Upgrading the Kraken Mechbox

[ShaneF]

I've got a Kraken.

Yeah, yeah, I know, shut up.

I'm looking to fix the inherent problems with owning a sub-$350 gun. I am reasonably handy, took the AEG gun repair course and have already disassembled and reassembled the mechbox a few times (bad wiring, didn't realize it at the time). Needless to say, I know the mechbox quite well.

Here is the list of things I want to buy from airsoftparts.ca to basically ensure it will work after more than 2 or 3 games:

Deep Fire Nozzle (AK)
Deep Fire Shim Set
Mad Bull Polcarbonate Piston (Full teeth)
Modify 6mm Stainless Steel Bushings - Double Oil Channel
Modify Enhanced Cylinder Head
Deep Fire Tappet Plate
Modify Bearing Spring Guide
G&P AEG Grease Set

Total: ~$100 (with 20% holiday discount)

All the parts I am replacing are plastic at the moment and I am just wondering if this is a good parts list for what needs to be replaced. I am looking to only spend around $100 (holidays are 'spensive) and wanted to check in with you guys first to make sure I'm not throwing my money away on anything before I take the plunge.

Anything on my list that doesn't need to be there? Anything that should be?

I stole this picture from Dogfood off the review of this fine gun just so you can see what I'm working with:

[Kokanee]

I'd keep;

Deep Fire Shim Set
Modify 6mm Stainless Steel Bushings - Double Oil Channel
Deep Fire Tappet Plate
G&P AEG Grease Set

Everything else is just money you don't need to spend, assuming you are keeping this AEG stock. If you really, really want to replace the piston, but a stock TM piston+spring assembly. TM pistons are amazingly tough and outlast many "upgraded" pistons, pls they are cheap to replace in the event it does wear out on you.

[Death March]

I prefer Systema grease,but the other parts look tasty lol.

[LUTNIT]

What Kokanee said, if you aren't upgrading the spring don't bother with the rest and TM pistons all the way.

I have a Kraken AK on the way at the moment though I'm making it as loud as possible with:
-Guarder steel cylinder head (remove foam pad from strike face)
-TM piston
-SystemA Aluminum piston head
among other things...

[Drache]

Originally Posted by LUTNIT

What Kokanee said, if you aren't upgrading the spring don't bother with the rest and TM pistons all the way.

Dont forget though that stock, a Kraken fires at 370fps....

[LUTNIT]

Originally Posted by Drache

Dont forget though that stock, a Kraken fires at 370fps....

Most people I hear who get em say it shoots ~350fps

A more consistent spring would also probably be really good, either a Prometheus Ms100 (~340fps) or Ms110 (~370fps)

where can one buy the tm pistons so cheap?

[The Saint]

Look in the parts section or post in the wanted section, there are a lot of them floating around from people who've upgraded out of their stock TM piston.

[ShaneF]

Originally Posted by Kokanee

I'd keep;

Deep Fire Shim Set
Modify 6mm Stainless Steel Bushings - Double Oil Channel
Deep Fire Tappet Plate
G&P AEG Grease Set

Everything else is just money you don't need to spend, assuming you are keeping this AEG stock. If you really, really want to replace the piston, but a stock TM piston+spring assembly. TM pistons are amazingly tough and outlast many "upgraded" pistons, pls they are cheap to replace in the event it does wear out on you.

You don't think the spring guide, cylinder head, nozzle or piston need to be replaced? Care to elaborate?

I'm definitely going to get a new spring guide as the one in there is just clear plastic. I assume (read: hope) most people posting have more experience with this stuff than I do so if there's a good reason not to buy that other stuff, than I guess I won't.

[ancorp]

I put an Element bearing spring guide, Element M115 spring, and Area1000 bushings into my Cyma gearbox. 385fps.

[MADDOG]

I am running mine on a 10.8v battery until it blows apart, if it ever does!
I think it is going to take a while and I have already put thousands of rounds through it.
Then I will see what needs to be changed, right now this thing works just as well as my systema fully upgraded AK but shoots a lower FPS.
With BB Bastard .28 BB's this is as accurate and shoots almost as far as my other AK that has hundreds of dollars worth of upgrades.

Why fix what is not broken?
I think you will be surprised by how long this gun will last stock.

MD
Pics:

http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=DSC02439.jpg


http://s189.photobucket.com/albums/z...t=DSC02434.jpg

[ShaneF]

I went ahead and purchased the following:

Deep Fire Shim Set
Deep Fire Tappet Plate
Modify 6mm Stainless Steel Bushings - Double Oil Channel
Modify Bearing Spring Guide
G&P AEG Grease Set

Thanks for the input everyone!

[Kokanee]

Originally Posted by PBrain

You don't think the spring guide, cylinder head, nozzle or piston need to be replaced? Care to elaborate?

I'm definitely going to get a new spring guide as the one in there is just clear plastic. I assume (read: hope) most people posting have more experience with this stuff than I do so if there's a good reason not to buy that other stuff, than I guess I won't.

Just my opinion based on my experiences w/ the version 3 mechbox, which I have owned in one form or another since '02. Although in retrospect if money is no object, then by all means everything in there could benefit from being replaced..

But so far stock Krakens are running fine with minor problems, most upgrading tends to be of the "well, I saved $xxx over buying a Marui, so I'll blow $100 on upgrading the mechbox".

I skimmed his list, and chose the components that for the v3 gearbox have a history of being "problem children".

It's actually a funny point you bring up, because everytime a new owner posts a "hey what should I upgrade in my new AKM4G3674K?" thread, you'll get a different answer from everyone.

[ShaneF]

Originally Posted by Kokanee

...so far stock Krakens are running fine with minor problems...

I think the reason none have been having problems yet is because they're still a fairly new product so most haven't had time to break down. I bet by this time next year every second post is going to be asking how to fix their Kraken as they'll have been "broken" in by then (Get it? I crack myself up).

Originally Posted by Kokanee

...most upgrading tends to be of the "well, I saved $xxx over buying a Marui, so I'll blow $100 on upgrading the mechbox".

An important thing to note though is that I'm going to keep all the old parts so that I'll have backups if any of the new stuff fails. I just want to ensure some part doesn't shatter during my first game and negate any of the costs originally offset by buying a cheap gun.

After this I'm going to buy real wood furniture, an extra battery and charger, some extra mags, paint the receiver black and BAM! It would be hard to tell the difference between it and a real Mauri. I think will will be on par with a Mauri and yet has real wood furniture, extra mags and a battery so I'm happy to go through all the effort.

I could be wrong about all this and I could end up screwing up my gun but I think the benefits outstrip the potential detriments. If it works, I got a decent, and (most importantly) legal gun on the cheap. If it doesn't, I learn a valuable lesson and can sell off parts to other Kraken owners as their end up crapping out on them after a couple hundred rounds.

Wow that was long winded. Damn, I completely forgot about homework tonight. Airsoft is a curse and a blessing.

[bentsky]

if you want your gun to be good it has to look good.You should chech out capitalairsoft.ca they got some nice real wood AK-47 wood kits for only like $85