Precise ELA Telescoping Mod by Super-T!

[anavidfan]

Hmmmm, will change out the oring and see if that helps, didnt think of that Fingers crossed and hoping it will solve the problem...... Excited...... You know I love these ELAs. I dont give up, because of that. I mean, I could have been like many people that get a device and then something goes wrong or it doesnt behave etc. Put it in the classifieds and let the next person deal with it. It has crossed my mind in the last few weeks because of the misfires and all the fiddling, but you know me, I could never do that.

Plus, I just would not know what to get. I know there are many great devices out there, in fact if I had the money there is one I would get, but it still aesthetically make me "loose it" like ELA. It one of the few 24mm mods out there. I like my big fat Odys.

 

[wfo_ak]

I'll have to swap mine out too, suppose I'd probably act up too always being stuck on the negative end of things.

 

[Cucco]

I'll have to swap mine out too, suppose I'd probably act up too always being stuck on the negative end of things.

That was good!

 

[anavidfan]

I changed the o-rings and it seems to help, Im not going to get my hopes up too much. It seems when ever I find what I think is a fix, it doesnt last long. I can fire it with a lot less pressure, but it still slips after about 20 taps. I have to be so careful not to hold it above the locking ring or many times it will just slip off.

I do need some new springs, of the 3 I have only one doesnt crunch and grind when I press it. I hate the HD spring..... my finger strength is really bad,

 

[Draconian]

Still loving the ELA. Are they going to have more flat bottom caps available? I am a little tired of yelling...TIIIMMMMBEEERRRRR....

 

[Draconian]

I'm thinking the answer is likely the o-ring as was posted before. With my ELA - I notice that when I insert the battery "quickly" it isn't always centered and fully down - wiggle it a little and seat it and there is no trouble. I also found that turning the spring around decreased voltage drop - which makes absolutely no sense at all - but it is repeatable in testing. If the device misfires, I loosen the compression ring and give it a slight turn making sure it is fully in contact - then tighten (just snug). One consistent way that I find the device to "not hit" is when I don't hold it to where the button is going in FULLY - a little off makes a large difference.

I changed the o-rings and it seems to help, Im not going to get my hopes up too much. It seems when ever I find what I think is a fix, it doesnt last long. I can fire it with a lot less pressure, but it still slips after about 20 taps. I have to be so careful not to hold it above the locking ring or many times it will just slip off.

I do need some new springs, of the 3 I have only one doesnt crunch and grind when I press it. I hate the HD spring..... my finger strength is really bad,

 

[Nach]

Pris,

Have you yet tried to take a small dab of metal polish on a Q-tip and polished up the BATTERY contacts? I mean the ones + and - on the battery itself. I do this from time to time and it helps with misfires.

 

[digitals]

Misfires was one of the reasons I let go of the Satin ELA I had. Though I've acquired another. Hope you get it worked out. My current ELA fires like a champ everytime.

 

[HauntedMyst]

Get rid of the bottom o-ring. That's what I do to run some of my batteries and there is no difference in or out.

 

[forcedfuel50]

I thought it was batteries too, but Im doing that with all the batteries. It works great with batteries showing 4.2 and then it might go for while, but then it starts to misfire, I check the battery and it reads 3.9 when they start to misfire. Then I can place another battery in and still wont fire at all. I only have AW batteries. I am willing to try anything, and believe me, Ive torn my atomizers apart and rebuilt them over and over thinking it was them, finally brought out the Natural and Simplicity and atty works flawless and I get larger clouds even when batteries go down to 3.6 ish. 3.6 on ELA give me none or ego type clouds.

I just irks me that the Simplicity out performs the ELAs, Im stubborn and get quite resentful sometimes. I love the Simplicity, you all know how much I treasure it, but ELA ..... I mean if you compare 2 German cars, lets say Volkswagon Passat( Simplicity) to MB Gullwing (ELA) There should be a difference in performance for the price difference and engineering ?

Everything you describe is consistent with poor connection/ corrosion build up and the resulting sporadic and poor firing. Sometimes though things appear visually clean due to cleaning , they can still be microscopically corroded (and yes, even SS does corrode, albeit it a very slow rate compared to other metals).

I'm going to do up a detailed in depth video of how to thoroughly clean and refreshen ones ELA, just like we would do here at Super T. I think it will really help those out who are struggling.

I'll try to get that up early next week for everyone.

 

[tnt56]

Agreed! We have to share problems too! For example, I put an Black Jack firecracker into my ELA, set it in the sand and lit it off - no problems. The lock ring really held! With a quick rinse out, it worked just like new. The next week, I got drunk and dropped an M80 in there and lit it off - big problems! The compression ring didn't hold and the extension tube and my Kayfun flew into the lake. I'll gonna have to return it under a warranty issue. Technically its not really broken but with the top flying off, I can't use it for anything but a pen holder.

All I can say is. That must have been a heck of a party night.
M80 in a ELA. Would love to have seen the look on your face. Priceless!!!!!!!!!


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[anavidfan]

Everything you describe is consistent with poor connection/ corrosion build up and the resulting sporadic and poor firing. Sometimes though things appear visually clean due to cleaning , they can still be microscopically corroded (and yes, even SS does corrode, albeit it a very slow rate compared to other metals).

I'm going to do up a detailed in depth video of how to thoroughly clean and refreshen ones ELA, just like we would do here at Super T. I think it will really help those out who are struggling.

I'll try to get that up early next week for everyone.

