How a Tippmann A5 Works

This is an animation video of how a Tippmann A5 paintball marker operates internally. The X7 blowback, 98 Custom, Alpha Black, Project Salvo, and Carver One are all similarly designed and can use this illustration.
I hope it provides a foundation for a basic understanding of the marker. I'll be using this as a starting point to help newcomers understand tests that I have conducted involving the marker.

[@philchernichenko9422]

As a mechanical engineering student, this was beautiful to watch

[@TheChristianPlatt]

Incredibly well made and narrated. I opened up my marker and was able to figure out how things worked. Now, having this visual reference to demonstrate the firing sequence to others is fantastic. A huge thank you for the painstaking diagram conversion to Flash.

[@rcgfgh1664]

Christian Platt , ျမနၤမာနိငၤင'😅😠

[@Polaris543]

Excellent video. It's a shame that more people can't do videos like these.

[@pedrotome9119]

Very well made, and explained! This should go to a TV documentary, for it has enough quality. I wish that someday a similar work will come up explaining with this detail level, how a gas and a Co2 blow back and non blow back 1911, P-08, M-712 C-96, works...

[@timothypryor7952]

2 hours of google search and this is the best I have found on this topic. Thank you for making this video.

[@seanalltogether]

Now i understand why it auto-sputters when its low on gas. There isn't enough pressure to drive the hammer back far enough to catch on the latch, so it just bounces back and forth on the spring hitting the valve pin over and over.

[@harleyme3163]

yup

[@s_t_r_a_y_e_d]

beautifully explained! i know how to service my guns but knowing exactly how everything works in unison really helps with troubleshooting

[@heptalquimistabike9913]

WUAU!!!. Really nice animation. thank you very much for your clear explanation.

[@LILLT43]

This guy is right on the ball. ive open up my alpha black about 8 times looks exactly like this trust me. if you are going to open up your tippmann marker, PLEASE for your sake, LOOK UP A KZbin VIDEO BEFORE YOU SCREW SOMETHING UP. This is said so you know what your doing so you dont mess anything up. i learned this the hard way.

[@CantoniaCustoms]

That trigger is simply genius.

[@_mr.boss_1308]

I'm in the process of trying design my own marker as a personal project and this was very helpful

[@JERPATLACLEL]

Super clear and precisely explained. Excellent!

[@nobodynoone2500]

Got a box of old markers and someone said they were similar to this design. Thanks for the info!

[@walthanas]

Very interesting and helpful video! Just sold my A5, but it's still nice to know how the internals work, in case a buddy who has one runs into trouble.

[@marcerasmus3745]

absolutely brilliant animation, thank you for your effort lord Odin...much appreciated.

[@derekpeace7668]

Great work! Always good to know the internal operation of your marker to help diagnose problems. Thanks for this. Cheers, ThickChestHair - A5OG

[@namorcaz]

Wow very impress by your animation and narration. you should be proud of yourseld. and thanks for the help i couldnt figure out how the air goes around the tomb until now thats man

[@op665]

thank you for telling me how it works ive been wondering for awhile now.

[@moosesnWoop]

The more you know. Thanks for the work

[@hderrick7711]

Fantastic video, very helpful.

[@stessert2208]

Exactly what I was looking for, thank you :)

[@ThesleepshopNC]

Awesome job. This will be very helpful in explaining how the markers work. - Cady

[@GiGaHarrySfotter]

i'm an engineer and i really like your video!

[@UbiqueGrid]

I remember the first time I opened my 98 and all the springs flew out everywhere, lol bad news, then 2 years after owning it the salve and hose leaked.

[@peppi0304]

Very nice video. Though a legend would have been nice what the different colored objects are named

[@xtremesqueesie]

GREAT VIDEO. this should come as a disc in the A-5 box

[@gingerbread2875]

The sear is key in all semi autos to full autos. The problems are always Timely municitions delevery. Pop filed the sear on an old marlin 22. Bent more bullets than it fired.

[@givemetoast]

Wow! Excellent job on both the video and the explanation.

[@theenlightenedvan]

grt illustration and explenation!

[@wyz2285]

Thank you! I have been looking for a trigger mechanism that works for semi-autos for so long

[@vexbomer]

very nice job

[@MasakraChannel]

Thanks a lot for this video 💪

[@LordOdinPresents]

@MASTERMARK360 The only difference is the trigger/sear interaction. The trigger will hit a microswitch, which causes the armature pin to push up the sear. From there, the mechanics are the same.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@Tannk42 That might be a lot tougher to pull off. It would probably require a valve pin that is nearly the same diameter as the valve hole. Replacing the valve pin would be easier than replacing the valve itself. Right now, the pin has a thicker block and then gets narrow, allowing air to pass. If it were thick throughout (like a pole) then it would block most of the air. The problem would be replacing the pin or having one custom made.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@ninja6kid Could be anything. From the pushpins keeping the hammer from flying back and hitting the mask, to the tombstone preventing the air from whipping around, to the quality of the receiver halves which may just fracture and send internals flying. No way to know until its exposed to it and it may vary from marker to marker.

