Clearomizer stopped working

[lemonshrew]

I know there is a lot of information on this forum about the clearomizers, but I'm having trouble finding answers to my problem. I got in my first clearomizers, opened one and just filled it about a third full. I wanted to make sure I was doing it right. Vaped for a while, LOVED it! So much vapor and taste!

So I filled one of them "most of the way" up. It worked great for maybe an hour, then just quit. No vapor, no taste, nothing. I noticed that juice had "seeped" up over the white ring (the uppermost ring with the flat side down that is directly below the mouthpiece). So I used the syringe and plastic needle and "sucked" the excess juice that was pooling up there. It started working again. For about 10 minutes. Then quit again. Am I just overfilling, or is there a trick to this?

I also filled another one "most of the way" (with french toast) for my husband. Same thing happened.

BTW I hate the plastic needle. I tried a "diabetic" needle (don't ask me the gauge, I have no idea, but it's tiny), but the juice just wouldn't go up through the needle (I was using Coco Chaos, my favorite, but it is pretty thick), so I had to use the plastic one that came with the clearomizers. I've only used it twice and it's already looking like it's gonna snap. But the holes in the clearomizers are so small I can't imagine getting a bigger needle through them. Anybody use the pipette?

I really love the thick vapor and great taste of the clearomizers, and I would love to continue using them. My husband, who still uses analogs, said that he might just be able to quit them using these clearomizers. They are much more satisfying than the regular carto's we've been using.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[John R. L.]

I use a 18 gage and get in those little holes or take the rubber rings out and drip in ( on a angle ) plus the 18 gage will suck up the thick liquid, and I only fill my clearomizers about 3/4 full and the work great, good luck !

 

[dormouse]

You can use a thicker blunt needle instead of the plastic needle. I do not know what gauge you need for thick juices. I think 16 gauge?

 

[zotzer]

20 guage works, but 18 would be better. Not sure why yours are flooding/leaking...have never had that problem with mine, and I even loosen up the inner silicone ring above the wicks.

 

[otrpu]

Several stores sell Carto refill kits, usually has a 15 mL plastic bottle with Luer Lok blunt insertion tip that will work for refilling the E2 Cartomizers. $3 or $4 bucks plus shipping. I needed the Luer Lok, otherwise the tip just blow off with heavy VG. JMHO

Cheers,
otrpu

 

[zoiDman]

Something I found that helps with leaking is to soak the seals that come with a new E2 in VG overnight. They swell slightly and make a tighter seal to the tube and the cup.

 

[Stosh]

I've been using a 50/50 juice mix, fairlly thick without issues. You didn't mention what type of PV / battery you're hooking up, the clearo's onto, or the ohm ratting.
Do you hear any sizzle when you hit the button? What voltage are you vaping?

 

[Nomoreash]

If you want to use a higher ga needle that won't suck up the juice just pull the plunger out and drip liquid directly into the syringe then insert the plunger and fill. It's a lot easier pushing the liquid out through a small needle than it is trying to suck it up in the syringe. Just be sure you have the needle attached securely and take it slow because it can take some pressure.

The best way Ive found is to remove the filler ring, lots of videos on YouTube on this but it's easy, a paper clip with a bent end works great. Before you re insert the filler ring cut the wick notches a little wider and higher, kinda like a upside down V shaped. This helps make sure the wick doesn't get pinched. Also when reinserting the filler ring you don't need to push it all the way back down on the cup. Just makes sure the modified notches are lined up with the wick and the filler ring is down far enough it's makes a complete secure seal around the ceramic cup.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Welcome, I too thought I had killed a clearomizer. Hold a tissue at the battery end and blow the excess juice through it, or take it totally apart and clean in hot water. Both methods should clear it up. Flooding will kill it, but the last method may revive it.
Good luck

sas
Also I use 50/50 pg/vg with a 20 gauge needle. Thicker ejuice--just push plunger slower so it doesn't pop off the needle.

 

[lemonshrew]

Thanks so much for your responses.
@Sugar and Spice: I've tried the blowing thing, but it only seems to work for 15 minutes or so, then it's right back to it. I haven't had time to soak it yet but I will definitely try it. Thanks!
@Stosh: I'm using KR808-D1 batteries 3.6 - 4.2 volts. I use a 50/50 mix juice as well.

 

[Stosh]

Hmmm, does the same battery work if you just switch the carto out?
If you put the carto on a different battery does it work?
Can you check the offending carto with a meter for ohms?
If you don't have a meter (for shame! ) can you put the carto up to your ear,
press the button, and hear a little bit of sizziling?

 

[JD1]

Lots of good advice in the thread and hopefully you'll find something that works for you. I'll offer the solution I use.
I pull both plugs and toss them in a box, then fill by dripping down the side at an angle, and vape straight from the tube, using the button as a heat controller. This won't suit everyone but the main thing being to experiment and see what works for you.

 

[KeithB]

The cup shaped insert under the flat one may not be seated properly if you're getting flooding. It needs to go down over the sides of the ceramic cup with the coils, but not so far as to smash the wicks down.

 

[drewk302]

I am wondering what the ohm rating on your clearo's you are using and what voltage you are running them at????

 

[harmonic]

I had one that acted in a similar manor. After I gave up trying to vape on it I took it apart and there was a break in the coil. Sometimes it would touch and work for a while but as soon as I try to fill it it would quit. Poked around in there again and it worked some more. Since I doubt you can solder the coil wire in the middle it went in the junk pile lol.

 

[CBB]

To help prevent the coil from flooding from seeping through the fillers add the top ring from another cartomizer on top. That will raise the top surface high enough the mouthpiece will sit on top of them. You can push the mouthpiece in to make sure they are firmly seated on top of the cupped piece. The mouthpiece will be nearly fully inserted so it won't come out from the extra height.

 

[alexinovici]

My clearomizer worked for about 15 days, at full capacity After that, I've went back to my standard LR...greatest taste

 

[DMF]

I'm surprised no one suggested checking the bottom, where the tube of the clearo sits on the base. I get the feeling , if you examine it closely, you may see little stress fractures there. The biggest problem with those fractures isn't necessarily that liquid will be weeping there, though over time that will start to happen. The actual biggest problem with this is the vacuum that the liquid chamber used to have is lost , and it sucks liquid up into the wick and thus into the cup much more rapidly than is needed. Unfortunately, at that point the only thing you can do is what you have already done, sucking up the excess liquid, or blowing it out the bottom, or dabbing it with a tissue(which wastes so much liquid!). I never recommend filling all the way, usually 3/4. And once a week take it apart gently and rinse in warm water(do not touch the wick. It's like a lantern wick and will disintegrate . Blot with papertowel.) that does help for the life of the atty. If you vape darker liquids using clearos, you will notice the atty burnss hotter and you'll have more issues with lack of vapor. Clearos really don't like darker liquids for some reason. Half way down (half filled) is where you'll find your best vapor for dark liquids. But be prepared to have to clean the unit more often with darker liquids.