FS Hero regulator - damaged piston face

Knorkator · 11-13-2020, 03:37 AM

I finally decided to buy a new Tank Regulator and ditch the First Strike Hero Reg.

It´s sad I kinda love the compact design + tool less rotation, but mine was too unreliable to keep it as my main tank regulator.

The problem is that the piston face gets dented over time or immediately after airing the tank up.

Last time I sent it in for a service. Got told they had to remove some burs on the counterpart to the piston face inside of the reg.

Pic of my first and last Piston (had 4 in total, 2 white face and 2 newer with black face).

Buddy of me had the same problem. Anyone else here can report this?

Trying to figure out if i should toss it in the bin or take my time to send it in for antother sevice and keep it as a spare reg.

Mr. Charlie · 11-13-2020, 05:33 AM

I had the same problem with mine. The black ones are supposed to be the new, more durable Reg Seat but I still had the same issue with the deformation. I’m pretty sure that is also what causes them to “Ping”...

Supposedly the new Regulators have fixed this issue?

Knorkator · 11-13-2020, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Charlie

Supposedly the new Regulators have fixed this issue?

I asked FS Hero upon release of the 2.0 what the difference is and only got a short answer "We improved the seals".

Paul77 · 11-13-2020, 07:10 PM

all regulator seats will wear out, how fast is the issue. id hope that youd be able to get 2 seasons from a reg seat/piston.

Drayven · 11-13-2020, 08:22 PM

Get ahold of James at service@first-strike.com. He can get you another piston without having to send your tank in. What output are you running at?

tnarbutt28 · 11-22-2020, 06:43 PM

Im in the same boat as you guys, i carried 2 reg bodies and multiple pistobs/rebuild kits. I never made it through 2 events with my first strike regs. Kept them all around the 500 output range. Then there was the "issue" of them all pinging. Bot a huge deal to me but i know others who used my tank and hated it for that reason.

I will say the tanks themselves are awesome. Bit wider than the ninja tanks so they shoulder really nice, just needed to swap the reg out with a different brand.

imped4now · 12-04-2020, 08:52 AM

Love the adjustment design and layout, but the piston seat design is just junk and that hasn't changed. The small surface area vs. the loads it sees is just off. Having many markers, the ability to adjust the regulator orientation without tools and with air in the bottle is so, so handy. But the piston seat design is just so unfortunate.

The Powerhouse regulator is still the best on the market when it comes to durability/longevity, and while you need to loosen 3 set screws to orient it, you *can* adjust it with air in the bottle due to the separated and captured bonnet.

MrMeatball · 01-07-2021, 11:48 AM

Glad I ran across this thread. Found someone getting rid of an FS Hero2 locally, and since USPS is holding my other tank hostage, I needed a one so I could play before 2022. Took advantage of the deal, but hadn't heard there were reg issues. Just grabbed a HAYMKR so hopefully, that will be a system I can run for a long while.

Paul77 · 01-07-2021, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMeatball

Glad I ran across this thread. Found someone getting rid of an FS Hero2 locally, and since USPS is holding my other tank hostage, I needed a one so I could play before 2022. Took advantage of the deal, but hadn't heard there were reg issues. Just grabbed a HAYMKR so hopefully, that will be a system I can run for a long while.

welcome to the powerhouse family.

the FS hero isnt a bad reg, it has some trick features. the burst discs are the best out there. the fill nipple is the smallest and the magnetic collar is soo slick. but the older and original pistons are temperamental to say the least.

CSULA21 · 01-16-2021, 10:08 PM

I've had 2 Hero 2 regs for over a year (white reg seats). Both were performing great (Extra Low Pressure Springs- 275 PSI); even solved the issue of the "pinging" (use Dow 111 heavily on the spring- they sell this as their "Laceration Ointment"). However, one of the regs blew a 1.8K disk in December. So, I rebuilt it with their kit. I did notice that the reg seat was now black. However, after I rebuilt it, the 1.8 disk blew the next time I played. Rebuilt it again, and again the 1.8 disk blew the next time I played. I rebuilt it a 3rd time, and yet again, 1.8 disk blew. I even went so far as to buy an entirely new Hero 2 regulator, and it did not last me one day of play; blew the 1.8 disk. Every time the reg seat was busted; that last time the piston head flared out, allowing the seat to fall out. Weird thing is, the other Hero 2 reg still has all the original parts and NO PROBLEMS!
I called First Strike and spoke to James, or Johnathan (can't remember the name). Well, the rep said that the Seal Seat had to be torqued down to spec; 30 lbs./sq. in. (IIRC). That was the first I've heard of this. At any rate, the rep said that he would email me information on how I can send them the reg so that it can be rebuilt to specifications, along with several pistons, as I've bought so many with all of them failing. Well, it's been nearly a week and nothing. I decided to switch over to the HK Arolite2 Reg (as I bought one over a year ago; but didn't use it much since I fell in love with how simple the Hero 2 was), and so far so good. I'm just hoping there's a way I can drop the output pressure to below 400 PSI.