Atmizoo Tripod RTA

[AngeNZ]

My 2 Ulton Tripods came in a day ago and everything looks well engineered with one serious issue. I can't for the life of me turn the chimney to align the arrows so that I can remove the chimney on either one. As most of you know, this isn't my first rodeo with atomizers. Over the last 10 years I've bought and used just about every MTL rta I thought might be my style and was able to get the vape I wanted out of most of them.

I know that you have to align the arrows to remove the chimney. On both of mine the chimneys refuse to move at all. I haven't been able to budge the arrows even a little bit. I've tried rubber bands wrapped around the chimney and the base. I tried a pair of gloves that have that sticky rubber coating on the fingers. My last resort would be pliers, but I don't want to scratch them.

In all the videos I've watched these parts move easily and the arrows are aligned without force. Coming from a long and highly technical career I'm well qualified to tear electronic and electro-mechanical devices apart and put them back together with ease, but this thing is kicking my ..... I'm sure someone will post a simple fix for for my problem.

@ShowMeTwice may have some ideas.

I'd take the top cap off, unscrew the fill port, and run some warm water through the tank to see if that will loosen it up a bit. But really, I have no idea why it would do that

 

[DaveP]

@ShowMeTwice may have some ideas.

I'd take the top cap off, unscrew the fill port, and run some warm water through the tank to see if that will loosen it up a bit. But really, I have no idea why it would do that

Thanks, AngeNZ I'll try that. I usually drop new atomizers in an alcohol bath to remove oil, but this one was squeaky clean, maybe so clean that the parts don't move easily. I've seen recommendations to drop it in warm water for a few minutes and try again. Once I get it loosened up and filled with juice the PG and VG will lubricate it.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Thanks, AngeNZ I'll try that. I usually drop new atomizers in an alcohol bath to remove oil, but this one was squeaky clean, maybe so clean that the parts don't move easily. I've seen recommendations to drop it in warm water for a few minutes and try again. Once I get it loosened up and filled with juice the PG and VG will lubricate it.

Dave, if Ange's suggestion with warm water doesn't work try popping it in the freezer for 30-40 minutes. And maybe even longer like 60 minutes or more. The stainless steel will contract.

I used to do that with KFL's when I screwed the deck on beyond the recommended finger tight. It always worked.

I was searching for what I thought was a similar problem as yours that NolaMel had in the Shiny thread but that turned out to be her base not going on smoothly. Lubing her deck o-rings fixed that.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

My last resort would be pliers, but I don't want to scratch them.

If you have to resort to using pliers take a couple of those real thick rubber bands like the ones that come with broccoli and wrap them around the SS first. Or some other thicker rubber material. Then use the pliers. You won't scratch them that way. I've done that with SS drip tips that I couldn't get off RBA's. It works.

 

[Mordacai]

@DaveP, definitely sound as those o rings are bound tight.

I think that you may have some luck if you put the bases through kind of a freeze thaw cycle a couple of times or so.

Just the base and Bell, without the top cap assembly and glass.

 

[Katya]

I agree with the above suggestions--and now I have to check my Tripod that's still in the box.

 

[Lalli]

If you have to resort to using pliers take a couple of those real thick rubber bands like the ones that come with broccoli and wrap them around the SS first. Or some other thicker rubber material. Then use the pliers. You won't scratch them that way. I've done that with SS drip tips that I couldn't get off RBA's. It works.

That will work. When mine was new it was super tight to turn, had to put smaller o- rings to get it work as should.

 

[DaveP]

If you have to resort to using pliers take a couple of those real thick rubber bands like the ones that come with broccoli and wrap them around the SS first. Or some other thicker rubber material. Then use the pliers. You won't scratch them that way. I've done that with SS drip tips that I couldn't get off RBA's. It works.

Tried that with rubber bands about 5mm wide and it wouldn't budge. I soaked one of the two in soapy water overnight. Both are unusually tight. The parameters on these things are snug. Video tutorials show a demonstration of rotation with fingertips. Go figure. Once I get some coffee in me I'll get it out of the soapy water and try again. Somewhere around here I have some of those waffle pot holders that I've used in the past for things like this.

Thanks all, for all the recommendations.

 

[DaveP]

I agree with the above suggestions--and now I have to check my Tripod that's still in the box.