[@MrProtoking]

make sure the spring pushing the sear (purple piece) is strong enough to push itself up into the seating area of the hammer.

[@david199619]

@ionizdgrunt2 The cyclone is powered by excess air. It feeds 15 balls per second. It looks like you need to push it, because you CAN push it. It is useful.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@theTicklemehellmo The easiest way is by getting an e-grip but a less conventional method is by reducing the amount of trigger pull. TechT has a Hair Pin kit for Tippmann's. If you use the wrong size, your marker won't catch on the sear and it will go full auto. If you use one that is just below that and are able to hold the trigger juuuust right, you can utilize the mechanical bounce from the marker to trip the sear. When done shooting, let go. I had to explain this concept to a ref once..

[@Mark37251]

excellent video man

[@Deathcon5fm]

Thanks for the great video!

[@LordOdinPresents]

@M0RTaLK0MBaT68 You got it. The sole purpose of the blowback gas is to make a single-fire marker semi-automatic.

[@Lehmbopop2]

Thank you so much. Great explanation.

[@IBAKaspian]

Outstanding video! Thank you!

[@LordOdinPresents]

@PernellDD Yes, even with HPA, a reg will improve your efficiency a ton. You'll get a lot more shots per tank out of it. Just make sure to choose one that can output up to approx 650-700 psi.

[@harleyme3163]

dunno what you mean when the gun is rated at 740 psi .... that is, it requires that to cycle. its internally regulated for that reason. however a regulator would be required to get th 3600 psi air down to 800 psi ish... or it would blow the main seals.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@relicMk Sure is. Bravo One is the same as the Alpha Black, just named differently for different countries. So this video will apply to the Bravo One, as well.

[@freebird8974]

oregon paintball stole your vid just a fyi

[@Zaddygains]

That was a very good video. nice job

[@LordOdinPresents]

@Thatmakessense356 Yup. There are several reasons why this can happen but this commonly occurs when the tank's gas supply runs too low and can't reset the hammer fully.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@xxitzfamousxx It is a lot to remember. If you look closely, each part has a colored bloom effect when it is mentioned the first time to draw attention to it. After that, it referred to only by name. Try expanding the video to more clearly see what I'm referring to. Hope that helps.

[@unbekannternr.1353]

Thx Man! Simple as a 2-stroke engine.

[@erikatvdriver]

VERY INFORMATIVE...thank you...

[@Tannk42]

@LordOdin2008 Ive seen his video and the reason Im looking for another option is because I feel as though that the gun would be more efficient if you could close block the gas from getting out at all. Thanks for the help though, I appreciate it.

[@jortega456]

Awesome vid!

[@LordOdinPresents]

@ninja6kid A lighter spring would release more volume up to a certain point where the ball exits before the valve is done releasing air. As far as the high pressure of 1500+ psi, I wouldn't try it for safety reasons. Markers are only designed to function in certain pressure ranges and that's way too high.

[@Scalik]

WOW it takes 4 minutes to explain. BUT only 1/20 of a second to be put into action!

[@canadapainter658]

Well done video,,,,

[@LordOdinPresents]

At 1:35, you'll see that the trigger sear is pushed by the spring and waits for the hammer. It can't go full auto because of this. If the sear pivot hole wasn't oversized to allow movement like that, it would become full auto.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@MrBoatman95 That would be any marker that can shoot First Strike rounds. FSR are pretty expensive, though.

[@randomdeadbody]

so.... basically an open-bolt submachinegun, but instead of the firing pin on the bolt hitting the primer, the hammer hits a 'firing pin' that opens a valve, expelling a measure of propellant gas until the blowback gas resets the bolt, simultaneously shutting off the gas. neat.

[@phazedreality818]

@jeanlucncoelho because the rate of fire would not be controllable. your a5 will shoot at uncapped speeds, depending on your set up, about 20 to 30 bps. u would not be allowed to play with it on most fields.

[@savcmsiscool]

I wish I had better memory so I could watch one video and remember it all lol.

[@LordOdinPresents]

@EvilFingers Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

[@ionizdgrunt2]

Very nice video, i was always afraid of getting the A-5 because i though you had to push a rod that works the cyclone feed, but its all auto matic :D so in a week or so, im gonna get the A-5 marker :D

[@rpc2251]

If the sear didn't slide back when the hammer moves forward.....couldn't that make the gun full auto?

[@editdroid99]

+RPC225 Full auto that couldn't be stopped until the gas ran out. You have to fully connect the trigger to the sear so that when you hold the trigger, the sear can't reset, but when you let go of the trigger, the sear would reset. I would guess that this would only set off a ton of other problems to overcome, such as ball feed speeds, etc. Also, I don't think you would be able to use it on many PB fields.

[@rpc2251]

+Christopher Mueller (Editdroid) actually I tried it on my old project salvo and it worked...shot really fast but it had full auto...I have a vid on my Chanel about it

[@andybourgon5015]

i was thinking the same thing. do you know aprox how many bps?

[@andybourgon5015]

and was is difficult?

