Trunion problem
- Thread starter timspawn
- Start date
There is a known problem with trunion welds with some of the Vectors. Vector blames it on a particular employee that did a poor welding job on a batch of them. Sometimes the weld breaks. Sometimes the trunion is poorly aligned. The good news is that Vector will get it fixed up just like a new gun. I know it's a pain to send them the gun after waiting so long for it, but they have quick turn around on repairs.
timspawn
FFL/SOT, UZI Talk Life Member,
Mike from Vector just called and said he got my gun. I asked him about the semi auto feed ramp and he said not to do it unless I needed too. I guess we will see after the trunion is fixed.
Tim
Tim
I have never heard of this problem with Vectors before. Vector stating a certain employee did some bad weld jobs on a batch of their mini's? Does anyone know if this is a problem affecting more recently made mini's or has this been a reoccurring issue? Did Vector ever state your gun might have this problem if you bought it within a certain period of time? say the past 6 months?
semi ramp
I just got my converted model B a couple of weeks ago and had sent it to vector for them to finish the conversion while it was in transfer. They milled off the top of the restrictor ring and left the ramp. I don't know how it ran before, but it feeds everything now. Ieven loaded some .355 .38 special wadcutters that I sized down for the 9mm and they work. Yes, the bullet does stick out of the case a fairamount, but it headspaces fine, and they work! My vector only likes ball and the winchester 147gr. TC, no HP will work more than a couple of rounds. If I did not have the model B with the semi ramp I would definately have it done. Just try it. I know some peoples that feed everything without the ramp and some that don't.
I just got my converted model B a couple of weeks ago and had sent it to vector for them to finish the conversion while it was in transfer. They milled off the top of the restrictor ring and left the ramp. I don't know how it ran before, but it feeds everything now. Ieven loaded some .355 .38 special wadcutters that I sized down for the 9mm and they work. Yes, the bullet does stick out of the case a fairamount, but it headspaces fine, and they work! My vector only likes ball and the winchester 147gr. TC, no HP will work more than a couple of rounds. If I did not have the model B with the semi ramp I would definately have it done. Just try it. I know some peoples that feed everything without the ramp and some that don't.
Tofu said:
I'm sure the RKIs will correct me on this, but the trunion welding problem became public knowledge at least a year or two ago. Yes, it was from an assembler who made the welds incorrectly. Vector has identifed the affected serial number range, and if you call, they can tell you whether yours might be in that range and prone to breaking the weld. (Not all of the guns in that range have actually broken a weld; some are just fine anyway.) If yours does break, they will repair it quickly for free.
This was early in the Vector production range, though with the delays caused by transfers and such, it was a long time before the affected guns got delivered and were shot, and thus for the problem to surface.
As far as I know, none of the Minis were affected by this, only full-size Uzis.
MuzzleFlash said:
Yes, you are correct they were made from FS receivers but the MINI's came out at a later time. I could be wrong but my guess would be that they were all done correctly.
I have yet to hear of a trunion weld breaking on a Vector MINI yet.
M60joe
FFL 07/02, UZI Talk Life Member,
timspawn said:
My dealer has a pre-sample IMI SMG full size (with out the semi ramp) and it shoots silver bear hollow point fine. I have the semi ramp in my MINI SMG and if I did it again I would get the semi ramp... Your mileage may vary...
FlyingBrass
UZI Talk Supporter
Mods, please tack this thread, please
This is good info and keeps getting posted over and over. My Vector Uzi had the same problem and Vector was great. Thanks Mad Mike for doing such a good job start to finish on not only the actual work, finishing the job on time, tuning the .22 kit, but also by keeping me informed of the whole process by phone and email.
This is good info and keeps getting posted over and over. My Vector Uzi had the same problem and Vector was great. Thanks Mad Mike for doing such a good job start to finish on not only the actual work, finishing the job on time, tuning the .22 kit, but also by keeping me informed of the whole process by phone and email.
Mario_FAMOInc
UZI Talk Supporter, More toys!
When I was going to buy my used full size Vector I called Vector to find out if it was a "good" one and if there was anything that I should look for in a used gun. At that time I was told by a very helpful person the problem was due to one problem employee and that the range of those guns affected was small, and early on in the production.
I was also told that the UZIs that were fixed at that time as well as those that came after, had an oval weld on the trunnion whereas the ones that came earlier had a round weld.
A round weld DOES NOT necessarily mean that it is a bad weld, but it may be part of that group and you can call Vector to find out.
If I have any of this wrong I am sure that Mike or someone else at Vector will correct me.
Mario
I was also told that the UZIs that were fixed at that time as well as those that came after, had an oval weld on the trunnion whereas the ones that came earlier had a round weld.
A round weld DOES NOT necessarily mean that it is a bad weld, but it may be part of that group and you can call Vector to find out.
If I have any of this wrong I am sure that Mike or someone else at Vector will correct me.
