Project MG36: Update 1

Well, the first thing I did to this Echo1 G36C I received from ebay was remove the lower receiver and gearbox. I wanted to to put it into my G36K to get the rps etc, but it turns out that the dead on arrival. So I did what anyone would do and opened the bad boy up.

Three words: Can Of Worms

First off, I don't know if this gun was just a lemon or the parts were aftermarket, but wow, parts started breaking left and right. The metal used on this gearbox is just not up to snuff. I seriously have doubts as to its capability to sustain a high ROF. The piece that holds the safety lever was cracked in half, the left-handed select fire gear cracked, and one of the eyelets for the motor cage also broke. Not sure if this is typical of all Echo1s, but I hope not. Oh yeah, and the trigger broke after the first shot as well.

Anyways, with all that's messed up with this gearbox, I decided, "Ah well, you're committed already, might as well see this through." So I went online and ordered a new trigger assembly, a new metal spring guide, and some other goodies for my other guns and waited patiently for the packages to arrive.

While I was waiting, I decided to try to install the speed gear set I had lying around. Here's where I hit another hurdle: The gears required 7 mm bushings, where the gearbox only had 6 mm. I took my dremel out and tried to grind a millimeter off but it just became too tedious and time consuming to do 6 holes. Out came the drill, and boy, I do wish I had one of those drill press things that ensured the drill went down straight. Some of the holes came out crooked, but in the end, it still worked.

The new parts arrived, and were promptly installed. I rewired the gearbox to the front, since the old owner had them rewired to the rear. Put some deans connectors to mesh with the G36K, and away we went.

I was unable to get a reading with the original gears, since I have a philosophy of opening a gearbox a little as possible. But here are the numbers:
7.4V lipo
Echo 1 standard motor
M110 spring

Average FPS: 400
ROF: 14.6 rps

14.6... definitely not the numbers I had in mind. Also, 400 fps seems a bit high where my target was really somewhere around 350-370. Next steps: Find a hi-speed motor, or 11.1V lipo, or weaker spring.