How to read engine codes Via the OBD II Port with your smart phone – welcome to the new age

May 11, 2017 RoninsGrips 1 Comment

Guys, I remember tuning a car by ear with a timing light, vacuum gauge, feeling things out literally with my hands and so forth. Boy has the world changed. As the vehicles got smarter and smarter, someone decided to add On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) in the early 1980s first with the idiot “check engine” light and then it got more and more involved. Modern cars and trucks in the US have an OBD II jack where you can plug in, read and clear fault codes, access real-time information and so forth.

Back in 2013 I saved my pennies and finally bought my own Autel Autolink Scanner for $102. Wow – I thought was so cool. I used it whenever fault codes popped up to figure out what it was but I had to lug the thing around and it wasn’t something you could readily update, etc.

A friend of mine came over about a year back to check on one of our cars. He pulled a little black rectangle out of his jacket, plugged it into the car and then started looking at his phone. I asked him what he was doing and he showed me that he was accessing the codes. I was floored.

In June 2016, I decided to go the phone route to have a current scanner and a better interface. After digging, I bought a BAFX Products 34t5 Bluetooth OBDII adapter for Android phones (about $22) and I got the Torque software for my Samsung Note Android phone off the Google Play store for free. What a difference. The BAFX adapter was easy to carry around, I could customize the gauges I was looking at, and so forth. For me this combo rocks. It does all I need. I really like it being cordless – you can walk around and so forth and still see the data.

By the way, installation is simple. You follow the instructions to pair the scanner to your phone just like you would any other Bluetooth Device. I downloaded Torque from the Google Play store on my phone in a matter of minutes and it is pretty much good to go. You can create profiles for different vehicles in the software, change gauges you want to watch, their style, how they are grouped and so forth.

The following are screenshots from my phone plus you can see the little adapter that is a bit smaller than a cigarette box.

Torque app on a smartphone showing OBD II engine codes, diagnostics, and realtime data — I use Torque to read and reset the ODB2 codes as needed. I really like it.

OBD II app on smartphone displaying engine data: speed, RPM, coolant, throttle, vacuum, acceleration, and revs. — The Torque app lets you set up different gauges or even go in and look at the data.

Black OBD II port adapter resting on a tan leather car seat — This plugs into the ODB2 port

For example, my 2002 Camry’s check engine light is on and I could use the BAFX adapter and Torque to find out what the code was and then search using Google to decide what to do:

Car dashboard with illuminated check engine light and speedometer — Yeah, you have to love that check engine light.

OBD II port with a scan tool plugged in, showing the car's engine codes

OBD II app showing pending fault P0446 - Evaporative Emission Control System Vent Control Circuit

I really like the combination and recommend them. In general, I am amazed by all the functionality that is showing up where the smart phone provides the brain and display thus dropping costs dramatically. My recent GiraffeCam endoscope is another example.

By the way, I am so happy with this combination of BAFX scanner and Torque software that I sold my Autel scanner on eBay.

9/.29/21 Update: I still have the original two. They have saved my bacon many times and I always take one with us on trips. I highly recommend them. They have bounced around in the glove box, in the console, baked in the summer heat and frozen in subzero weather and they still work.

2/27/20 Update: I now have a couple of them and use them all the time with Torque.

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Check out John B’s cool Vepr with our handguard

May 10, 2017 RoninsGrips

I think John built a real stunner here. I like the whole package with the folding stock, the optic, our handguard and everything being black.

Click here to open a new tab/window to our Vepr handguard page.

AK & Related Rifles

Video: SVD Dragunov 7.62×54mmR Sniper Rifle by ArmlistMedia – Great Overview Plus Field Stripping

May 10, 2017 RoninsGrips

One of my regrets is that I have not had the funds and opportunity (at the same time) to buy a SVD Dragunov. For those of you who do not know it, the Dragunov was developed as a designated marksman rifle (DMR) by the USSR and has evolved over the years. Contrary to what some say, it is not an oversize AK – the Drag’s bolt carrier does not have an attached piston and all the mass associated. Instead, there is a short stroke piston operating under left & right handguards over the barrel. You get to see all of that and very straight forward field stripping guidance in this video.

SVD Dragunov sniper rifle in use by soldiers during training exercise.

SVD Dragunov 7.62x54mmR sniper rifle with scope on dry grass

Close-up of the SVD Dragunov sniper rifle's receiver and wooden stock

Man holding SVD Dragunov 7.62x54mmR sniper rifle, field stripping

SVD Dragunov bolt assembly, part of a 7.62x54mmR rifle field stripping overview.

Close-up of SVD Dragunov sniper rifle parts during field stripping

I really like this video. The narration is very straight forward with a touch of humor and the video quality is solid. Some day, I will own a Drag 🙂

Air & C02 Rifles and Pistols

Sluggish Marauder Mag Fix: Try #3 – Change the Internal Spring Position – This is the best fix!

May 10, 2017 RoninsGrips

Please note that there are three posts in this series. The method in the third post would fix just about any magazine while the other two helped some of the magazines:

Now on to the post:

Ok, in the first couple of tries, I had some success loosening the center screw on a couple of the sluggish mags. Marginal improvement with dry lube but that didn’t fix two. What resurrected the two worst magazines was to disassemble the magazines and move the spring’s anchor leg to the center hole. What this did was to increase the tension of the spring and boy, did that fix the problem in spades. In the future, I would try loosening the center screw and if that didn’t work, I’d go right to this spring adjustment:

Here are the steps:

Note where the spring is at currently my looking in the holes in the back of the magazine. If you see metal, that is the leg of the spring. All of my mags have had the spring’s leg in the same place from the factory thus far:
Remove the center screw and disassemble the magazine with a 1/16″ hex key. Pay attention to how it fits together and also look for any debris or burs that might be causing drag:

