Well, after 4 uses and about 6 gallons of spraying, with at least 48 hours between each use, I am happy to say that my little Wagner sprayer is still performing well.
I've noticed that when the spray comes out now, the paint droplets are not as uniform in size, but the manual says that the swirl valve (the tiny piece with the spring on it that you always lose when cleaning the gun up) should be replaced after 7-10 gallons of latex paint anyway. I'm still getting good coverage and minimal overspray.
I talked to my dad (a huge proponent) about the sprayer, and he said he went through a couple of them before he discovered the key. Oil. After you're all done cleaning the sprayer out, put a few drops of
3-in-1 oil into the intake and return ports (the 3/8" holes in the underside). Pull the trigger for about a half-second to distribute the oil through the mechanism and store. Before the next use, repeat the oil procedure.
That, friends, is the way to keep your POS S'ing paint for a long, long time. Well, for 4 uses, anyway.
-Phil Crow