Model Armour

I've been having some problems with the Neo airbrush. The main one is that the air valve keeps sticking on and full on at that. Anyone have an idea what might be wrong and how I can fix it?

Chris

could it be a dry gasket that is binding the valve? maybe a little lubricant.

Chris - I've checked the Iwata site - here's the pdf parts breakdown

http://www.iwata-medea.com/images/iwata-pdf/NEO%20IM-Long_REV2.pdf

Page 7 - Part 14 - is the Valve body O ring
Its this (same as my HP-C) This is likely to be the culprit
Either remove it - try a cocktail stick and if that breaks winkle it out with some metal implement - it sits snug in a metal bed.

Wash it with water - With respect to Vlad - when I've used the Iwata lube on this bit - its dried to a cake a bit like the paint/cleaner, the problem that's caused this. It's worth cleaning the plunger - (part 5 for you) similarly. Alternatively you can leave the O ring in place and use one of the fancy groovy cotton buds that come smaller and pointed unlike the normal. You'll know when you see them. Just dip in de-ionised water stick in the O ring and wipe around.
That should do it - it will need doing every couple of sessions - I wash my AB through with water now rather than cleaner at session-end to prevent this
HTH
Rob

had a similar thing with my Harder and Steenbeck, used a drop of olive oil. worked like a dream.

I've not experienced that with mine Chris, so I can't help with a solution, other than like Rob, I always run clean water through after using anything to clean it, before putting it away?

Vinnie

Thanks for the advice guys. To remove the pistion the whole air valve needs to come off and then there's a tiny O ring. As a first attempt I cleaned it by wiping the inside with a cocktail stick, reassembled and tried it. It was better but after a while started sticking again so I then stripped it and tried Stewarts suggestion of the olive oil and job's a good 'un I also found the nozzle cap was blocking and the only way I found to really clean that was a cocktail stick with some airbrush cleaner on it.

Chris

I have aslo cleaned part #3 Nozzle from the large end with a few hairs picked up from a flat paint brush dipped in your favorite cleaner. Do this in and out a few times to clean it out.
You can take part #18 Air Valve Guide out with a pair of small tipped tweasers poked in the 2 slots and turn as it's threaded then clean the whole thing from that end. Little harder to get back together though as the spring is there pushing while you are trying to screw it back in.
Pam

Your not the only one with this problem. Mine does the same thing. I will have to try the olive oil. Besides this little problem I love this airbrush. Sprays very nice.

One of the guys in my model club used to be a professional airbrush painter. He got this Neo and has nothing but good things to say about it. Say he had bought $400 plus airbrushes and they can't get the results he gets with this. Most of the airbrushing he does now is with the Neo.

Shawn

as a side note I found the problem was caused by over cleaning with agressive Badger airbrush cleaner when doing a deep clean on the brush.

This is great for getting all the dirt out of the brush from deep areas in the airbrush but not good on your rubber/plastic washers which need re-moisturing after to restore their flexibility.

Do not know if that is the cause for your problems but worth bearing in mind

Just found this thread.

O rings swelling is usually caused by aggressive cleaners getting into places they shouldn't be.
If you remove it and leave it somewhere warm for a few hours to de-gass they are usually OK.

On H&S the two problem areas were the top o ring on the air valve and the one on the front air cap.
Manly because the market they were designed for was water based paints.
H&S have now upgraded these, the air valve one is now teflon and the air cap is vitron rubber.

They also have a higher grade PTFE O ring available for the paint cup seal, and the internal needle seal can be upgraded to a triple needle seal if required.

Swelling is not normally so much of a problem on Iwata brushes, but the Neo is entry level price, so I guess the standards are going to be lower.

I would recommend using Iwata super lube on these parts and on the needle every now and again to keep them clean. It's £6 a tube and will last years.