have any idea on how to remove the orange tip without destroying the gun cause it seems to be stuck on there pretty well.

[fuzzywolly]

Oddly enough, I had trouble removing the orange tip too. To the point that I gave up. Then when I went to dissemble the rifle, I happened to take off the orange tip. It basically just fell off. I do not know how that happened to be honest.

But here is a tip that I use for removing all my orange tips off my guns.
1. Make sure there is no screw holding the orange tip in...you do not have to worry about the l96 having one so you are good.
2. Take a hair dryer and put it on high (hot). This will melt the glue which is keeping it on the metal cap, which has threads, and is also glued on. So basically a cap is glued on a cap which is glued onto the barrel. A
3. After melting the glue (around 5-10 minutes) twist it with some pliers or just with your hands. Maybe use one of those grip like things that you use to open a jar with.
4. If it still is stuck on, heat again.
5. Most likely the orange cap should just come off, as it has no threads, and when the glue melts it should pop off. BUT, there is a black metal cap underneath, that has threads, and must be twisted to come off.

Hope this helps.

[recon337]

Ok thanks. Also is it possible to screw the black cap back on so that I can cover up the threads again?

[fuzzywolly]

Yes, the black cap has threads so you can take it off and put it back on again without a problem.

[recon337]

Ok cool and awesome I just got it off! ;D thanks for the hair dryer tip.

[fuzzywolly]

No problem, let me know if you need any other help.

Fuzzy

[recon337]

Actually yes. Have you ever had issues with the bold sticking when you tried to lift it up to pull it back? Mine does and I can't figure out what the problem is.

[fuzzywolly]

When you try to pull the bolt up from its resting position, are you saying it wont move? If so, I sometimes have this problem, but all I do is wiggle it alittle and I can pull the bolt up. But its nothing that is really noticeable, as this happens only a few times once and awhile. Your situation sounds more serious.

Try tightening the end screw with an allen wrench, and this will secure the bolt to the end of the cylinder and should make cocking easier. When the end screw is too loose, the bolt handle is not secure, and sometimes gets caught and wont pull up and back.

[recon337]

I tried that but the more I tighten it the more it won't move so i have to keep it in a wierd halfway tightened position that I have to re-tighten constantly because it was loose to start with and cocking it loosens it more.