Maintaining The Bob Long Intimidator.
By Matt Elliott

We have all seen the success of Bob Long's newest marker, the Intimidator, but few of us know how to maintain them. The following process only needs to be completed once every two months. Working on an electro-pneumatic marker is not as difficult as it seems; take your time and it can be very simple. If you have any difficulties or problems contact your local pro shop for advice.

Few tools are necessary in order to properly maintain the classic Intimidator. However, patience and time are necessary. Required tools and equipment include Dow Corning 33 grease (better known as Shocker grease), a pair of needle nose pliers, a standard Allen wrench set and a rag or paper towels. A clean work area is also extremely important in order to ensure that no contaminates enter a dismantled Intimidator.

Start by removing the air source and bottom line set up. Next, remove the barrel and hopper. There are two regulators on the Classic Intimidator. Remove your high-pressure regulator, the top regulator closest to the barrel. It is best to dismantle and work on one regulator at a time so that no parts are confused or reversed. Once the high-ssure regulator is removed from the marker, remove the piston with the needle nose pliers; your spring and washer may fall out as well. When the piston is removed, wipe it clean with a rag or paper towel, and then examine the o-ring on the piston to make sure there are no nicks or burs in the ring itself. If there are no visible imperfections in the ring, apply a small dab of grease and smear it around the o-ring with a finger. First reinsert the washer, then your spring, and then the piston with the smaller post inward toward the center of the marker. Screw the regulator back onto your Classic Intimidator, and cleaning and maintenance on the high-pressure regulator is complete. For the low-pressure regulator follow the same steps.

Once the regulators are complete, move on to the ram and bolt assembly. Start by removing the bolt by pulling the bolt-retaining pin straight up. The bolt should then slide out the back of the marker. Then remove the ram sleeve cap (the silver thumb screw located on the back of the gun). Next, remove the ram. Firmly tap the backside of the marker, and the ram should fall out into your hand. Once the ram and bolt assembly are removed, wipe the ram clean with a paper towel and examine the ram bumper, located at the rear of the ram, to make sure that it is not compacted. If the bumper is compacted, replace it with a new one. To replace the bumper, completely remove the old bumper; sometimes the bumper will break off inside the ram, use a dental pick to clear the remaining pieces. Insert the new bumper; there is no need for any adhesive to secure the bumper to the ram. Once the ram is repaired, apply a small amount of grease to the two o-rings and smear grease to cover the entire o-rings. Reinstall the ram and ram sleeve cap and move on to the bolt. Wipe the residue off the bolt with a cloth or paper towel and apply a small amount of grease to the three o-rings and smear the grease in order to cover the o-rings. Now reinsert the bolt and maintenance of the bolt and ram is completed.

Periodically, to properly maintain the Classic Intimidator and keep it functioning flawlessly, replace the nine-volt battery with a fresh one and clean the marker's anti-chop eyes. In order to change the battery remove the right hand grip panel with a 1/16 Allen wrench and remove the old battery and replace it with the new battery. To clean the eyes remove both of the eye covers with a 5/64 Allen wrench, carefully so as not to lose the small rubber ball detents, clean the eye covers and set them aside. Carefully remove the anti-chop eyes from both sides of the Intimidator and gently wipe them clean. Before reinstalling the eyes make sure that the small o-rings are still on each of the eyes and install each eye on its respective side. When reinstalling the eyes line up the wires with the precut groves on each side of the marker and replace the covers with the ball detents already installed in the eye covers.

 
While the Classic Intimidator is an extremely reliable and simple paintball gun, some minor problems can occur from time to time. One of the noticeable problems with Classic Intimidators is a regulator pressure spike, but once the above maintenance is completed, the problem should be solved as cleaning and greasing the regulators nearly always solve spikes of this type. It is also a good idea to have a low pressure gauge, between 0-300psi, on your low-pressure regulator. The low-pressure gauge should read between 70-90psi.

The low-pressure regulator should never exceed 110psi, should the low-pressure regulator clear 100psi immediately shut off the air source and refer to the regulator maintenance section of this article. Pressures of more than 150psi could ruin the Classic Intimidator's solenoid. If re-greasing the regulator does not correct the spiking problem replace the o-ring on the piston with a new one.

 
There is only one way to ensure that your Classic Intimidator is working properly, go to the field and rip some paint through it. If you have further problems with your Timmy consult your local air smith or www.boblong.com for advice.