Split gearbox

[Ghillieman]

What's your take on the ICS split gearbox. Is this a POS or is it worth picking up?

[oldgamefreak]

I have them and love them also PM XavierMace he's the resident ICS Guru. he will tell you so much your brain will bleed!!!!

[Vince]

Well, it only works in ICS guns - which have come a long way and are supposedly pretty good now.

That being said, I can't remember the last time I was like, 'Oh, damn, I wish I could change my spring/piston in 5 minutes.'

[I Slap Fat Kids]

That being said, I can't remember the last time I was like, 'Oh, damn, I wish I could change my spring/piston in 5 minutes.'

Neither can I.  

However, it would be nice not to have to deal with the spring and tappet while shimming, cleaning, and/or replacing a gear.

[axisofoil]

Well, it only works in ICS guns - which have come a long way and are supposedly pretty good now.

That being said, I can't remember the last time I was like, 'Oh, damn, I wish I could change my spring/piston in 5 minutes.'

Well, I can remember... trying to meet chrono limits when there isn't a DMR/Sniper class weapons allowance... happens to me all the time. I got fed up and just bought another gun for the low-fps days. lol.

Their split gearboxes are very nice, convenient, and pretty strong.

[Whiskey11]

Well, it only works in ICS guns - which have come a long way and are supposedly pretty good now.

That being said, I can't remember the last time I was like, 'Oh, damn, I wish I could change my spring/piston in 5 minutes.'

WHAT?!   :shock: <Furiously writes day down on calender>  No way, Vince just said something positive about ICS!

A lot of the older Airsoft AZ guys got bit, really friggen hard, by ICS (and CA too) back when they first came out, so I can understand their animosity, but the latest, and to be honest 2006 and on, ICS M4's and M16's are amazing.  By far the best AEG M16's I've handled hands down after you address two very nagging issues.  The first is the horrible multipeice barrel.  When I purchased my ICS M16A3 I was fortunate enough to find someone selling a Guarder Multipeice M16 barrel.  Normally, Multipeice M16 barrels wobble like crazzy, but the Guarder's middle section actually fits inside the part that the delta ring holds in.  The result is 3 inches of support and the barrel being steel, it weighs a ton and is rock solid.  That alone made a HUGE difference.  The Second gripe is the plastic handguards and the RIS units are pretty bleh.  The RIS units are alright once you tighten the barrel in far enough, but the Plastic Handguards are worse then some chinese LPEGs.  The rest of the plastics on the gun kick ace, but the handguards suck.  

Those are my two complaints.  Everything else about their guns, IMO, is a real winner.  And Vince, it's not about wanting to change your spring in under 5 minutes, it's about not wanting to deal with the entire lower gearbox when modifiying and doing regular maintenance and swapping out broken pistons.  At least it is for me.  

Vince is right, the split gearbox does not fit into other guns without modification.  Removal of some of the supporting rail on the top (about 2-4mm depending on reciever) and some of the stuff around the cylinder window does help get them in there.  The problem is the gearbox, even though fully assembled is the same size as a regular V2, still wont have split GB capabilities because of the attachment system for stocks and the lower reciever gets in the way.  As soon as (rofl, more like in a 1200$) I get the CNC conversion for my Mini Mill I plan on fixing those issues and hopefully bringing the split GB to a more open "mass" market.  Maybe

[Wolfan8or]

my ICS M4 was perhaps my favorite AEG I ever had.

[XavierMace]

I had a long reply typed up but forgot to post it before leaving work....

It's not just about being able to change the spring in a hurry.  I carry a spare upper gearbox with me, that way if I strip a piston or crack a nozzle, I can swap it out for a fresh one in under a minute.  Plus it makes working on the gearbox so much easier since you don't have to fight with the spring when working on the lower gearbox.  Lastly, although it might not happen much, it does allow you to just swap out the upper if you need to.

Most of the issues of the old days have long been resolved.  Yes, they are occasionally finicky about front ends and hopups.  But I've never run into a real issue with it.

[Rogue Fox]

I've had 2 of thier M4s[that OGF has now], and if I ever got another M4 it would be an ICS. Everything about them is simpler than a normal gearbox. I could turn a normal M4 into a SPR in 5 minutes. I just needed a longer inner barrel[with hopup attatched] a surpressor[matching the excess barrel length], scope and an extra upper GB built for the job.  

Thats a hell of alot cheaper than buying another gun and upgrading with the same parts to do the same role.

[Vince]

I get all of those features and while they are features in that other guns don't do them, are they really necessary.

I broke a piston during Bulldog I. Transitioned to secondary and fixed it at the camp later.

To date, that's my only serious, game ending failure...and it wasn't THAT big a deal.

I have played about a zillion airsoft games, too.

I dunno, I guess I just don't see the need - I suppose it makes...30 minute jobs...into 10 minute jobs, or whatever, but, I usually have 30 minutes.  

If that's what you like though...

[XavierMace]

Which is all well and good, but I'm also for dragging around as little crap as possible.  I don't like dragging around spare guns and what not if I don't have to.  Plus, I've swapped uppers at games before, especially at SASCO.  I use a 18" for regular games then swap it for a 10.5" upper for games in the basement/bunker.  

Plus, I think the durability of the gearbox is a factor worth considering.  I'm still not seeing any signs of wear or any failures on my upper with the MS190 spring in it.  I certainly wouldn't be comfortable doing that with a standard V2 gearbox.

I guess the benefit of those features varies from person to person but I REALLY like not having to touch the gears and what not to swap out a spring/piston/etc.