Help with leaking tfv4 mini rba

[GemInEye]

I love the flavor of the rba in this tank but the constant leaking it working my nerves. I am not that great at wicking so im going to venture and say its my skills. I can wick a rda with no issues but this thing leaks even when its closed up all the way. Its not pouring out unless i tip it towards me or in one direction. I have watched videos on wicking and i am doing it by pulling both ends up through the cap of the rba then cutting it flush and lightly pushing them down. I have tried to wick this so many times and i cant get it right. If i add more cotton then ive got crazy dry hits where i have to take several primer puffs before firing ..im a chain vaper so i forget and well it seems like every puff is a dry hit. Or i re wick it and the taste is great but the constant leak... Can anyone help me with the science of wicking this properly? A measurement for the width of cotton i should use might help?? Im using the Japanese organic cotton squares and i peel the top and bottom layers off. Help? Anyone?

 

[Adan]

Do you have the dual coil rba?
It looks like the air holes are close to or level with the juice channels on the dual coil rba.
This might make the wicking more critical than with the single coil deck that has the air hole under the coil raised off the bottom of the deck.
This is because the juice is more likely to leak through the air hole if the cotton does not sufficiently contact the bottom of the deck.
The cotton also needs to cover the area over the juice channels loose enough as not to choke off the juice flow.
Wicking extending over the air hole can contribute to juice leaking through the air hole.
Wider contact coils that extend past the air flow holes may help keep the cotton over the channels.
And keeping the coils close to the deck without restricting air flow.
It looks like the tf-rca rba has the center raised off the deck like the rba's I have now. Thats what I am looking at, easy to build those. I'm just waiting to get a tfv4 on trade.

 

[Daddy]

I personally wasn't a fan of the TFV4 RBA's. I have the single, dual and Clapton. Anything over 70 watts or so I was getting constant dry hits, but I had no leaking issues.

Where is the leaking coming from? Are you sure everything is tightened correctly?

The one thing I have learned with most RBA and RTA is that less wick is most often better. Try trimming the ends of your wick on a V pattern and place just enough with to touch the juice well. To much wick can lead to not only dry hits but also poor seals if you get cotton in the threads.

 

[syco26]

As both above responses have suggested you need to ensure the wick doesn't go into the juice well. You also don't want your cotton too tight in there.

I have been using UD cotton squares. I remove the other formed skin of the cotton so it is a little thinner. I cut the cotton so it is about 5mm wide. I pull the cotton though ensuring there is a little resistance on the coil but not too much. I cut my coil so that it sits no lower than the juice well and cut the edges to form a slight V. I then use a juice bottle with a dropper tip to wet the cotton and lay it in place being extra careful not to get any wick in the well and I splay it from post to post. I then throw the rba in the base and put it on my mod. Put a drop on the centre of the coils and give a quick fire or two, drip again then fire, and repeat this 3 or 4 times.

I find when filling that if you use a dropper style lid I always get a little leakage. If I use the dropper style bottle I get very little to no leakage. As soon as I fill it, always staying below the top section, I close the lid then turn it upside down for a minute. Open the air holes while upside down then you are good to go.

I can get a photo of my wick if needed.

A little tedious I know but it has taken me from hating my TFV4 and always having a mess to absolutely loving it.

Hope it helps.

 

[syco26]

Also just thought check the bottom of the RBA to ensure the rubber o'ring is on the thread. Mine vanished once and leaked like a sieve.

 

[GemInEye]

Thank you so much for your replies. I have the single coil rba that came with a pre installed Clapton.

I replaced the orings just incase. I re wicked it several times finally this last time is easy better. It's leaking a tiny bit now but way better.

I had no idea that the wick wasn't supposed to go into the little chanel on the side. After reading this i didnt push my wick down like i was after putting the cap on. And i puffed my cotton up some. Also taking a puff after without firing seems to help with the little bit that does want to leak out. This really is a finicky tank!

I have one more question. The Clapton wire that came with this, i have no idea what gage it is. What i do know is that with 3 wraps in it puts me at. 55 ohms. I'd like to be at. 85 or higher. I am trying to buy pre-built off ebay but i am unsure what gages to buy. I think i need a gage that will allow me than 2 or 3 wraps. Can you recommend the gages for this rba that will fit with more than 2 or 3 wraps but won't be too long for the rba and let me be at. 85 or. 9 with adequate surface area?



Tapayappin

 

[syco26]

I am no expert by any means on claptons or wire size but if I was to have a guess I would say it was 28 or maybe 30 gauge with a 32 or 34 Clapton, could be finer. Pretty sure if you put a 5 or 6 wrap in there you may get the desired ohms. Sure there is someone here with a great deal more knowledge than I have that could give some guidance.

If you check the below thread it has a little on it about larger builds and striping the Clapton back to fit the holes. However I believe if you use a larger gauge Clapton it would lower your ohms.

Clapton Wire for TFV4 Single Coil RBA possible or impossible? Thoughts anyone?

I'm currently using a twisted coil of 28 gauge at the moment. Can't remember how many wraps but it is coming in at .29 ohms. Have it on a Joyetech eVic VT only at 25.9w and 2.74 and the vapour and flavour is great with the juice I am using.

Hope it helps.