Both of mine are frozen beyond separation right out of the box. Soapy water overnight did nothing. I'll try the freezer trick next. Rubber bands just slip even with extreme hand pressure on both parts.

 

[Zazie]

Try wrapping electrical tape around the jaws of your pliers. It'll protect the atty and won't slip.

 

[DaveP]

Update ...

Soaking in soapy water all night didn't work. I tried wrapping thick, wide rubber bands around the atty while using pliers to work the parts back and forth. There was no movement and I put a small scratch on the finish where some slippage occured. Maybe I'll try the refrigerator trick. I'm not expecting much because both parts are SS and will probably contract at the same rate.

There's probably no gain in RMA'ing these atomizers. By the time I pay for shipping to China the return will be partially negated. These came from 2Fdeal.

If this is typical, I don't want replacements because both of my brand new Ulton Tripods are bound tight, as if they were press fit together. I've never had an atty I couldn't take apart with my bare hands.

ETA: the chimney assembly is at zero Fahrenheit as we speak. I'll let it ride overnight and try again in the AM.

 

[DaveP]

Try wrapping electrical tape around the jaws of your pliers. It'll protect the atty and won't slip.

Once they come out of the freezer, I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[Superuser187]

Ahhh u shouldn't try with pliers but ok I guess u are getting sick of it and try whatever u can....we all being there....I would try the freeze method for sure probably will work but u have to try open it fast ofc after u take it out the freezer.....from what u say since it's brand new and the amount of force it needs yes as u say seems like a manufacturing problem I guess....try wd40 maybe? Rip o rings tho but if it it's any oil stuck it will penetrate it hope u fix it soon

 

[Aerodan]

Same here. Had to stop using my authentic one, as the top cap is next to impossible to line up/remove. It’s just too tight... manufacturing issue for sure.

 

[Zazie]

I wonder if letting it soak in a VG bath for a while would help.

 

[Aerodan]

After some fiddling, I think the issue is with the combination of rubber washer that’s at the top of the cap, combined with the custom drip tip. Images attached. Removing the custoM three-piece drip tip makes the cap much easier to take off.

Final Solution: use the washer, but remove the custom two piece screw-in drip tip and replace with standard 510. Solved my issues.

Mega-McGyver solution to keep the original drip tip. Not for the faint hearted. Use a dremel tool and an exacto blade as a “lathe” to remove material from the ledge of the drip tip sleeve. Be very careful, easy to remove too much or hurt yourself. However, works great.

AD

 

[vaper1960]

I'm not familiar with that tank but I have had a similar situation with one of my tanks (Nautilus X... drop-in coils) Have several and they work fine, but one has defective glass (uneven so won't seal on the top cap) Anyway, I have an extra glass so tried to remove the original glass. Rubber gloves, pliers with rubber, hot water, freezer... that damned o-ring wont let loose! I gave up because I have several. Sorry that doesn't help you but sometimes it's just not doable.

 

[Katya]

ETA: the chimney assembly is at zero Fahrenheit as we speak. I'll let it ride overnight and try again in the AM.

So sorry, Dave. I don't think that having it overnight in the freezer is necessary. An hour or so should do it--or not. But I wish you good luck. I find it very strange that both atties are stuck like that. Ulton clones are supposed to be good. You should contact customer service and explain your situation. I don't know how much you paid, but if it's close to 50 bucks, I would ask for a replacement. They may ask for a video. Some Chinese vendors (like FT) ask you to ship a defective item to an US address and if they determine that it really is defective, they will replace it and even reimburse you for the return shipping costs.

I checked my no-name clone from FT that @AngeNZ recommended and it took me a while to get that chimney to spin, but it finally budged. But it was very hard--I had to remove the glass tank and grab the chimney itself to force it to move. But once I managed to align the arrows, the deck popped right out without any additional force.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Same here. Had to stop using my authentic one, as the top cap is next to impossible to line up/remove. It’s just too tight... manufacturing issue for sure.

I know of Zero manufacturing or design issues with the Atmizoo Tripod. I cannot speak for the clones.

I own 2 authentic Tripod's and have had Zero issues. Both were purchased direct. My first is from batch I, which was the initial Tripod release (June 2019). I've had no issues with removing, or rotating, the top cap.