[@rpc2251]

+Andy Bourgon no...all I did was put a pin in the gap of the sear...prob too fast for any hopper to keep up

[@magfedacex]

I would like to see this animation using techTs blowforward -blow back upgrade

[@DoctorMilsim]

This system rocks! Can't wait to get my hands on Tippman's airsoft gun!

[@melkyvichito5082]

Excelente

[@thispersoniswhite]

Could you make a video for how a response trigger works? oh and this video helps a lot thank you

[@music98we]

Too bad you don't upload videos anymore... They were really good.

[@dominickkh]

verry cool

[@rv90splittergaming6]

If that pink part didnt have an oval shaped hole, it would be full auto. Right??

[@sebastianspielerei6403]

Hello i have one question my Tippman works perfekt but now i want use smaller balls (bullets) and i built a reduction in the gun barrel but now with the reduction i loose all the Power from the painter why is it so and how can i use the full power with the smaller gun barrel?

[@nothingtoospecial777]

So if you were to increase the size of that chamber where air enters, you could create bigger pressure? Combine that with a long barrel and technically you have a sniper?

[@motenao]

TANKS AND GREAT VIDEO

[@LordOdinPresents]

@Tannk42 One method that I've heard of is to remove the o-ring off of the hammer. Since I've never tried it myself, you should try asking KRA_Sharpshooter. He has a channel on KZbin as well. He did a shotgun mod and it doesn't reset the hammer.

[@sarodiengraaff1898]

What happens if the power tube is cracked?

[@BJaca-tn3om]

Could someone explain what the *tombstone* is? What does it do, why is it needed?

[@brandonobaza8610]

Nice video. Still wondering why many markers rely on electronics to achieve full auto. Guessing it's the least invasive way, but still annoying your firing controls depend on the reliability of a 9v battery.

[@tslabjr7]

can you explain something for me? i need further explination of that part where you changed it over to those 2 lines at around 3:30. i don't quite understand that part.

[@SpasticHatchet]

So if the hammer doesn't catch on the trigger, you just pull the bolt back? I assume the hammer is connected to the bolt.

[@TheCBoyz92]

this really help with mods

[@Manuqtix.Manuqtix]

If you shot somebody at the wrong place. At point blank range. It can actually kill

[@waynepeart4979]

Can you do one of a Tippmann Phenom? Awesome video

[@LordOdinPresents]

@tcherassi1 Either one works well but air has its advantages performance-wise. Ninja makes excellent tanks. Their regulators are very consistent and they have great customer support.

[@freakwease]

Ok now how would i stop the blow back valve in order to make it bolt action?

[@MrBoatman95]

what is the best paintball gun??? (meaning wich gun is the most accurate, go the farthest, and hurts most when shot.)

[@Mr2Bluntz]

hey i just bought a project salvo! trigger does not push sear high enough to release the bolt ?! the pins seem very loose int he holes and there is a small pin behind the trigger welded to the body the trigger hits this pin (close to rt hole) and is not shown int he illustration or in any video i watch should i remove this little piece of metal? it seem to be the cause of the trigger stopping premature to the sear releasing the bolt. even stops before the trigger stop pin is contacted! plz help

[@Tannk42]

How/could you go about sealing off the blowback gas? I am trying to make my gun not reset the hammer after shooting. Thanks

[@savcmsiscool]

Could you please make a video on how an electronic marker works? Or is it basically the same?

[@markg4752]

might be a silly question but what are some reason to why the bolt wouldn't reset?

[@The757packerfan]

The spring attached to the purple part (in this video) could be broken. Or not enough air pressure remained to the hammer back.

[@PernellDD]

pretty nice, never had tippmanns until now, I just got an alpha blac with e grip and cyclone, now... what are the best mods for this marker? I was told to get the cyclone upgrade kit, the zero kick hammer, aluminum power tube with delrin bolt and the APE board.... do you have any imput on all this upgrades?

[@PrestonSacco]

good info but i wish u could point to what you were talking about on some of the things because i got lost on some parts

[@alesson226]

Excelente!

[@LordOdinPresents]

I wouldn't. Make sure you removed overspray by polishing your clamshells so that the hammer can fully return.

[@TRANNGUYEN-nx5mx]

How to balance between hammer's spring compresion and source air compression? Thank you

[@timorre3971]

what effect does the front bolt have on the paintball? what would happen if there was only the propellant gas and no forward action of the front bolt?

[@michaelplaczek9385]

Wouldn't it roll backwards? Other than that, I don't know

[@critical_mass8279]

Thank you

[@JoseGarcia-on8uf]

What’s the purple thing called

[@veetisainio2318]

Breaks paint and jams casually

[@iamcondescending]

this looks exactly like how my bt combat works... I wonder if the a5 e-grip would fit on it? (Seeing as I've heard bad things about the bt e-grip.) The trigger parts look exactly the same...

[@PernellDD]

@LordOdin2008 Thanks a lot, the marker is stock so no reg, do you recomend using a regulator? I am going to run hpa.

[@VSci_]

If I remove the seer, connect air, then pop back the hammer will the gun go full auto until I shut off air?

[@MaIGaming]

yeah, someone om here did it