Major spike issue. Please help

[dcidru]

Hello.

I am a new member to the forums so if this is in the wrong place, please let me know. Thanks.

I have recently installed a Forge adjustable waste gate actuator and noticed that I now have a serious boost spike issue (30psi, maybe higher).
No settings were changed prior to the install on the boost controller. (Mod list is included at the bottom of the post.)

Questions are:
1) Could the spike be from a lag in pressure going from the boost source (little nipple on the LICP feed from the turbine housing) through the controller to the waste gate not allowing it to open up fast enough?
2) Is it possible to bypass the controller completely and run a length of hose directly from the boost source to the nipple on the waste gate actuator? (If yes, pros/cons would be a great help).
3) Is a spike like this normal? If yes, assuming the car is well tuned, would it be something to worry about?
4) What would be the correct amount of preload with this particular actuator?

Since the install, I have taken as much of the preload out of the actuator as I could. Now, the waste gate stays slightly open (mostly on cold a
cold start of the car).

Mods are:
TME TD05HRA-16G 10.5cm^2 housing
Injen upper and lower piping
Injen intake
ETS intercooler
Forge manual boost controller (lines from source to waste gate are approx 18 inches in length. I believe this could be causing the issue)
Forge recirc dump valve
Forge adjustable waste gate actuator (19-24psi spring)
HKS cams 272/272
o2 eliminator down pipe with external dump
megan exhaust manifold
full 3 inch exhaust with test pipe
larger throttle body (when it was off the car when I replaced the seals, measured 72mm.)

tuned on 93 octane @ 24psi

Any help at all is greatly appreciated.
-Dcidru

[dcidru]

More information:
I took some more of the preload out of the wastegate. It's still spiking about 28psi. As a test, I turned out the boost controller all the way (which on the stock
actuator yielded about 15psi so i'm going to guess it had a 7psi spring in it or close) it still spiked about 28psi but leveled out about 21psi. At this point i think the
boost controller is not bleeding off enough of the pressure to the wastegate to open it fast enough. Would it be a more accurate test just to run a line from the
boost source to the wastegate to check where it actually opens? I would think the turbo wouldn't produce any more pressure then the spring in the actuator is
set to without kicking it open first because it is such a short connection and nothing else in influencing it at all.

Please let me know if i'm way off in my thinking.

Thanks.

[dcidru]

Ok. Problem fixed. It was the boost controller. Currently just running without on adjusted actuator. Spike is just shy of 26psi with a very slight taper to 24psi by 7000rpm.