Possible Stinky Grommet Replacement

Trayce;11285881 said:

Received the tubing (3 32" I D Silicone Tubing Temperature Rated to 500F | eBay) and so far it works exactly as expected! If a burny rubber grommet flavor is your problem, this should fix it. I took a few pics to share below. INSERT 16hrs LATER: There is an issue with Kanger heads but not Aro heads... see my post #5 below for details. THIS ISSUE RESOLVED ... SEE POST #12

A couple things... the silicone tubing is softer than the stock rubber grommet so takes a little different technique to push it in. Found it is easier if wet. But only takes a sec or two. Also, only need to get it in halfway, which is pretty easy, then slide the pin in, and the sleeve will ride up a hair more and the bottom of it will form the bottom collar. At first I wasn't sure this was good enough but when I looked down through the top, I could indeed see the silicone was up where it belonged in the head, looking quite perfect. So when you're pushing and it doesn't seem to be going in any further, just insert the pin and you're good.

Other point to note... because it's softer, the legs can move easier if tugged on. So if you like to apply tension to the legs and wiggle them back and forth to remove the excess [rather than snipping] only do this with your wrapping implement still in place in the coil.

Finally, the first couple coils I made had a high end wrap after inserting the pin and I had to do them over. I finally realized inserting the pin was pushing the negative leg up just a little, even though I pull it taught beforehand and bend it up along the head bottom. So instead I pulled it up taught and wrapped the excess around the end of the nail holding the coil in place (my wrapping implement). That indeed solved that problem. But to be sure, after inserting the pin - and with the wrapping implement still in place in the coil -- I used needle nose to gently pull each leg to make sure it was taught on the nail and there was no slack introduced from the pin insert. Then snipped away the excess.

Used 30g kanthal and did 7 wraps for all 3 builds, then compressed into micro-coils. 1.9 ohms w/ a sweet spot of about 4.5w. Took it as high as 6.5w just to see and the juice got nasty but no burny grommet taste. (Rebuilt 3 Aro heads which are almost exactly like Kangers except the Kanger has a wider metal collar.) I put one in my PT2, and the other two in my 2 Aro pyrex tanks. All three devices vape divine again! I'm so happy to not have to be dripping all the time.

Also, because I screwed a couple coils up and had to re-do them, I removed the silicone grommet and re-used it and it was not only just a little easier to work in the second time, but taking it in and out didn't seem to cause any wear and tear on it. I thought because it was suppler it might tear taking it in and out, but from what I can tell at this early stage, it looks like they will be pretty tough and good for multiple builds.

Disclaimer: This worked for me but this is just my experience. If your problem is burning silica or burnt juice, this mod won't make a diff. As always YMMV.

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Tube next to post and stock grommet.

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I wind the neg leg excess around the nail end to keep it taught when inserting the grommet and pin.

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Insert pin at this point as the grommet won't go in further and this is all you need.

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Good idea to gingerly pull each leg here to make sure the end wraps are still taught.

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End result.

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