Mario
Vegas SMG
UZI Talk Life Member,
I purchased my Uzi NIB in late 2000. 'Kinda had the same thing happen, a several hundred rounds into it's life, the trunion weld broke. Like others before me, I found Vector's service was FIRST RATE! They offered to pay the return shipping, and the turnaround time was superb. Same story others have gotten from Rex or Ralph, a poor excuse for a welder had botched the welds on a number of guns.
Since the reweld of the trunion in mid 2001, I've had absolutely no problems of any kind with the gun. In fact, it probably runs better than most other Uzis... the gun just never has a malfunction of any sort except an occasional and acceptable failure when using the .22 kit.
That changed a month ago when the welds on the back plate of the receiver broke. A phone call to Vector revealed that mine was the third gun they had seen where the welds on the back plate had completely broken away from the receiver. One of these guns had been shooting a 100% diet of .45acp, but Rex insisted that that shouldn't have been a factor. The other gun, like mine, had been set up in 9mm. I've shot exactly 25 rounds or +P+ Hirtenberger, one box of Wolf, about a case of heavy bullet subsonic ammo including about 600 rounds of Sampson/IMI 158 grain, and the rest of the 10,000 plus rounds have been Winchester Value Pack ammo.
Even though the gun was WELL out of warranty, Vector mailed me a prepaid UPS return label, rewelded a new back plate on the receiver, reparked the receiver, and returned the gun, all at their expence. I delivered the Uzi to UPS on Monday, and had it back in my hands the following Monday. Excellent service as usual, and the gun looks and shoots great once more, but I can't help but wonder what weld may break next.
I have a buddy who is a well known, well respected, small arms expert, that feels that MAYBE, just MAYBE, heat treating certain parts on guns may not be the best way to build them. The untreated receiver on a IMI gun will stretch and bend a little, versus being brittle and stiff like a Vector and therefore more prone to cracking. Just one RKIs opinion, and I have zero knowledge of metalurgy to support this theory. The bad welds on the fullsize guns don't represent any real issues as they are very easily repaired.
Not trying to stir the pot, just sharing MY personal experiences with MY gun. HOWEVER, I'm now wondering just how well the chopped and welded mini receivers will hold up over the long haul, and how easily they can be rewelded IF these receivers begin to crack at the welds.
Bottom line... If your fullsize Vector was one of the series with a trunion weld break, you may want to visually inspect the rear plate on the receiver for signs of cracking. This won't be obvious, and I had no warning prior to this occuring. Removal of the stock is the only practical way to inspect the rear receiaver plate. Firmly and briskly rack the bolt with the stock removed and check for any play in the rear plate Mine was just barely hanging on by a small weld after removing my detachable stock.
Since the reweld of the trunion in mid 2001, I've had absolutely no problems of any kind with the gun. In fact, it probably runs better than most other Uzis... the gun just never has a malfunction of any sort except an occasional and acceptable failure when using the .22 kit.
That changed a month ago when the welds on the back plate of the receiver broke. A phone call to Vector revealed that mine was the third gun they had seen where the welds on the back plate had completely broken away from the receiver. One of these guns had been shooting a 100% diet of .45acp, but Rex insisted that that shouldn't have been a factor. The other gun, like mine, had been set up in 9mm. I've shot exactly 25 rounds or +P+ Hirtenberger, one box of Wolf, about a case of heavy bullet subsonic ammo including about 600 rounds of Sampson/IMI 158 grain, and the rest of the 10,000 plus rounds have been Winchester Value Pack ammo.
Even though the gun was WELL out of warranty, Vector mailed me a prepaid UPS return label, rewelded a new back plate on the receiver, reparked the receiver, and returned the gun, all at their expence. I delivered the Uzi to UPS on Monday, and had it back in my hands the following Monday. Excellent service as usual, and the gun looks and shoots great once more, but I can't help but wonder what weld may break next.
I have a buddy who is a well known, well respected, small arms expert, that feels that MAYBE, just MAYBE, heat treating certain parts on guns may not be the best way to build them. The untreated receiver on a IMI gun will stretch and bend a little, versus being brittle and stiff like a Vector and therefore more prone to cracking. Just one RKIs opinion, and I have zero knowledge of metalurgy to support this theory. The bad welds on the fullsize guns don't represent any real issues as they are very easily repaired.
Not trying to stir the pot, just sharing MY personal experiences with MY gun. HOWEVER, I'm now wondering just how well the chopped and welded mini receivers will hold up over the long haul, and how easily they can be rewelded IF these receivers begin to crack at the welds.
Bottom line... If your fullsize Vector was one of the series with a trunion weld break, you may want to visually inspect the rear plate on the receiver for signs of cracking. This won't be obvious, and I had no warning prior to this occuring. Removal of the stock is the only practical way to inspect the rear receiaver plate. Firmly and briskly rack the bolt with the stock removed and check for any play in the rear plate Mine was just barely hanging on by a small weld after removing my detachable stock.
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