Cartomizers don't fit my Buzz

[WaywardMage]

I was sure I saw a thread about this somewhere in here, but after multiple searches I couldn't find it, so here's a new thread.

Most of the 510 cartomizers I buy won't properly fit my (510) Buzz. Some of them I have to press on and kind of "lean" them into the threads in order to make contact. Some of them won't fit at all and just wobble around in there making no contact no matter what I do. Some of them will screw down until they hit some kind of threshold and pop out of the threads and I have to screw them down again.

All of these cartomizers fit perfectly fine in my eGo. The only ones I can find that fit the Buzz properly are the Ikenvapes, and I can tighten them down just fine.

I vaguely recall reading a thread about how the buzz is drilled in such a way as to accomodate several varieties of atty/cartomizer/etc. (that's the thread I was searching for).

Is there something wrong with my Buzz or do I just need to quit shopping anywhere else but Ikenvape?

 

[5cardstud]

Just use Ikenvape cartos, they're better anyway. JK It's the screw in the center. It sits a little too high. He used Chinese connectors on the Buzz and has since designed new ones for the pro. I just use an adapter but I did file the head down on the center screw a little.

 

[WaywardMage]

Just use Ikenvape cartos, they're better anyway. JK It's the screw in the center. It sits a little too high. He used Chinese connectors on the Buzz and has since designed new ones for the pro. I just use an adapter but I did file my screw down a little.

Thanks for the Info!

How would I go about finding (or making) a 510-to-510 adapter? I didn't see anything similar on the NotCig website. Madvapes has a 510 Battery Extension but I still have the same problem if the extension doesn't fit properly.

I don't have a problem filing down the screw, I'd just rather take the less intrusive approach if I can.

 

[5cardstud]

Before you do all of that you might be able to get a new style 510 cap . I didn't know you were talking about 510. No matter what you do some cartos just don't work on some PVs. I've read this same problem on many different PV vendors and makers. The carto industry doesn't have a set size and are all over the place and especially the 510.

I don't know if it's proper to send you to other forums but you should read this thread. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ikenvape/200497-not-all-units-created-equal.html

 

[WaywardMage]

Before you do all of that you might be able to get a new style 510 cap . I didn't know you were talking about 510.

That sounds more like the path I'd rather take.

No matter what you do some cartos just don't work on some PVs. I've read this same problem on many different PV vendors and makers. The carto industry doesn't have a set size and are all over the place and especially the 510.

I kinda thought that as well, but I haven't found anything yet that doesn't fit my eGo perfectly.

Thanks for the info. Now I have to decide if I'll order the new top cap or save that money for my Buzz Pro.

 

[BuzzKill]

The 510 threads are VERY fine and are prone to stripping over time , this may be the case ?? a replacement top cap is only $14.95

 

[WaywardMage]

The 510 threads are VERY fine and are prone to stripping over time , this may be the case ?? a replacement top cap is only $14.95

Hey, BuzzKill, thanks for weighing in!

If the 510 threads are prone to stripping over time, that could get pretty costly over the lifetime of the device.

Here's a thought. How about if I get a top cap for something else (901, 808, etc.) and then get an adapter for the 510. That way when I strip it out again, I'll just be paying the $3.95 for the adapter. If I were to go that route (first off, do you think that's a viable plan?) which of the top caps would you suggest as being the least likely to strip out?

 

[BuzzKill]

Hey, BuzzKill, thanks for weighing in!

If the 510 threads are prone to stripping over time, that could get pretty costly over the lifetime of the device.

Here's a thought. How about if I get a top cap for something else (901, 808, etc.) and then get an adapter for the 510. That way when I strip it out again, I'll just be paying the $3.95 for the adapter. If I were to go that route (first off, do you think that's a viable plan?) which of the top caps would you suggest as being the least likely to strip out?

Thats totally viable , I use a 901 -510 adapter all the time , how old is this unit ?? did you buy it used or ? we have had very few strip out to date ! ( usually because of cross threading )

 

[WaywardMage]

Thats totally viable , I use a 901 -510 adapter all the time , how old is this unit ?? did you buy it used or ? we have had very few strip out to date ! ( usually because of cross threading )

I'll probably go that route next payday then. I got it directly from NotCig, and according to my order history, I ordered it on March 18th, 2011.

 

[TJVapes]

Have you tried making sure that the screw on the bottom of the top cap is tight enough? I have the same problems with cartos and have to screw that screw in when they won't hit. I have trouble with the gold IKV cause they grab the screw so that when I take the carto off it takes the screw with it.

