Tag: sidelever

Sidelever Free Install Ending Soon

by Hajimoto

Wuzz Gowin Owin Peeple?

As you all know back in February of 2023 we shared in an ARTICLE here at Hajimoto Productions, where we were regarding our non-destructive modification that adds a sidelever to the Umarex Gauntlet 1, Gauntlet 2, or the Gauntlet 30 caliber variants for $150 USD

We explain in the ARTICLE why we were not able to offer the sidelever as a stand-alone part and to be fair to all involved, we opted to continue to offer the sidelever as a service for the same price of $150 USD.

On July 22, 2023, will be 5 months that we have installed hundreds of our sidelever for the standalone price.

This blog post is to announce that starting on July 23, 2023, we will no longer be installing the sidelever labor free. We will be charging $220 USD for our sidelever installed in your Gauntlet 1, Gauntlet 2, or Gauntlet 30 caliber.

Thank you for your support.

Hajimoto

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Service Not Stand Alone

by Hajimoto

Wuzz Gowin Owin Peeple!

It’s time for another update for the Hajimoto Productions Sidelever for the Umarex Gauntlet. As you all should know by now all the delays associated with the side lever due to supply chain and out-of-specification items that are covered in detail in previous blog entries so we will not relive that here.

As I explained in our last update, we are past that and have started building the G30s that we had received orders for in the first release announcement which was before we realized we had an out-of-specification issue that needed to be resolved.

We have built and shipped over 30-something G30 builds with the side lever and opened up phase 1A which was to start accepting build orders once again for the G30s which have the side lever option.

We also shipped out several Hajimoto Side Lever assemblies to trusted known air gunners to get feedback on the ease of installation and any improvements that may need to be considered.

The feedback we received from these test installers let us know that there are too many manufacturing variables in all of the Gauntlet versions that exist. These Gauntlets have over seven different machining differences that are impossible to identify until the PCP is a part. This is a manufacturing revision or product evolution variable that makes it all but impossible for us to ship a single product that can accommodate all seven possible variations.

There will not be an installation fee associated with the service, we will simply charge for the lever assembly. We will offer this for sometime to allow those of you that were waiting in the wings for the part. 

I know some of you will be bummed and we would rather have you bummed than frustrated with a stripped bolt handle fastener or being unable to remove the cocking handle at all. If either of these conditions happens, it requires shipping the action to us which is more time and specialized tools to correct.

There will be some of you that have the tooling and ability to attack this installation but most of you will not and it is that majority that is something we are willing to risk our reputation on.

The next hurdle is shipping costs. We suggest that the action be taken out of the stock. The bottle and barrel be removed for shipping. This will substantially reduce shipping costs and it gives us only the part we need to do the installation.

Based on the dimensions of the Umarex Gauntlet action minus the stock and the barrel, a USPS Medium Flate Rate Box Side Loading with a cost of $17.10 would be the most cost-effective option.

The other option is to ship the entire rifle and we will do the installation, but shipping the entire rifle will triple shipping costs and may put the total cost out of reach.

It is never easy to share bad news but like I have said previously, us receiving news that you are frustrated and want to toss your PCP out the window because you are not able to execute the installation as easily as our install video shows is a far worse scenario for us.

We are currently working on adding the Sidelever installation service to the SERVICES list and will announce when it will be available.

UPDATE: The Service is now LIVE!

Humbly

Team Hajimoto Productions

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Gauntlet Sidelever Update #4

by Hajimoto

As was forecasted in our previous NEWS post, we should have had the remanufactured parts in our hand by January 11, 2023, and would have if not for the fact that all U.S. domestic flights were grounded due to a complete failure of a key FAA safety system.

Once the delayed delivery of the parts was received, we built three side lever assemblies and confirmed that the reworked parts were within the specification and we could start filling our build orders.

As was explained in previous updates, we will be rolling the side lever systems out in phases. There will be three (3) Phases each Phase will consist of a Build Stage (A) and a Kit Offering stage (B). These Phases and associated Stages will be announced right here in the NEWS Blog for reference and information.

