How the mechbox works

For those new to airsoft, the mechbox is often a source of mystery. Mechbox is airsoft slang for “mechanical box” or the gearbox case that houses the gears, springs, piston and cylinder which powers an AEG. The mechbox or airsoft gearbox is essentially a small electric-powered air compressor. This article will give you an inside look at the mechbox and how everything works.
Mechbox animation
We’ve created a version 2 gearbox and animated it to demonstrate how the internal components work together to create the power inside an airsoft electric gun.


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I was just curious if you guys are planning to make any p90 videos. I am anxious to upgrade my gun however id like to see a video before i try anything i don’t want to break my gun over something simple as a pin/screw removal
Thanks Guys the new site is awesome
by Ravenx24 July 2nd, 2008Yes, we definitely want to create P90 videos…just need to get our hands on one.
by 6mm July 3rd, 2008Yeah P90 video would be sweet. Since I have one that be very helpful
by Neil maser July 21st, 2008Yea the video or animation doesnt show up on my screen i see the code for the flash. Dont know if its my computer or the site just thought i’d let you know
by DielManar July 29th, 2008Fixed the broken Flash embed. Thanks DielManar!
by 6mm July 31st, 2008hey i have a mp7 that has a broken hop up i want to fix it but dont know where to even start
by Shawn July 31st, 2008My Classic Army M15A4 just makes a zzzzzzzzzz
sound instead of operating, if you have any idea whats wrong please share.
Help PLEASE! ( I’ll be playing in a big game at Thanksgiving so I need it fixed)
by David August 11th, 2008Heya David,
It could be your motor. Check your pinion gear on your motor. My cousin had the same problem with his gun and just made those zzzzz sounds…and we found out that it was his pinion gear on his motor. Hope that helped!
by Glenn August 12th, 2008Hey guys, thanks for the very useful information, did help me save my two M4s gearboxes…..Great site this one. When are you planning to upload videos for the M14 gearbox?
by Fernando Flores August 14th, 2008Thanks a lot.
hi i have a d-boys m4, can any body tell me why it keeps gaming please ?
by ray August 14th, 2008Hi there, I webt on holidats to Taiwan for 1 month and when I last fired my M14 Scout I left the sprin compressed
and yesteray I come back from a 26h journey, I charge up the battery fully and plug it up onto the M14, Ipress the trigger , it sems to be workinf¡g fine but the suddenly it stops. I disassemble the M14 and I find the piston and spring is halfway throug the firing cycle. it seems that somehting is jammifng them. I open the gearbox, everything seems fine, I lube everymovung part up but it still doesnt shoot, HELP! PLEASE!!!
by M14-Scharfschutze September 2nd, 2008Hi, I just found this website, and I’m glad I did, I have two JG MP5’5 one is an SD the other has a built in ris, I was wondering about the disassembly and reassembly videos you provided for a TM mp5, is it the same strip down, or is it different??
by mike September 8th, 2008Hi I was just wondering if you could out up a diagram showing how the selector switch works.
by Aaron September 16th, 2008Hi, i just disassembled my gun and im trying to upgrade my spring. Any videos on taking out the old spring and putting in the new?
by Jason September 17th, 2008I would like to offer up my p90 for your upgrade video. Its in great shape and shoots wonderful, just not very hard. Its a Tokyo Marui p90. The only thing that isn’t stock is that it has Dean’s connectors for the battery.
by Bryan September 18th, 2008I was wondering how the semi auto function works. I have an spr shooting 530 fps. We are trying to mod it to shoot semi only. it keeps shooting bursts of full auto. We have modified the selector plate and the selector switch. per some diagrams we found. I just dont understand what interupts the cycle when the trigger is pulled. how does the gun differenciates auto and semi.
if anyone could help, It would be GREATLY appreciated.
by Allen September 27th, 2008hi. i was just wondering if one would be able to put an m4/m16 mechbox into a g36 body and vice versa, or if any other mechbox can be compatible with any body style. if possible can you make a video for it? thanks.
by shawn October 22nd, 2008Fantastic video.
by jim October 30th, 2008hello im wondering if you will make a video on how to take apart a m4a1 and then put it back together, i am trying to learn how to upgrade my own guns now because it costs alot to upgrade where i go.
