Sharpe Platinum HO gun question

[tmm]

I'm need some help with a problem I ran into yesterday with my Sharpe Platinum HO gun. I haven't used it in about a month and when I used it yesterday to shoot a fender with BC/CC and I go to clean the gun after the basecoat and could not get the air cap and fluid tip seperated. I have this multi tool that came with the gun but I don't see how I can use it to seperated the two. I did let the two soak in thinner overnight but still no help. Any suggestions on how I might be able to get them apart with out damaging either? Thanks in advance! Tim

[Dennis N. Schmidt]

I think you know how this is going to end. Masking tape around the aircap and a Channelock with the gun mounted in a bench vise are in your future. But before we go this way some penetrating oil on the threads of the aircap might be in order. I like Kano Kroil myself.

[Phil V]

Tmm, That same problem happened to my HO. What I ended up doing was using an "easy-out" in the large hole of the fluid tip to keep that part from moving then twisted the air cap hard with my fingers. At that point the fluid tip and the air cap separated. The fluid tip is hardened steel so the easy-out didn't do any damage to the large hole in the air cap. The moral to the story is don't crank down so hard on the air cap next time when reassembling the gun after the next cleaning.

For those not familiar with easy-outs - its a tool that comes in several different diameter sizes. Their claim to fame is when a bolt is over tightened and breaks off, you drill a hole in the center of the end of the remaining bolt then insert an easy-out and "voila!" the broken bolt turns right out.

[CDJr]

The edge of that easy-out didnt scratch a notch or anything in the tip, Phil? Seems like itd dig into at some point to be able to hold it.

[tmm]

Phil V,.... You are "da man"!! I didn't think about using an easy-out earlier. I have two kinds, the spiral kind as well as the tapered square kind. I used the 1/4 inch tapered as you said and it worked perfectly! My thanks to you and to the others for the help! I'll also keep in mind not to tighten the air cap after cleaning. Tim