Had to order the special star screw driver though to pop the top off (no electrical connections to dis-entangle though which is great). Didn't quite have one small enough. 6 bucks later on Amazon, I have too many star screw drivers now ;-)
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My B&M had the right size torx bit to try and swap the tops from my stripped VTR to my new VTR. When I tried to pull the rawlered VTR ring top some circuit boards tried to come with it. Do you have pics from your removal? Maybe I missed a step in popping the top.
Im planning on getting a third VTR and leaving the ring alone and using the X.I Innokin bottom coils for my out of the house rig. Im liking the circumcised VTR as I will likely go with a IBTanked or kayfun at some point, plus its easier to thread the Octopus dripper without the ring.
ETA: The VTR with the kayfun is flat out sexy.