Phasing

Phase 1A – We’re going to attack all Gauntlet .30 caliber builds first. This means we have and will continue to fill all the G30 orders we received when we first announced the availability of the side lever system. There were 21 of you that stuck it out and by the time you are reading this, most will have your G30 build with the side lever installed and on its way to you. Thank you for your patience and support as we worked through this manufacturing delay.
Phase 1B – Once we have all build requests complete, we will make the .30 Caliber Side Lever System available as a do-it-yourself installation kit.

Phase 2A – We will be offering Gauntlet 2 .22/.25 build packages that include the side lever system.
Phase 2B – Once we have our Gauntlet 2 .22/.25 builds underway and manageable, we will roll out the do-it-yourself installation kit.

Phase 3A – Shortly after the DYI kits for the G2’s are released we will start accepting build packages for the Gauntlet 1.
Phase 3B – Once we have our Gauntlet 1 .22/.25 builds underway and manageable, we will roll out the do-it-yourself installation kit.

Video Production

We will be producing video instructions for the do-it-yourself kits which will show up on the product page so you have a very detailed and clear step-by-step installation guide to follow.

Previously Published Information

If you have any questions about pricing and so forth, please refer to the previous NEWS posts on this subject as it was shared in those articles.

Thank you again for your patience and support.

Hajimoto

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Sidelever Saga

by Hajimoto

Hello folks,

 This is the latest information regarding the Hajimoto Side Lever production saga. As I explained in my previous articles on this topic, the machinist manufactured one of the components out of spec which made the entire assembly unusable. So we had to wait for the one component to be remade and then refinished so we could complete the assembly and build the parts.

This couldn’t have happened at the worst time of the year it was the perfect storm for delays. The country is dealing with supply chain issues and raw material shortages and it is the busiest time of the year because of the holidays that happen at the end of the year.

Understandably the anodizing outfit (which is a separate firm) had a full production schedule without a single day of room to try and squeeze this rework in. Because of this delay, we stopped taking any additional build orders for the builds that offer the Hajimoto Side Lever until we have the parts in hand.

We recently had a conference call with the machine shop and the anodizing company to discuss where we are with the completion of these parts. If the last 3 years have taught us anything it is “if it can happen, it will happen”, so in keeping with this trend the parts are said to be a couple of weeks out from shipping.

That would put the parts in our hands on January 11, 2023. This is what we are shooting for and we will plan accordingly. The rollout will still be what was previously shared.

  1. .30 caliber builds will be first, then levers offered separately.
  2. Generation 1 .177, .22, and .25 builds first then user installable side levers separately.
  3. Generation 2 .22 and .25 builds first then user installable side levers separately.

As a reminder, we will be producing and sharing a detailed installation video of the Hajimoto Side Lever System on all variants of Gauntlet so you will have a step-by-step easy-to-follow video if you want to install it yourself. We just recommend that you own a strong quality 2.5mm allen wrench that is at least 4” in length and preferably has a T handle for torque. Please do not skimp here, you need a professional-grade tool else you run the risk of stripping the hex-headed retention screw in the cocking bolt.

The reason for the phasing of release is so we have a manageable rollout and it allows us to produce video instruction on the actual parts that you will be receiving rather than try to edit in any changes after the fact. You guys know how it works, nothing dies on the internet.

To all of you that are patient (or not so patiently) waiting, we appreciate you. So in closing, while things like this manufacturing/production delay cause us angst and frustration, this time of year reminds us that those around us matter more than the things around us.

The new year is upon us and I would like each of you to take a deep breath in and exhale all the difficult 2022 air, angst, frustration, and disappointment so we can focus on what is to come and be grateful we are here to anticipate what it has to offer.

We wish you all happy holidays and a Happy New Year.

Hajimoto

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Gauntlet Sidelever Update

by Hajimoto

As most of you realize by now there’s been a delay to the Hajimoto Productions side lever for the Umarex Gauntlet series of PCP. The side lever is designed to work with the .177, .22, .25, and .30 caliber versions of the Gauntlet.

While aesthetically the side levers look the same, the mechanics and geometry of each are different.  That said, there are several parts that have a close tolerance machining interface that needs to fit perfectly.

