Need help fixing KTS+ (AKA China GG)

[chabos]

Hey everyone, sorry if this isn't the best place to post this, it seemed like a better choice than the modding forum though. Anyway, I recently bought a KTS+. It worked great for a little while, then suddenly something started shorting and the firing button started to get really hot after no more than a couple of seconds of pushing it. I took it apart and noticed that there appeared to be some kind of flat disc on top of negative contact post, and that it was lopsided. I also noticed solder all over the bottom of the spring on the negative contact pin/post, and that the solder was running down the sides of the post. I figured that this might be the source of the problem, so I tried to remove some of the solder. I didn't have a soldering iron on me at the time though, and somehow I decided it would be a good idea to try and torch the solder off. It wasn't. After a bit of torching, I heard a pop. The spring came off, and something fell out of the hollow inside of the post. It was badly charred from the torching, and unfortunately I dropped it and couldn't find it after. However, it looked like it might be some kind of insulated wire, since there appeared to be a bit of metal in the middle. I also never saw any trace of the disc I thought I saw before. Then the spring managed to get lost as well. So I have a few questions. First, was the solder running down the sides in fact what was causing the short? It seems to be a common problem with this mod, there are already two threads on it, but sadly no definitive answer. Noalax and sanding is what was recommended by multiple people, which supposedly worked for some KTS+ owners, but for others it only worked temporarily or not at all. And second, if that was in fact the problem, what do I need to rebuild the negative contact post? The spring should be available at the local hardware shop, failing that fasttech has a spring that appears to be the right size. The parts I'm unsure about are the charred bit and possibly the disc, assuming the disc existed in the first place and wasn't just some weird shape formed by the solder. And lastly, how do I re solder it correctly to avoid shorting, if that was in fact the cause of the problem? I'm going to go upload a picture of what's left of the negative post now in case that helps. Thanks in advance for any help with this problem.

 

[crxess]

Well, you probably did more damage than good. You attacked a problem with no knowledge of function.

The Post is the Negative Rest point for the Battery. The spring for varying battery lengths. The solder to hold the post and spring together.(like glue)
The Post sits in an insulator to Break ground from the body. If any of this assembly was shorting your Mod Base would superheat and Battery damage would occur.

Heat in a Switch says - SWITCH ISSUE

First - the wire you saw was likely a glass wick to keep solder from reaching the base of the tube and shorting the post to the Base of the end cap.
Now you need a multimeter to verify the post is not shorting from heat damage to the Delron insulator.
If all is okay, a new spring and QUICK solder may save the post assembly

If this repair goes well, you will then need to disassemble your SWITCH, Clean and scuff all contact areas to get decent conductivity back.

Assuming you can perform this correctly, your mod may function as new again.

 

[Richard75]

Hey everyone, sorry if this isn't the best place to post this, it seemed like a better choice than the modding forum though. Anyway, I recently bought a KTS+. It worked great for a little while, then suddenly something started shorting and the firing button started to get really hot after no more than a couple of seconds of pushing it. I took it apart and noticed that there appeared to be some kind of flat disc on top of negative contact post, and that it was lopsided. I also noticed solder all over the bottom of the spring on the negative contact pin/post, and that the solder was running down the sides of the post. I figured that this might be the source of the problem, so I tried to remove some of the solder. I didn't have a soldering iron on me at the time though, and somehow I decided it would be a good idea to try and torch the solder off. It wasn't. After a bit of torching, I heard a pop. The spring came off, and something fell out of the hollow inside of the post. It was badly charred from the torching, and unfortunately I dropped it and couldn't find it after. However, it looked like it might be some kind of insulated wire, since there appeared to be a bit of metal in the middle. I also never saw any trace of the disc I thought I saw before. Then the spring managed to get lost as well. So I have a few questions. First, was the solder running down the sides in fact what was causing the short? It seems to be a common problem with this mod, there are already two threads on it, but sadly no definitive answer. Noalax and sanding is what was recommended by multiple people, which supposedly worked for some KTS+ owners, but for others it only worked temporarily or not at all. And second, if that was in fact the problem, what do I need to rebuild the negative contact post? The spring should be available at the local hardware shop, failing that FastTech has a spring that appears to be the right size. The parts I'm unsure about are the charred bit and possibly the disc, assuming the disc existed in the first place and wasn't just some weird shape formed by the solder. And lastly, how do I re solder it correctly to avoid shorting, if that was in fact the cause of the problem? I'm going to go upload a picture of what's left of the negative post now in case that helps. Thanks in advance for any help with this problem.

Personally, I would just call it a loss. You don't want to mess around with potentially shorting a battery. If you can fix it, great! But if you're even a little bit unsure, don't try. KTS's are cheap enough; 30 bucks or less isn't worth risking your face.

In the future, a warm/hot button normally means the contacts need to be cleaned. When I had my EA Mod (a similar side button mod), the same thing would happen, especially when using a mesh rebuildable. I would polish all contact points, and it would be good to go. Until the next cleaning, of course.

 

[CloudZ]

If you got it from fasttech, they will send you a base piece for free. Otherwise, it is possible to find this part for sale. I think Hoosier vapes sells it, not entirely sure though. It may be worthwhile to just buy a new mod though, I have a kts+ and don't like it much. Just feels cheap and seems to need very frequent cleaning, also the positive pin is a joke.