TM-7 board issues

[meatcircus]

Thought I would try and fill out this forum a little.

I bought a TM-7 at Monster Game in 2008 (it was actually for Jordan, he reimbursed me). He played with it that day, and maybe two more times before the infamous power button failure occured. I contacted KEE and they offered to send a replacement board for free, which I was pleasantly surprised. The board arrived and Jordan installed it, but for some reason it would only shoot in semi auto mode. Not being able to play anyway, it got put on the backburner, thinking something just got assembled wrong.

Fast forward to last night, I took it apart and gave it a good lookin over. Nothing seemed broken or out of place, but the marker still only shot in Sem-Auto mode. I had a hunch that the board was a european version.

I emailed them again last night detailing my circumstance, and they confirmed my suspicion and offered to send out the proper board free of charge, without requiring the previous board in return, again to my pleasant surprise. Now hopefully, they will have sent the board to my new address, as I have moved in the last couple months.

So I'm pretty impressed with thier customer service, although if they had properly beta tested the marker in the first place it may not have been put into production with the week power button. The marker itself, aside from the power button issue, and a wobbly foregrip, is pretty nice. It would lend itself very well to a forward type baller who likes to run in and tear things up.

[Fets]

Nice, glad to hear they are taking care of it. Have these issues been resolved in the later production runs?

[meatcircus]

They have, as far as I've been told. I'm waiting to see if the new board they ship me has a beefier microswitch.

Also, I've noticed some other problems being mentioned about it on the pbreview.com website.

I guess what would be ideal is if some third party (APE) released an upgraded board for it.

[Fets]

Originally Posted by meatcircus

I guess what would be ideal is if some third party (APE) released an upgraded board for it.

And I am sure they will.

[RodentX]

Any update on this? I'm curious to see if you got the TM7 up and working properly. I was looking into purchasing the TM7, but now that the TM15 is coming out in July - I might hold out until then.

[meatcircus]

Ahh yeah, I'm glad you brought it up. I forgot I had started this gripe thread.

I was sent yet another Euro board (semi only). After I think it was the 4th try, they sent me the proper board, I installed it, and it worked fine. I ran a hopper full o' paint through it and it shot like a dream.

The following week, it had a regulator problem with air leaking hard down the barrel. The techs at the email adress I was in contact with for the board issues quit responding to me, so after several phone calls, I finally found which number to call to actually send it in and get it repaired.

They had it for about a week when I called to find out what was going on. I was told that it wasn't in thier system yet and to call back the next week. Well, it showed up the very next day on my doorstep, so they obviously don't keep track of whats coming and going in thier repair shop. Thankfully, it was in good working order.

So I used it for about 2 more games. After the second game, the power button on the board broke AGAIN (this would make 3 broken boards). Tech still diesn't respond to emails. I've left two messages at KEE Illinois and no return phone call. I read on the BT TM7 forums that Paintball Solutions now handle thier warrenty issues. I have left a message, and sent an email, and still no response from them.

I would love to love this marker, but chances are I'm going to try and get it fixed, unload it, and buy the B5 kit for my A5. It's just not worth all the hassle. Thank God I have backups.

[RodentX]

Dude, that sucks. I had been looking into picking up the TM-7 for awhile - I guess I'm glad I held out. Now I'm starting to wonder if I should hold off on the TM-15 too... hmmm what to do?

[meatcircus]

I dunno man. You could risk it. I've heard from other people that haven't ad a single issue with thiers, as they have later production numbers. But if you end up with a brick, then you'd be as pissed as I am.

It's a great marker, but the board design is fundamentally crap. The replacement ones that I was sent we supposededly next gen, with a sturdier power button. The IONS suck to turn on, but at least the button just doesn't break off! I have a friend that works with electronics, and he said he'd try and beef up the switch so that it doesn't happen again.

Maybe with the TM15 the issue might be resolved, or an APE board...

[Fets]

I have heard from Dan at Underground that Ions have all these same problems, and they have been around much longer. I think it is a mix of cheap design and cheap components.

I also think Meat that your issues to extend from buying one of the very first ones out...

[meatcircus]

That's what I'm hoping, Fets.

I just got an email from the techs at Paintball Solutions. After getting my info, they said theyd send out a new board and a new button. We'll see what happens.

[JDobbs]

File a complaint with the BBB. Ask for a full refund?

[meatcircus]

Thats an option on the list. But I'm not sure whether I'd ask the company I bought it from or from KEE for the refund.

I'm curious about the "different button" that was mentioned in the email. I wonder if it has anything to do with the switch breaking. I'll post a picture when I get it.