Is professional tuning worth it?

[RichardH]

I think that's exactly the point, spring guides, wet and dry, bit of moly, then DIY, for sure.

But if you do want machining work, stroke or port changes, piston weight reductions, piston head conversions or compression cylinder sleeves, then whilst it's entirely possible to do yourself with the right tools (as I and many others on here do), a little more knowledge and experience is needed to get the best results.

To be fair Jon is bang on here, there’s nothing that Vmach do that any competent machine shop or skilled amateur at home can’t reproduce for 10% of the cost, however the big difference is firstly the experimentation these guys have done to come to their own tune “specification” which the home tuners are often just seeking to copy and the second is the final finish of the modified parts and guns which Vmach do very very well

It’s simple work in engineering terms but much of the cost is in knowing which bits to tweak and then doing it with a final finish way better than that from the factory while covering the r&d time and making a profit, let’s face it there are no tuners running Ferrari’s

I have seen many sublime shooting home modified guns that look like a bag of nails as well as loads more that have been absolutely ruined by well meaning amateurs.

People paying the professionals keeps money going into new r&d driving things forwards but essentially the amateur with a lathe can achieve 95% of the same results.

[TonyL]

A most excellent post, sir.

[charub]

To be fair Jon is bang on here, there’s nothing that Vmach do that any competent machine shop or skilled amateur at home can’t reproduce for 10% of the cost, however the big difference is firstly the experimentation these guys have done to come to their own tune “specification” which the home tuners are often just seeking to copy and the second is the final finish of the modified parts and guns which Vmach do very very well

It’s simple work in engineering terms but much of the cost is in knowing which bits to tweak and then doing it with a final finish way better than that from the factory while covering the r&d time and making a profit, let’s face it there are no tuners running Ferrari’s

I have seen many sublime shooting home modified guns that look like a bag of nails as well as loads more that have been absolutely ruined by well meaning amateurs.

People paying the professionals keeps money going into new r&d driving things forwards but essentially the amateur with a lathe can achieve 95% of the same results.

No - but a red Porsche here and there!!

[Rickenbacker]

No - but a red Porsche here and there!!

Don't go calling the red Porsche owner a professional tuner - that's not fair!

[RichardH]

No - but a red Porsche here and there!!

Is that success though...

[charub]

Is that success though...

No - but it is a good example of buying a factory item that works better after a drop in kit!

[Geezer]

This is an area where the internet caused a minor revolution.

Pre-internet, the professional tuners like Bowkett, Venom, Airmasters and many others ruled the roost. They were usually a bit vague about the processes they used to improve performance. Sometimes, it was a simple de-burr, polish and lube. Sometimes, much more.

The non-pro guys tended to do what they did on their own in sheds. And only tell their mates, in the pub. Some had it right, some not.

The internet meant that the “pub” group in which the shed guys were chatting became a potential global audience, for free.

So we have moved from individuals with no audience bar a metaphorical saloon bar, and businesses with an interest in trade secrets controlling information to an environment when a bloke in a shed can discover and then globally share his insights for free.

As others have said, if you have the basic tools and knowledge (and time and space) you can do a 90% effective tune. The extra 10% remains challenging, requiring specialist kit, or savvy, or experience.

And if you don’t have the tools, knowledge etc, you are at best doing a service, even if you spend £70 on the replacement bits. Though that service/tune may still improve performance.

Assuming you start with something decent, the more you invest in money, tools, and engineering skill, the less you get out over time. But, assuming you invest them wisely, you still get something better.

[tinbum]

No - but a red Porsche here and there!!

Don't go calling the red Porsche owner a professional tuner - that's not fair!

Is that success though...

[IMG][/IMG]

[Rickenbacker]

(it's not a "proper" Porsche, neither).