Badger 150 help...

[skeeter70]

...hello everyone, new around here. I have an older Badger 150 w/Badger 180-11 ASO comp. I have used it to the tune of about 2 qts of paint a year...for probably 20(?) yrs...but is as new. Mine was a 150 4pk...but I went to the Badger site, and my kit is like what they (Badger) is calling, their 5 pak. I make and paint my own topwater bass lures.
Problem is: I may not have cleaned it right the last time I used it, about this time last yr. I know, I know, my mistake.
I am getting air blowback into my cup/bottle, no paint. I have ckd/cleaned everything I know to clean, still no paint.
ALL orfices seem clear. I can blow thru the fuel pk. up, with the nozzle and mixing chamber off, I get air...put both pcs. back on, blow, no air.
I have adj. needle, no air. I can see daylight thru the holes in nozzle, etc. I have ran a very small wire thru the air pk up, to where it comes out right behind the air mixing chamber, it's clear, or appears to be. First time this has ever happened, I'm at a loss for an answer. Any and all help would be appreciated, thanks in advance...

[brushbyair]

Not sure if this will help, but I sometimes get the same thing you describe if my cap is not tight.

[mayhem]

I'm not sure but hang in there some one here I'm sure will point you in the right direction...

[skeeter70]

...hey thanks ya'll. brushbyair, the brush will blowback (bubbles) into a jar, or will blow back with a paint cup too,...then it just makes a mess!.
Like I mentioned...never had this happen before, oh well, first time for everything I guess...thanks for a response! All help is appreciated, a lot
Ive checked other sites, forums, etc. This seemed like the best forum of the lot, been "lurking" for a week or so...I need my brush, have people from N.Y., to Texas, and points between, wanting lures before the spawn in early spring. Thanks again guys...

[mayhem]

sounds like you have a blockage somewhere in the tip....

[skeeter70]

Originally Posted by mayhem

sounds like you have a blockage somewhere in the tip....

...thats what I was thinking, except,...everything appears to be clear.
I even took a big comp. I have and blew out the paint pk up...free flow of air, until I put the two end pcs. on, then...na-da. I'll ck again...thanks

[Jammer]

make sure the hole in the bottle is clear. This will make it blow bubbles in the bottle and not shoot paint.
Jammer

[skeeter70]

jammer, vent hole(s) are clear, and it blows back w/o picking up paint...even when trying to use the paint cup. My paint pk up, thru to the barrel, is clear.
If I have my terminology correct, may not, but the air mixing chamber...the first pc to screw to barrel, has three holes around the center (needle) hole, all are clear, including center hole. The 2nd pc., the nozzle(?), has one center hole on the inside, clear. Geez, man I really dont get it...

[skeeter70]

...I'm off my OWN topic here,...but there is some really cool pics here, ya'll have done! I like the flames and skulls, had a HD SuperGlide , for years...had some custom paint done on it...but I SAH didn't do it...shame that dig cams weren't out back in them days...ya'll would appreciate the work on the tank.
Ya''ll do some nice stuff...

[fontgeek]

Skeeter, did you get your airbrush problem fixed?
Your description sounds like the nozzle cap is plugged, this keeps the air from coming out the front of the cap like it is supposed to, instead, it forces the air back through the nozzle and into the paint reservoir (Cup or bottle). Your brush lets the air out through the lowest point of resistance, in normal cases, that is out through the nozzle cap.

The solution, remove the nozzle cap, and nozzle, and let them soak in the proper solvent for the paint you used. DO NOT SOAK THE WHOLE AIRBRUSH!
Submerging your whole airbrush subjects areas to paints and solvents that were never meant to be exposed to them (the trigger well, the back end of the airbrush, the airvalve, etc.).
Once the pieces have been thoroughly soaked, try cleaning them out.
Avoid the use of any metal picks for doing this, those pieces are fragile, and prone to distortion or marring. Try super tiny brushes, toothpicks, and the like. You may also want to try blowing the paint and debris backwards, out of the nozzle and nozzle cap. Ideally, you should be able to see through the nozzle cap openings, and through the nozzle itself. Hold it up to a strong lightsource, the opening should appear to be round and smooth.
You might take a look with a strong loupe or magnifying glass. If your nozzle is bent or distorted, then you need to replace it, also look at the interior to see if there is any scoring, cracks, etc.

If you can't get it cleaned, then you may need to replace it. I would try acetone or laquer thinner before I threw the old nozzle away though.

Also do a careful inspection on the tip of the needle itself, if it is bent or kinked, it may be what is causing the paint to hang up rather than spray through. If it is bent or kinked, you will need to replace it if you cannot straighten it out. If it is kinked (a hard, sharp bend), you will never get the kink out, and that same kink will have damaged the nozzle.

Once you have your brush cleaned and put back together, I think you will find that it works just fine.

Get into a regular cleaning routine that includes backflushing and pumping the needle. You need to do a good cleaning after EVERY session of airbrushing, don't wait off 'til the brush doesn't work any more, by that time, you not only have a brush that doesn't work, you also have a brush with a lot of unnecessarily overworn parts.
The backflushing pushes the paint and debris back out of the nozzle and paint passage, and the needle pumping dislodges the paint buildup around the needle packing/seal/bearing/etc., and lets you rinse it away.