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The 2008 Independence ASA
Alien's 2nd effort at making an ASA is a big improvement over the 2006 Remains ASA. In this article we take it apart to see how it works - as it turns out its not your typical ASA...
The new 2008 Alien ASA is a big improvement over Alien’s previous ASA in both form and function. Users of the previous ASA know that because if its construction, you can actually starve your gun of air if the on/off knob is screwed in too far (the WDP Uni-mount suffers from this as well).
The 2006 Alien ASA came in two parts; a rail and the ASA itself. In some cases the tolerances between the two were a little too tight resulting in the ASA seizing to the rail.
For 2008 Alien introduces an ASA that removes the rail from the picture altogether since the Independence has a dove-tail mount integrated into both frames. The new ASA is smaller, aesthetically pleasing, and very functional. Lets take a closer look…
First you will notice that the ASA’s ports – 1 on each side – are not set at a right-angle but instead are angled down 15 degrees. Alien says this is an ergonomic feature so that the fitting doesn’t get in the way of some people’s bigger hands.
Next, there are no exterior screws to tighten the ASA to the trigger frame – instead the ASA is held on by a set screw that is inside the frame. This set screw is the same threading as the standard screws used to attach rails, drops, and ASA’s to any marker.
Aside from the obvious external attributes – size, ports, shape/style - the biggest improvement is on the inside.
The ASA is actually comprised of three parts: the ASA Housing, the Adjustment Knob/Pin combo and another part that we will call the Pin Guide.
The Pin Guide’s purpose in life is to "guide" the pin as it travels back and forth during normal operation, to create a seal when charging the marker with air, and to allow air to be vented when degassing the marker.
It appears that the Pin Guide is held in place by the larger outer o-ring that you see in the photos - a friction fit. It is further restrained by the air fitting protruding into the body, should it be screwed in that far, and if so does not press against the Pin Guide but rather blocks it from sliding backward. On the unit we used for the photos the fitting was not screwed in that far and yet the Pin Guide was still held firmly in place.
The way the sealing and degassing works is pretty simple; since the Pin’s diameter is narrower in the middle the Pin seals at different points as it travels back and forth within the Pin Guide.
When the Adjustment Knob is screwed in the Pin moves forward and forms an air-tight seal against the small sealing o-ring inside the Pin Guide before the Pin has a chance to open your tank’s valve. Continue screwing in the Adjustment Knob and of course your tank’s valve opens and you’ve charged your marker. The pin is small enough in diameter as to not restrict flow at any point.
When the Adjustment Knob is screwed out the tank’s valve closes and as the Pin continues to be backed out the seal against the Pin Guide is lost. At that point the pressurized air still present rushes around the pin through the center of the Pin Guide and vents out and around the Pin’s shaft underneath the Adjustment Knob. Your marker has been degassed – but be careful – there may be a shot or two’s worth of air in the gun.
It should be noted that we DO NOT RECOMMEND removing the Adjustment Knob/Pin at all. Don’t do it. It does not come out freely and cannot be removed without destroying an o-ring. Forcing out the Adjustment Knob/Pin will core out the sealing o-ring thus enlarging its inner diameter. This will result in a leak under the knob that won’t go away. If you can't resist the urge to destroy an o-ring then you'll want to know that that o-ring is a size 006.
In thinking about this it might be easy to say that it’s an error in design – and that may be. But, I think this has the desired affect of preventing the Adjustment Knob from shooting out of the ASA should you happen to be able to unscrew it fast enough (virtually impossible). This might be wishful thinking but in any event as mentioned previously there is nothing useful to be gained by removing the Adjustment Knob.
In summary the 2008 Alien ASA’s small size, nod to ergonomics and unique degassing system make it a welcome addition to the Alien line of products.
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