Increasing Output Pressure on PE Reactor Regs

[peeeto]

hi all, since i see many questions on how to increase tank output pressures, i just wanted to share my experience with my 72/3000 PMI Pure Energy tank, which came with the rebuildable preset (800-900 psi) Reactor regulator.

you can increase the output pressure by adding shims underneath the belleville spring pack.

i'm not sure if all of their regulators come with shims, but mine had two to start with (one thicker than the other). i assume they are there for the factory to tune the output pressure, so each regulator may be different. the Low Pressure Springpack Installation Instructions show the two shims, but the Pure Energy Tank Manual and the Preset Reactor Regulator Rebuild Instructions do not.

i was able to get some extra shims from my local shop that had a rebuild kit in their tech dept. (thanks, APE !)

unmodified, my tank had an output pressure of ~820 psi. adding one of the smaller shims (for a total of one larger shim and two smaller shims) increased the output pressure to ~920 psi.

by just using two of the larger shims (none of the smaller ones), my tank now has an output of ~1150 psi

my Tac now has a nice, crisp trigger reaction (for more info, i use the CF frame and the ULE on/off with 6 shims). i can take controlled single shots when i want, and by lightly fingering the trigger get consistent 3-5 round bursts. sustained full auto is possible, but holding the sweet spot is more difficult (although now much easier with the tank putting out more). i'll probably play with the Hyperframe/Blade trigger later, but for now i'm extremely happy with the way it's working!

hope this helps anyone who's looking to increase the output pressure on their PE tanks! (of course, if try this it's at your own risk, etc. etc...)

here's a link to my post on PMI's PE Message Board discussing the above.

[viper-mayhem]

Thanks, I just bought my Pure Energy 68/4500 3 weeks before my RT PRO and was looking into doing this reg. mod.

[angrysasquatch]

Ooooohh, I have a big steely thats not quite fully legal with a Reactor reg on it. I could just shim the tank up to not-so-legal bps due to pressure for screwing around.

How big do said washers need to be? Do they have a hole in the center? If you have extras can you measure them up for me? I would need outside diameter and thickness for the big and small shims, and hole size if there is one. Is there an upper limit on pressure you can do using this technique other than tank pressure (3000 or 4500 psi)? What is the thickness of all the shims in the pack together (roughly), as this is most likely the max.

Thanks a bunch

Edit:
Could I switch out the burst discs and put this on a 4500 psi tank and fill it to 4500 psi or are the regulators different?

[peeeto]

LOL you scare me. please read the disclaimer above again

How big do said washers need to be?
they are very thin, on the order of <0.5mm

please note that when i use the term "shim", i am not referring to the Belleville Washers (the "spring pack")


Do they have a hole in the center?
yes. they are pictured here in the Low Pressure Springpack Installation Instructions right under the text "two tuning shims & a new piston o ring are supplied in the kit" in the blow-up diagram.


If you have extras can you measure them up for me?
sorry, i don't have a micrometer. your regulator probably has them inside - disassemble as per the Preset Reactor Regulator Rebuild Instructions and check. they should be directly under the belleville spring pack (#2 in the diagram), inside of the gas distribution body (#1 in the diagram).

look closely - when i took mine apart, the shims stayed inside of the body because of the light coating of oil they have on them, and upon first examination looked like they were part of the body inside of there.


I would need outside diameter and thickness for the big and small shims, and hole size if there is one.
thinking of finding some at a local machine shop or online? save yourself the trouble and just buy a reg rebuild kit (PMI Part #40611).


Is there an upper limit on pressure you can do using this technique other than tank pressure (3000 or 4500 psi)?
i don't know - i haven't done anything more than what i describe above. please remember that i am not talking about tank pressure at all. only the output pressure (to your marker when the tank is connected).

i assume that this mod will work the same on 3000 and 4500 tanks - it shouldn't matter what the internal pressure is.

there is a limit as to har far the belleville spring pack can be further compressed by the shims before they deform or you simply can't screw the bonnet back on anymore, but i don't know how far you can push it...


What is the thickness of all the shims in the pack together (roughly), as this is most likely the max.
dunno... i'm guessing that the two shims that were in mine originally had a thickness of <0.5mm together.


Could I switch out the burst discs and put this on a 4500 psi tank and fill it to 4500 psi or are the regulators different?
i wouldn't know. i would assume that you would be able to, because it's likely that PMI made them all the same to save manufacturing costs, but i don't know.


whatever you do, please be careful

[angrysasquatch]

Don't worry, I scare all sorts of people.

My tank's fine, it just got a little custom dremel treatment . I carved in a TC stamp (carefully) because I bought an American tank that had no such stamp, and thus I couldn't fill my brand-new tank. Its to the same depth as the DOT stamp, so its not like I've comprimized it structurally. And I don't sugest anyone to do it.

Thanks for putting in the time to answer my list of questions, much appreciated :gives e-cookie:

[commrad]

I just busted both my 72/3k's open, I'm robbing shims from one to give to the other.

I have a classic with a Bo-Yaah, RT on/off and I know it will run fine on 600+

My Xmag with T-boarded hyper frame can't go over 15 bps with the stock 800psi output.

both of my tanks had a single .5mm shim and 3 .12mm shims 15.75mm O.D. and 9mm I.D.

[angrysasquatch]

Let us know what the maximum PSI you can get out of it is. Very interested