by Kevin H. November 1st, 2008Kevin, we have a video of the M733, which is very similar to the M4A1. Eventually, yes we will have the M4A1 too.
by 6mm November 1st, 2008Allen
the Cut Off lever Does it.
the gearbox designed to work in full auto.
and the Cut Off lever interrupts the cycle.
when the eccentric on the sector gear pushes the cut of lever it returning the trigger part of the switch all the way back.
on the video they don’t show it.
sorry about my bad English
by Strelok89 November 9th, 2008I have a jg mp5 I was shooting it and it completly stoped I have a fully charged battery when ever it’s in and I lisen and shoot it it only makes a clicking noise I only had it for3days . is theere any way to fix it
by Gabe November 10th, 2008Gabe- Try using a different battery. That’s what it sounds like it is.
by Blake November 22nd, 2008[...] Disclaimer: This review is for people who have a general understanding of the mechanics of a gearbox. If you’re not too well versed in how a gearbox works Mechbox.com has a great diagram you should take a look at: http://www.mechbox.com/data/how-the-mechbox-works [...]
by Airsoft - Paintball Guns and Accessories » Blog Archive » REVIEW: Cyclone Dual Sector Gear December 18th, 2008is the ak-47 and the ak-74 the same when it comes to upgrading, and mechbox/gearbox work ? is it possible to get a video on a kalash ak-74 or a ak-74 ?
by TRIG74 January 31st, 2009gabe my ak did the same thing, i took apart my gear box, and re assmebled it, and it stared to work again. i though it was my battery too but it wasnt ! could be ya gears froze up sr sum, good luck in gettin it workin again >
by TRIG74 January 31st, 2009How does the semi-auto work?
by Andy February 2nd, 2009m249 assembly video not working all the others are
by rich February 27th, 2009Hi Gabe,
by R7 April 3rd, 2009There are two main reasons why this may be happening.
1- Shimming (shoot for Perfect shimming)
2- Non- dead battery (I had an intellect 8.4v battery which was “fully charged” according to my smart charger, and, it actually turned out that I charged it on too high a setting and ruined the battery. So, MAKE SURE to see if that is the problem!)
If both of these are perfect, then there are two other things:
1- Gears to high a ratio to pull back spring
2- Too weak of a motor
PS-the reason it is not firing is because the mechbox is not capable of pulling the piston all the way back. If you follow the preceding steps, It should work like a charm!!
PS#2- I’ve had the motor issue and the battery isue with my gun on two different events.
R7
Hi David,
by R7 April 3rd, 2009Although I should have given you this message months ago, what is making the zzzzzzzzzz sound is the motor. The reason the CA is not firing is that the motor isn’t making contact with the bevel gear inside the mechbox!! Just tighten the hex screw at the bottom of the motor plate for the mechbox to operate.
PS- A assume you know this by now!!!!
R7
Was given your website by my dealer,seems ok but I can’t get anything to open.I have an m249 with some problems and was hoping to get some ideas as to why.Do you actually have any specs or disasembly instructions on line?
by Bob Cornwell May 16th, 2009hey can u guys make a video on how to assemble a gearbox…..ps i hav a dboys scar n i cant seem to get the gear box out of the grip if u can make a video about that too
by jonathan June 23rd, 2009Bob Cornwell, check the gun manufacturer’s website. Airsplat’s website also has online manuals for most of the guns they sell.
I’ve always had good luck finding helpful videos on youtube as well.
by Cameron July 25th, 2009hey guys i have a dboys scar and was wondering where i can find the contacts for the trigger assembly i cant find anywhere on the web and im stuck.
by jake August 16th, 2009the contacts are the gold prongs that are inside the gearbox and one of them broke so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi i need some help with my M4 Carbine it will fire ok but the bb.s just fall out of the barrel then it will fire a few rounds just fine.I have been told that it could be hop up rubber but although i have got the barrel and hop up out. The hop up is jammed on tight any ideas how to get it off without breaking it.thanks
by bengaku August 18th, 2009ps i have taken off the small catch and unscrewed the hop up wheel but still i can,t seem to moved it any
i was wondering if you wer planning on doing any videos on the jg sig 550?
by christopher August 21st, 2009Looking for a video/tutorial for A&G SR25 repair…anyone??
by tk421_71 August 29th, 2009