 

[jdubious]

Sounds like the threads in the top cap are bunged up a little. It might not be at all your fault as a carto with a bad thread can do this. I wonder if those new chrome plated ones might be a little more resistant to wear and tear.

 

[WaywardMage]

Have you tried making sure that the screw on the bottom of the top cap is tight enough? I have the same problems with cartos and have to screw that screw in when they won't hit. I have trouble with the gold IKV cause they grab the screw so that when I take the carto off it takes the screw with it.

I checked that, and the screw was indeed a little loose. However, it apparently wasn't loose enough to be the problem as tightening the screw didn't fix it.

Sounds like the threads in the top cap are bunged up a little. It might not be at all your fault as a carto with a bad thread can do this.

I'm thinking this is more than likely the case. Above, BuzzKill mentioned that the 510 threads are "VERY fine" so I'm going to try replacing my 510 cap with a 901 cap and a 510 adapter.

 

[WaywardMage]

Above, BuzzKill mentioned that the 510 threads are "VERY fine" so I'm going to try replacing my 510 cap with a 901 cap and a 510 adapter.

I thought I'd follow up just to get some closure on this thread in case anyone is following it or ends up here from a google search.

I did as I said, and ordered a 901 top cap with a 510 adapter and they arrived in the mail yesterday. So far I'm very pleased with this setup. The 901 threads appear much coarser which is nice since it's less likely to strip out. It's also a male connection rather than female like the 510. In addition, the adapter screws down flush with the top cap leaving no room to wiggle. The 510 adapter does indeed fit all of those cartomizers that wouldn't fit in my 510 top cap anymore. The whole assembly is maybe 1/4" longer than the 510 top cap, not enough that I even notice.

All-in-all, I'm very pleased with this setup. I was concerned there might be air-flow issues as there are with adapters sometimes, but I get the same vape I had before, and now I have the security of knowing that if I happen to drop my Buzz and it screws up the 510 threads, I can just toss the adapter and screw on a new one.

On an unrelated note, I place my order on Monday afternoon and it arrived Wednesday afternoon. That's a two day turnaround from California to Kentucky. Crazy fast.

 

[TJVapes]

I know! I love the shipping time from Notcigs to KY.. We have a direct line.. quicker than even neighboring states!! Glad you got it figured out. I got my Buzz pro and original Buzz back on the 25th (shipped the 22nd over a weekend),and I'm using adapters now all the time too but going 510-510 cause I kept accidentally unscrewing my top cap and breaking the wire.... I typically over tighten everything.

 

[BuzzKill]

Glad to hear you got it worked out guys !

 

[WaywardMage]

Have you tried making sure that the screw on the bottom of the top cap is tight enough? I have the same problems with cartos and have to screw that screw in when they won't hit. I have trouble with the gold IKV cause they grab the screw so that when I take the carto off it takes the screw with it.

Holy crap...you're absolutely right about that. I didn't understand what you were saying when I read this before, but now I totally understand. I put a new IkenVape Gold cartomizer on my Buzz and vaped it for several days and then I tried to remove it. It totally gutted the cartomizer. I thought it was unscrewing normally but then I had wires hanging out and all sorts of embarrassing things.

Fortunately I don't typically hot-swap carto's, I just take them off when they quit working so it wasn't a big deal for me, but I can see where it would be a problem if you swap flavors often.

Let me try and explain this more thoroughly for anyone who's reading this.

The IkenVape cartomizer, like any other cartomizer connects to the batteries at two points: the bottom of the cartomizer [1], and the threads [2]. Normally, a cartomizer simply sits upon [1], but the adapter has [1] as a round protuberance instead of a plate. When I unscrewed the cartomizer from the adapter, it was stuck at [1] so when I unscrewed it, it stayed stuck at [1] and I pulled the guts of my cartomizer out. (this would look a lot better with pictures, but alas, I didn't take any, I was at work and I just did what I could to fix it).

This could happen with any cartomizer, but I guess the IkenVape cartomizer is machined with exactly the tolerance it needs to get stuck (which is to say, the IkenVape carto is the only one I've had get stuck). After that one problem, I stopped screwing them down quite so tight and the problem seems to have gone away.

For what it's worth, I still love the IkenVape Gold cartomizers. This is in no way meant to disrespect them. They are the best carto's I've found for the Buzz (my opinion, of course). I'm not attacking anyone, just explaining what happened.

Hopefully that's enough explanation and disclaimer for anyone.

 

[BuzzKill]

Good info Wayward ! thanks