Fluid tip, D, 303 ss

Yes. The needle seats inside the tip, and the two wear into each other. Put a new needle in a worn tip (or the reverse) and the seal is imperfect: the gun drips from the front, spits when triggered off, and the pattern never quite cleans up. Binks' instruction on every manual gun is to replace both at the same time, replace the needle packing while you are in there, lightly lubricate the tip threads and torque the tip to 20–25 ft-lb on JGA and MBC guns.

Matched pairs Clemtex stocks: AV-2115-D with MBC-496-DEX, AV-2115-E with MBC-444-E or JGA-402-E, and for the 2100 the 66SS with 565 needle.

20–25 ft-lb, with a drop of lube on the threads first. Do not overtighten; it distorts the seat. More important than the number is protecting the needle while you do it: either pull and hold the trigger while tightening or loosening the tip, or remove the fluid needle adjusting screw so the spring is not pressing the needle collar into the tip. Skip that and you bend the needle or score the tip.

The same rule applies to the JGA-510 fluid inlet adapter (20–25 ft-lb with blue 242 Loctite and the locknut tightened) and the JGA baffle fluid tip at 12–15 ft-lb. On an MBC, if the needle still binds after reassembly the spray head is misaligned: tap around its perimeter with a wooden mallet and retighten the lock bolt.