Atmizoo announced batch II of the Tripod on 31 July 2019. "Batch II will be released coming mid-week, starting on Tuesday Aug 6th for our Facebook group members and VIP customers exclusively and then publicly from Wednesday Aug 7th 2019 and on."

Here are a portion of the release notes for batch II:

Batch II does not have significant changes from batch I, mostly to ensure smooth collaboration with replacement parts in the future. Small details to be noted:
- The Top Cap is made only a tad bit stiffer in rotation, to avoid accidental easy twist when device is in a bag / pocket. Difference in feel is minor.

I also own a batch II Tripod and again have had Zero issues with removing, or rotating, the top cap.

Batch IV Tripod's were released 25 Nov 2019
Batch V were released 21 July 2020

There have been no design changes since batch II.

After some fiddling, I think the issue is with the combination of rubber washer that’s at the top of the cap, combined with the custom drip tip. Images attached. Removing the custoM three-piece drip tip makes the cap much easier to take off.

The washer you refer to inside the Top Cap is there to prevent juice from seeping out of the tank section (tight seal). That washer automatically gets lubed up from the juice inside the tank. If anything it makes top cap rotation easier. See below...

For the top cap to rotate freely VG should be applied to the o-ring as noted above.

2 piece drip tip: The bottom piece of the 2 piece drip tip, which sits inside the top cap, has never been tight fitting inside the tank section. It was not designed by Atmizoo to be. With that in mind it has zero effect on how tight fitting the top cap is. The o-ring on the tank section, where the top cap fits, will make rotating the top cap difficult IF not properly lubed up.

Your issue with the top cap is very likely from not lubricating that o-ring.

The DT can be removed if one desires to use a standard 510 drip tip. The o-rings on a regular 510 DT provide a tight fit in the tank section (not the top cap).

Mega-McGyver solution to keep the original drip tip. Not for the faint hearted. Use a dremel tool and an exacto blade as a “lathe” to remove material from the ledge of the drip tip sleeve. Be very careful, easy to remove too much or hurt yourself. However, works great.

Completely unnecessary! The lower DT piece does not interfere with removal, or rotation, of the top cap. In fact it rotates freely inside the tank section when rotating top cap. Remove it and place it inside the 510 of tank section and you will see for yourself.

The lip you used a dremel tool on is supposed to be there. Proper installation has it fitting under the washer when screwed to the DT top piece. See diagram (from page 1) and above photo.

You should have received a very thorough Tripod manual with yours. That parts diagram is on page 3.

If I were you I would contact Taz at Atmizoo to discuss any issues you have. Having spoken with him on multiple occasions he is a super nice guy. I know he would want to hear from you directly.

I am a member of the Atmizoo private FB group. There are hundreds of Tripod owners who participate in the group. Every single issue that has been brought up has been traced to user error and/or a user requiring some education.

Prior to release the Tripod was tested extensively by many folks.

Atmizoo did a fantastic job designing and manufacturing an excellent RTA. BTW I own other Atmizoo products. They've been around a long time and have a great reputation within the industry. Their products are high-end and top notch.

Good luck

 

[DaveP]

So sorry, Dave. I don't think that having it overnight in the freezer is necessary. An hour or so should do it--or not. But I wish you good luck. I find it very strange that both atties are stuck like that. Ulton clones are supposed to be good. You should contact customer service and explain your situation. I don't know how much you paid, but if it's close to 50 bucks, I would ask for a replacement. They may ask for a video. Some Chinese vendors (like FT) ask you to ship a defective item to an US address and if they determine that it really is defective, they will replace it and even reimburse you for the return shipping costs.

I checked my no-name clone from FT that @AngeNZ recommended and it took me a while to get that chimney to spin, but it finally budged. But it was very hard--I had to remove the glass tank and grab the chimney itself to force it to move. But once I managed to align the arrows, the deck popped right out without any additional force.

No luck with my Ulton Tripods. Both chimneys are impossible to turn or remove. It's like they are super glued.

I just poured some PG into a cup and dropped the deck from one into it. PG is thinner and might penetrate better than VG. After sitting all night maybe it will soak into the o-ring and come off in the morning.

I'm thinking that the factory assembly line is supposed to wet the o-rings with PG or VG during their process and someone cut corners and pushed them together dry. Maybe mine were assembled as the break horn sounded.