In this next photo, look at the spring. The downward leg is the bottom and the sideways leg is the top and the center of the drum has a slot that the top part of that spring nestles into:
Move the drum’s spring to the center hole in the track where the pellets are carried. . See the oily crap … I mean “film” in the mag? That is courtesy of the 3-in-1 supposed dry lubricant that I will never use again and got cleaned out right after I took this photo:
If you aren’t sure what hole I mean, look at this next photo. Magazines PA2 and PA4 have the spring located to the new hole half way around the magazine track. PA1 and PA3 still have the springs in the original hole and seem to work ok. This is also a good example of how labeling your mags helps you keep track of what is going on. PA1 was the worst by far.
Align the drum with the top of the spring and then carefully rotate the assembly clockwise slightly angling the long part of the drum so it will clear the part of the magazine that forms the start/end of the magazine area that holds the actual pellets.
Install the top so the brass pin that is embedded in the clear magazine cover rides in the groove of the drum. I slide the cover on upwards from the bottom while keeping the center secure otherwise it will fly out.
Re-install the screw. Tighten it down until the cover can’t lift up and adjust the screw in/out until you feel the right amount of tension on the cover and it can move.
Test by turning the top – you should feel way more spring tension now.

So in my testing, this worked great. If just loosening the cover a bit works for you, then great. If not, take it apart and move the spring. Note – I did try spraying the good Dupont Teflon dry lube in one of the magazines and I can’t say that there is a noticeable difference. You can if you want to experiment, but I’m not going to bother going forward.

I hope this helps you out!

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Check out Gregory’s AK with Refinished Wood

May 9, 2017 RoninsGrips

Gregory shared this with me and I was so impressed by the clean lines that I had to post it:

I asked what he did for the wood. Gregory said he rubbed in three coats of red Oak stain. It’s sharp!

AK & Related Rifles, Military

Video: Troops training with the Zastava M76 and M91 Designated Marksman Rifles (DMRs)

May 9, 2017 RoninsGrips

This video from 2016 shows US, Latvian and other troops firing the Zastava M76 and M91 rifles. Some may call them sniper rifles but they are more DMRs to me. It’s always interesting to see rifles in practical use and hear some of the coaching going on. Please note that these are like giant AK rifles that are over-sized to handle the larger rounds. In contrast, the Dragunov is a different design including: A short stroke piston that is separate from the bolt carrier, ,the bolt carrier does not have any provision for a piston so it has far less mass, the trigger is in a removable cartridge and the operating spring is mounted in a locking dust cover.

US military troops train with Zastava M76 and M91 DMRs

Soldier aiming Zastava M76 rifle in desert training

Here’s The Video

Please note that all images were extracted from the video and remain the property of their respective owner(s).

Air & C02 Rifles and Pistols, Tools

Sluggish Marauder Mag Fix: Try #2 – Dry Film Lubricants – Not a Good Fix – But Avoid 3-In-1 Dry Lube Because It Isn’t Dry!

May 9, 2017 RoninsGrips 1 Comment

Please note that there are three posts in this series. The method in the third post would fix just about any magazine while the other two helped some of the magazines:

Now on to the post:

I am less than impressed with Marauder airgun magazines to be honest. Their spring tension seems to be inconsistent. The springs are in the same hole and in some cases, simply backing off the center screw was enough. In other cases, I am finding that it helps to use a dry film lubricant in the magazine. Why a dry lube? If you use oil, it will attract dust and grit that will build up and cause problems down the road. Dry films do not have a liquid that captures contaminants.

I experimented with two types of lubricants – 3-In-1 and also Dupont’s Non-Stick Dry Film Lubricant, which is an aerosol Teflon. In 3 magazines, the 3-in-1 helped. In the fourth magazine, tension improved with the use of the Dupont product. In spraying some test pieces of black Kydex, you can see the Dupont product leaves a thick coat of Teflon behind. The 3-in-1 leaves a greasy residue. I am betting contaminants will stick to it. Reviewers of it are not mincing words – despite what the label says, it is not a true dry lube. The first photo shows the Dupont Teflon powder on the left and the greasy/oily feeling residue of the 3-in-1 on the right. The second photo is a close up of the 3-in-1 residue.

After doing more reading and testing, I have changed all four magazines over to the Dupont product to avoid problems down the road. To make a long story short, the magazines all turn much more freely and I would tell you do NOT to buy the supposed 3-in-1 dry lube because its greasy surface will likely be a problem down the road. The next photo shows a magazine with the Teflon residue visible.

The magazines are better but do not feel as snappy as I think they should. I’d say it helped some but my worst magazine, PA4, still feels way to light. In my next post, I will adjust the spring position internally.

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Check out Derreck’s Yugo M72B1 with our handguards!!

May 8, 2017 RoninsGrips

Derreck’s Yugoslav/Zastava M72B1 with our M72 handguard set looks sweet!!

Click here to visit our M72 handguard page in our store.

Ronin's Grips

How to read engine codes Via the OBD II Port with your smart phone – welcome to the new age

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Check out John B’s cool Vepr with our handguard

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Video: SVD Dragunov 7.62×54mmR Sniper Rifle by ArmlistMedia – Great Overview Plus Field Stripping

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Sluggish Marauder Mag Fix: Try #3 – Change the Internal Spring Position – This is the best fix!

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Check out Gregory’s AK with Refinished Wood

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Video: Troops training with the Zastava M76 and M91 Designated Marksman Rifles (DMRs)

Here’s The Video

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Sluggish Marauder Mag Fix: Try #2 – Dry Film Lubricants – Not a Good Fix – But Avoid 3-In-1 Dry Lube Because It Isn’t Dry!

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When Strength and Quality Matter Most

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When Strength and Quality Matter Most