Echo-E problem: Stiff Draw

[billherbst]

While I'm thrilled with 1.5 ohm dual-coil cartos on my VV boxes set in the 4.0-4.8 volt range, I do read the threads about various other vaping innovations/technologies. I've dripped and bottom-fed and carto'd with the best of them. I know the pros and cons of each method. I've also gone through and ditched tanks (don't get me started on CE2s, syringe mods, 510 tanks, etc.---nice pure flavor but so "smooth" as to lack any throat hit at all, wicking issues, and the kiss of death that too many of them leak like sieves). When dual coils showed up, I felt like I'd finally hit pay dirt. Then along came the iGo/Go-Go/Echo---large capacity, horizontal bottom coils, yadayada.

"OK," I said to myself, "let's see if the buzz is deserved or just more hype." So, I ordered three Echo-E cartos from cropduster901. When they arrived, I unwrapped one and filled it. Impressive capacity. 100 drops. Slapped it on an old but still good Riva true-3.7 volt battery I had lying around, took a hit, and to my surprise the draw was incredibly stiff. Yeah, I got some vapor and flavor, but the draw was so tight I had to suck really hard. I had read many, many comments about how the Echo had such an easy draw, with descriptions like "open and airy." Well, not mine. Some folks even wrote about taping over one or two of the four vent slots to tighten up the draw. Maybe I should send them the one I was holding!

I took the carto off the battery and gave it a draw. Some better, but still a lot tighter than I like. Took off the whistle tip. Same result. Stuck a needle into the filler all around the center tube, then twirled and pulled on the needle to loosen up the filler. Only very slight improvement. Opened a second carto, but didn't fill it. Same lousy tight draw. Tried the third one. Ditto. And just so you know, the eGo batt I'm using has no draw troubles with regular atties and cartos. Just these.

What gives? Are all three Echo-E cartos I got simply from a bad batch or what? If 100 people experience one thing and I experience the exact opposite, I don't assume that they're all crazy. (Some of them maybe, but not all...) But for the life of me, I can't figure out how to make these darned things draw properly.

By fiddling with the filler, I can get the draw to a barely acceptable easiness with the cartos not on the battery, but the first turn of threading the Echo-E onto the 510 connector, the draw shuts down. I even tried enlarging the slots in the tube with a dremel (by removing the steel ring and grinding larger slots in the tube, but I knew that wouldn't help, and---sure enough---it didn't.

I give up. Anyone have any clues as to what's wrong with this picture?

 

[billherbst]

Since no one replied, I guess I'll just retire these three Echo-E cartos to my big box of dud parts: used up/dead/didn't like/failed experiments. That box sits on top of a much bigger cabinet full of juices that I hated.

No problem, though. Failures and disappointments are an inevitable part of the grand panorama of the vaping experience. Happily, the pleasure and satisfaction far outweigh the hassle and expense. At least for me.

Back to the bliss of dual coils!

 

[txtumbleweed]

I guess no one responded because they haven't had the problem and didn't know how to help you. I've only used my echo-e cartos just to test them out on my Riva and ego batteries and they worked good. I use the standard Echo and haven't had that problem until they are ready to be cleaned. It is hard to believe you got three bad ones but that is the only thing I can see would cause that on a new carto. Did you just try them with the one battery? I tried mine on a Riva and eGo with no problems. I have read where some have had problems with the connection on certain ego clones but it wasn't a stiff draw they just didn't fire. I know how the failed experiments go and also have a box full of new cartos ect so I can empathize with you.

 

[Major]

As I'm sure you've seen, I'll reply to anything when I feel like I have something of value, even if I am the only one that thinks so!

I have a couple Echo cartos inbound but as of yet can give no direct feedback from personal knowledge. I would be willing to make a guess though that you are corect that you got 3 that were part of a slightly off standard batch. Just like the GO-GO's and Igo's, it seems that there have been very recent shipments of cartos for at least the Echo and GO-GO that were sub-par.

Wish I could tell you more but I don't know any more. Sorry.

 

[michaelcly]

Here's a plan...
I just got three two days ago. I only fired up one, but I put the others on just to see if they fit and draw the same. They do. How about if we swap one. We'll know for sure then. Mine has been opened but not used. Something's goofy cause mine are not tite at all. I'm using an eGo 650 mah battery.

I only paid for two but Cropduster901 sent three cause I had to wait (they were out of stock). Want to swap? We'll get down to the bottom of this.

PM me if you interested.

 

[billherbst]

Hey folks, I found the problem!

Turns out that I was a bit hasty when I wrote in my original post that all three of the echo-e cartos had a stiff draw. The two (unfilled) new ones are definitely a lighter draw when screwed onto my Riva battery.

Upon close inspection with a magnifying glass, I discovered that the plastic ring inside the 510 threaded connector tube (the inner tube, not the outer one) that insulates the positive center contact from the negative surrounding metal is BLACK on the filled carto, but TAN on the two unfilled ones. Ah ha! They're from different production runs! Then I further discovered that in the filled one, the two air holes on opposite sides just past the threads (standard in all 510 atties/cartos) were not completely drilled through. There were holes, but they were tiny. In other words, when that filled carto is screwed onto the battery connector, the air flow is seriously restricted! It's a manufacturing defect from that production run, which the other two don't suffer from.

Now I'm hot to fill one of the other two and see how the echo-e performs like when it's NOT a dud. LOL.

 

[Major]

Glad you figured that out and thanks for sharing. One of the "problems" if you can call it that, with the GO-GO is that Kanger, the maker, has 2 different physical facilities that make them. One facility either has newer machinery or more experienced staff as you can literally tell with the naked eye when a GO-GO came from the bettr or not so great facility.

I mean the battery threads that the cartos and separate thread the cone attaches to are rough and dinged up from one plant and smooth as a baby's behind on the other. There are other visual difference but you know what I mean.