Air Framing Nailer Problem

[BrentD]

I have an air framing nailer that I bought probably around 2001 or 2002 that has only been used a handful of times because of an annoying problem that I've never really been able to solve. If I give the trigger more than just an extremely light touch when I'm ready to fire, the darn thing tries to go fully automatic on me and fires two or three nails right on top of each other. I thought at first that it was the nailer bouncing because I wasn't holding it steady enough, but I can practically put all my weight on it and it will still double-fire. The second (and/or third) nail usually doesn't go in all the way so I'm left having to drive it with a hammer anyway. Cranking the air pressure down doesn't seem to have any real effect either. It will double fire right up to the point where the pressure is too low to drive the nail all the way in.

This nailer has had this problem since day one so it's not a new issue. And every now and then it will decide to behave and I'll get three or four nails in a row without a double-fire.

Any ideas how to fix this thing?

 

[FallbrookFarmer]

I have an air framing nailer that I bought probably around 2001 or 2002 that has only been used a handful of times because of an annoying problem that I've never really been able to solve. If I give the trigger more than just an extremely light touch when I'm ready to fire, the darn thing tries to go fully automatic on me and fires two or three nails right on top of each other. I thought at first that it was the nailer bouncing because I wasn't holding it steady enough, but I can practically put all my weight on it and it will still double-fire. The second (and/or third) nail usually doesn't go in all the way so I'm left having to drive it with a hammer anyway. Cranking the air pressure down doesn't seem to have any real effect either. It will double fire right up to the point where the pressure is too low to drive the nail all the way in.

This nailer has had this problem since day one so it's not a new issue. And every now and then it will decide to behave and I'll get three or four nails in a row without a double-fire.

Any ideas how to fix this thing?

What brand is it? If its a HF special, it's probably not worth trying to fix. If its a Bostich or Hitachi, Senco, you might want to have a service center look at it.
It sounds like there is a problem in the safety linkage, and something that isn't owner repairable IMHO. Good Luck!

 

[oldnslo]

My roofing nailer is the same way. I have replaced the trigger assembly, cleaned and lubed the safety mechanism since it gets gummed up from shingles and never have figured what causes this. Be interested to see if some one has the answer.

 

[MikeD74T]

My old Bostich & several other framing nailers I've used only fire singles in the "bounce mode" where you hold the trigger & bounce the gun for each shot. Each of those guns would multifire if you tried to trigger fire single shots. My son's roofing nailers are bouncers also. Don't know if it was by design but figured that framing/roofing nailers aren't made for slow fire ?? I have a stapler & a couple of brad nailers that work best in triggered single fire.
I don't think you need to fix the gun just get comfortable with bouncing each shot and releasing the trigger when you don't want to shoot. MikeD74T

 

[BrentD]

What brand is it? If its a HF special, it's probably not worth trying to fix. If its a Bostich or Hitachi, Senco, you might want to have a service center look at it.
It sounds like there is a problem in the safety linkage, and something that isn't owner repairable IMHO. Good Luck!

I honestly don't know what brand it is or where I got it. It's grey is all I know. All the labels are worn off. It's possible I bought it at lowes, but it's also possible it's the first thing I ever bought from Harbor Freight mail order. It's been to long ago and too little use for me to remember.

I'm seeing references to conversion kits to switch a nailer from bump and go to single shot. Does anybody know how these kits normally work? Seems like it would be an easy modification, like maybe disconnecting a return spring or something

 

[powerpace]

Most brands have a selector switch that allows different firing modes. Check near the trigger. Never overide the nose safety. People who tape it in the fire position occasionally end up in the ER with a nail in some body part. I've seen 'em do it.

 

[BrentD]

Most brands have a selector switch that allows different firing modes. Check near the trigger. Never overide the nose safety. People who tape it in the fire position occasionally end up in the ER with a nail in some body part. I've seen 'em do it.

No selector switch on this one. I don't want to override the safety, I really just want to make the safety work right. I want the gun set up so that once I pull the trigger, it fires one nail then I have to release the trigger and the safety before it will fire another one. As it is now, this double-fire on the bounce thing has almost caused me to get hurt several times. I can probably figure it out if I take the time to study how the safety works for a little while. I was just hoping there would be an easy solution like an on gun pressure adjustment or something.

 

[Pops15]

The safety design on most older nailers allowed you to hold the trigger and bounce the gun. The newer ones I have won't shoot if you're holding the trigger down when the safety is retracted. Never seen a gun with a switch as mentioned. My newer Senco framing nailers are convertible but the entire safety has to be changed. Also never seen anyone tape a safety. That wouldn't accomplish anything as you'd still have to pull the trigger. I have seen guys tape the trigger so as soon as the safety is retracted the gun will fire. When I was working at a hospital I saw the result of how that works. A guy bumped his nailer with the back of his foot and shot a nail through his ankle into his heel.
As for your problem......when you squeeze the trigger do you hold it down? Or do you squeeze and release? If you're squeezing the trigger then quickly releasing it chances are you're inadvertently bumping the trigger when the nailer recoils causing a second or even third shot. Try this....once the safety is in contact with what you want to nail and retracted, hold the gun firmly against the work and pull the trigger quickly and hold it down until you lift the nailer and the safety extends.
Since the safety and trigger are connected I suppose the linkage could be rusted or gummed up but whenever I've had or seen multiple shots its been operator error....sleeping on the trigger and not holding the gun firmly against the work, or vice versa. I think with practice your problem will go away.

 

[mmurphy]

I wish I could remember what it is called, but mine had something I had to change on trigger to keep it from rapid fire to one shot at a time and trigger had to be released in between each nail in order for it to fire again.

 

[tessiers]

you have a contact trip trigger. Its made to hold the trigger and bounce the gun where you want the nail. Fast but not real acurate or safe. You can buy a sequential trip replacement trigger which alows you to place the gun and then pull the trigger, costs $30 to $50 depending on brand and changes in about 5 min or less. Most new guns come with either the sequential trigger or both because of safety liability, a couple of companies even offer free sequential triggers for their older guns.