Trophy spraygun Troubleshooting
- Symptom1 - Heavy top or bottom pattern
- Symptom2 - Heavy right or left side pattern
- Symptom3 - Heavy center pattern
- Symptom4 - Split spray pattern
- Symptom5 - Jerky or fluttering spray
- Symptom6 - Unable to get round spray
- Symptom7 - Will not spray
- Symptom8 - Paint bubbles in cup
- Symptom9 - Fluid leaking or dripping from cup lid
- Symptom10 - Starved spray pattern
- Symptom11 - Excessive overspray
- Symptom12 - Excessive fog
- Symptom13 - Dry spray
- Symptom14 - Fluid leaking from packing nut
- Symptom15 - Fluid leaking or dripping from front of gun
- Symptom16 - Runs and sags
- Symptom17 - Thin, sandy coarse finish drying before it flows out
- Symptom18 - Thick, dimpled finish "orange peel"
Symptom1 - Heavy top or bottom pattern
Possible Cause
- Horn holes plugged.
- Obstruction on top or bottom of fluid tip.
- Cap and/or tip seat dirty.
Remedy
- Clean. Ream with non-metallic point.
- Clean.
- Clean.
Symptom2 - Heavy right or left side pattern
Possible Cause
- Left or right side horn holes plugged.
- Dirt on left or right side of fluid tip.
Remedy
- Clean. Ream with non-metallic point.
- Clean.
■Remedies for the top-heavy, bottom-heavy, right-heavy, and left-heavy patterns:
- Determine if the obstruction is on the air cap or the fluid tip. Do this by making a test spray pattern. Then, rotate the cap one-half turn and spray another pattern. If the defect is inverted, obstruction is on the air cap. Clean the air cap as previously instructed.
- If the defect is not inverted, it is on the fluid tip. Check for a fine burr on the edge of the fluid tip. Remove with #600 wet or dry sand paper.
- Check for dried paint just inside the opening; remove by washing with solvent.
Symptom3 - Heavy center pattern
Possible Cause
- Fluid flow too high for atomization air.
- Material flow exceeds air cap’s capacity.
- Spreader adjustment valve set too low.
- Atomizing pressure too low.
- Material too thick.
Remedy
- Balance air pressure and fluid flow. Increase spray pattern width with spreader adjustment valve.
- Thin or lower fluid flow.
- Adjust.
- Increase pressure.
- Thin to proper consistency.
Symptom4 - Split spray pattern
Possible Cause
- Atomization air pressure too high.
- Fluid flow too low.
- Spreader adjusting valve set too high.
Remedy
- Reduce at transformer or gun.
- Increase fluid flow (increases gun handling speed).
- Adjust.
Symptom5 - Jerky or fluttering spray
Possible Cause
- Loose or damaged fluid tip/seat. (Most common problem)
- Material level too low.
- Container tipped too far.
- Obstruction in fluid passage.
- Dry or loose fluid needle packing nut.
Remedy
- Tighten or replace.
- Refill.
- Hold more upright.
- Backflush with solvent.
- Lubricate or tighten.
Symptom6 - Unable to get round spray
Possible Cause
- Spreader adjustment screw not seating properly.
- Air cap retaining ring loose.
Remedy
- Clean or replace.
- Tighten.
Symptom7 - Will not spray
Possible Cause
- No air pressure at gun.
- Fluid needle adjusting screw not open enough.
Remedy
- Check air supply and air lines, blow out gun air passages.
- Open fluid needle adjusting screw.
Symptom8 - Paint bubbles in cup
Possible Cause
Fluid tip not tight.
Remedy
Tighten tip.
Symptom9 - Fluid leaking or dripping from cup lid
Possible Cause
- Cup lid loose.
- Dirty threads on cup or lid.
- Cracked cup or lid.
Remedy
- Tighten lid.
- Clean.
- Replace cup and lid.
Symptom10 - Starved spray pattern
Possible Cause
- Inadequate material flow.
- Low atomization air pressure.
Remedy
- Back fluid adjusting screw out to first thread, or change to larger tip size.
- Increase air pressure and rebalance gun.
Symptom11 - Excessive overspray
Possible Cause
- Too much atomization air pressure.
- Gun too far from work surface.
- Improper stroking (arcing, gun motion too fast).
Remedy
- Reduce pressure.
- Adjust to proper distance.
- Move at moderate pace, parallel to work surface.
Symptom12 - Excessive fog
Possible Cause
- Too much or too fast-drying thinner.
- Too much atomization (air pressure.)
Remedy
- Remix properly.
- Reduce air pressure.
Symptom13 - Dry spray
Possible Cause
- Air pressure too high.
- Gun tip too far from work surface.
- Gun motion too fast.
- Gun out of adjustment.
Remedy
- Reduce air pressure.
- Adjust to proper distance.
- Slow down.
- Adjust.
Symptom14 - Fluid leaking from packing nut
Possible Cause
- Packing nut loose.
- Packing worn or dry.
Remedy
- Tighten, do not bind needle.
- Replace or lubricate.
- Packing nut too tight.
- Dry packing.
- Fluid tip or needle worn or damaged.
- Foreign matter in tip.
- Fluid needle spring broken.
- Wrong size needle or tip.
- Adjust.
- Lubricate.
- Replace tip and needle.
- Clean.
- Replace.
- Replace.
- Too much material flow.
- Material too thin.
- Gun tilted on an angle, or gun motion too slow.
- Adjust gun or reduce fluid flow.
- Mix properly or apply light coats.
- Hold gun at right angle to work and adapt to proper gun technique.
- Gun too far from surface.
- Too much air pressure.
- Improper thinner being used.
- Check distance. Normally approximately 8".
- Reduce air pressure and check spray pattern.
- Follow paint manufacturer’s mixing instructions.
- Gun too close to surface.
- Too much material coarsely atomized.
- Air pressure too low.
- Improper thinner being used.
- Material not properly mixed.
- Surface rough, oily, dirty.
- Check distance. Normally approximately 8".
- Follow paint manufacturer’s mixing instructions.
- Increase air pressure or reduce fluid flow.
- Follow paint manufacturer’s mixing instructions.
- Follow paint manufacturer’s mixing instructions.
- Properly clean and prepare.
Symptom15 - Fluid leaking or dripping from front of gun.
Possible Cause
Remedy