These production tolerances are considered during design and during the fabrication stage product mockups or samples are made to guarantee proper size, fit, and finish.  It appears that even after the mockup approval, one of the components associated with our side lever cocking system was machined out of specification. It appears the machine shop ran the wrong variation of the code and produced over 1000 parts that cannot be used.

Because of this out of specification part, we were forced to halt all assembly and retail packaging processes. The machine shop prioritized the CNC rework and finished the parts in a reasonable amount of time and then shipped the parts off to the anodizer for finishing.

Well like all things over the past 3 years, schedules are either made or broken based on the supply chain. The anodizer had a few large jobs ahead of our parts but promised to work ours into his production schedule. The issue is that the finish that we specified required a process that cannot be commingled with other finishing processes.

As of November 11, 2022, our parts are prepped and on the finish schedule. That said, we are at the mercy of schedule without compromising the finish of the parts.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we get this issue resolved and stay tuned here for the latest updates regarding this hiccup.

Humbly,

Hajimoto

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Gauntlet Sidelever Update

by Hajimoto

Hello to all of our loyal customers and fans. We are writing this notice to help clarify our recently announced Hajimoto Sidelever Cocking System for the Umarex Gauntlet series of airguns which created a lot of confusion and questions regarding availability and what models will be supported. This post should clear up any confusion our announcements caused and allow you all to plan accordingly.

We have developed a sidelever cocking system for the following Umarex Gauntlet Models:

  • Gauntlet 1 in .177, .22 and .25 Caliber
  • Gauntlet 2 in .22 and .25 Caliber
  • Gauntlet 2 in .30 Caliber

It is important to note that each of these sidelever cocking systems are different and not interchangeable. We have rolled out the Gauntlet 2 in .30 Caliber first and will be offering them as part of our G30 Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Ultimate Packages for the first few weeks.

We will then be offering the Hajimoto Side Lever for the G30 as a end user installable system.

The G1 and G2 models will be available in mid-November and again will be introduced in our custom builds first and then offered as a user-installable product a few weeks later.

As you all know, Hajimoto Productions does not do preorders, backorders, or sell vaporware, we only sell what we have and that is on a first come first served basis.

We will continue to update you all through this blog first and then try to spread the word through our social media channels.

Some of the most frequently asked questions received are:

  1. Does the G30 system Fit the G1 or other G2 Calibers?
    ANSWER: No, G1, G2, and G2 30 Caliber Systems are all different and not interchangeable.
  2. Can the Hajimoto Sidelever Cocking System be used with the Super Tune Kit on my G1 or G2?
    ANSWER: Yes, The Sidelever system is 100% compatible with all existing Hajimoto modifications.
  3. Do I have to cut or modify my action or stock to use the Hajimoto Sidelever Cocking System?
    ANSWER: No, there are no destructive measures required to install and use the Hajimoto Sidelever Cocking System. A Gauntlet that has our Sidelever system installed can be reverted back to a stock bolt action without any damage to the airgun.
  4. Is the Sidelever system made from plastic or is it 3D Printed?
    ANSWER: No, our sidelever system is machined from 6061 Aluminum and hard anodized. We do offer a generic 3D printed vertical handle which can be swapped out to whatever the end user chooses such as wood, aluminum or other type material.
  5. Will you be making an installation video?
    ANSWER: Yes, which is why there is a delay between sidelevers being offered as part of a build and sidelevers being offered as a user-installable product.
  6. When changing magazines do I have to keep the handle held back?
    ANSWER: Yes, you will need to keep the side lever handle back to a full open position for magazine changes. We will be offering a hammer modification which will eliminate the need to hold the handle back but that will be in the near future.
  7. What is the cocking force reduction?
    ANSWER: The cocking force is reduced by 53%.
  8. How much will the user-installable Hajimoto Sidelever Cocking System cost?
    ANSWER: The Sidelever system will be offered for $149.95 USD

As I said at the beginning of this notification, we will be making all updates here on the website first so registering with our website will be the fastest way to receive notification of availability or changes.

Thank you all for your support.

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