I cant wait. If I can avoid sending it back it would be great. Only thing that I dont think I can fix myself is the wearing on the telescopic tube. I have used up all my compression bands and it slips , bad. Im sure its a result of having to tighten it down because of the other problem of losing conductivity and having to press down so hard. I can post a photo of the tube to show you. I will try the tips I got during the night. I just want to make sure that no one worries, this is not norm for ELA. To me nothing compares...... And the praises you find here and other places are.

 

[Wiz62]

I cant wait. If I can avoid sending it back it would be great. Only thing that I dont think I can fix myself is the wearing on the telescopic tube. I have used up all my compression bands and it slips , bad. Im sure its a result of having to tighten it down because of the other problem of losing conductivity and having to press down so hard. I can post a photo of the tube to show you. I will try the tips I got during the night. I just want to make sure that no one worries, this is not norm for ELA. To me nothing compares...... And the praises you find here and other places are.

How many compression bands have you gone through and in how long?

 

[Symbolik]

I cant wait. If I can avoid sending it back it would be great. Only thing that I dont think I can fix myself is the wearing on the telescopic tube. I have used up all my compression bands and it slips , bad. Im sure its a result of having to tighten it down because of the other problem of losing conductivity and having to press down so hard. I can post a photo of the tube to show you. I will try the tips I got during the night. I just want to make sure that no one worries, this is not norm for ELA. To me nothing compares...... And the praises you find here and other places are.

Hey anavid, I've been having a lot of the same problem as you with your ELA. So i did some experimenting and have got great results. First off, I disassembled my button only to find rust has built up where the black ball thingy (idk what to call it lol) and the sliding lock button. I took it all apart has put soap on a toothbrush and scrubbed every piece, including my spring, and my rust is gone, the button slides much much easier now. I also replaced that bottom oring. Lastly I took the aluminum band and the knurled ring, and brushed the band and the inside of the knurled ring. It looked like there was calcium build up in there. All in all it took about 15 minutes of good cleaning and my ELA is working like new, I hope this helps


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[anavidfan]

LOL, you know how often I have been totally breaking down my polished ELA? At least daily. I did try the sanding the ring as was described, it works sometimes for a day, but in less than 12 hours it all starts to misbehave.
When you said brush the inside of compression band and ring, you mean with a soft brush or did you sand it? I used to do that weekly, and not because it was performing bad, but just because I wanted to avoid build up.

I thank you for your helpful suggestions, just wanted to make sure the "LOL" didnt come off as off putting

How many compression bands, I feel stupid saying , lets see ...... my original ELA compression band was replaced because I removed it for cleaning in correctly a few times. David sent me a new one. I sent it in and I believe he replaced it again. I bought the 5 pack , gave away 2, so had 3. I have used them all and have used up 7. Im not sure they are all bad, so I kept them.

After I put my ELA back together, I lock down the ring, but many times it rattles or slip. I try not to press down hard, but it still slips. I used to really tighten it , im trying not to as I dont want to further damage the bands or the tube.

 

[Nighthawk76]

Everything you describe is consistent with poor connection/ corrosion build up and the resulting sporadic and poor firing. Sometimes though things appear visually clean due to cleaning , they can still be microscopically corroded (and yes, even SS does corrode, albeit it a very slow rate compared to other metals).

Speaking from experience with austenitic stainless steels, I never clean my mods with tap water nor an ultrasonic bath with tap water. I've seen failures in my industry from SCC in very low chloride environments. When you factor in the ingredients needed, mods (IMO) can be susceptible. Also, a person should never use a dissimilar metal to clean (brush) SS. This can leave carbon residue on the passive layer that will rust and stain.

Purely for knowledge sake, I'd love to perform LPI testing on Anavid's tubes to see if there is a crack somewhere affecting the current.

 

[anavidfan]

Okay, good news.

I decided to clean it again. Now mind you I cleaned it last night thoroughly and dried with my blower. Took it all apart, except of course the top contact. I would not attempt that with out an in depth instructional video by Super T.

Washed with Dawn, brushed with my micro brushes all the threads and inside and outside the tubes and everything else. Went over everything with 98% alcohol. Next I blew out the parts to make sure no water/moisture was left. Then I inspected everything to make sure I did not leave any cotton threads anywhere. Took a Cape Cod and went over the inside of the locking ring and compression band and man, black stuff. Went over the button part that slides and more black. THen went over the parts to get rid of any Cape Cod residue with alcohol till swabs came out with no trace of cleaner or black gunk.

I then took a good look at my top contact. I damaged the surface months ago because I was attaching my Odys the way the maker said to which ended up lightly scratching the surface of the Rhodium. It has slowly after months worn off even more. SO that lit an idea in my head. If the Rhodium is worn, that means it is exposing the copper? ( looks to reddish gold to be brass, but not important) So I did what should not be done under this unique circumstance.
I cleaned it with a touch of autosol, I mean just a tad...... It came out filthy, black, I then rubbed it till my cloth came out white, and cleaned with alcohol and dried again.

I put a tiny micro bead of gun oil on the tip of the steel ball pin and on the threads of the lower button contact last time and this time no rust. So that works great. I cleaned and did that again.

Put ELA back and noticed the locking ring , locked really strong with out a lot of pressure and is so far holding tight, ELA is hitting harder than the Simplicity and my Natural , like new. I dont know how long it will continue, but so far Im doing a mental "Safety Dance" ( old folks will know what Im talking about) Im keeping fingers crossed. If I can go back to only having to clean weekly and of course wiping the top pin a couple times a day ( I have to clean it because of the Ody having 510 air intake, gets a lot of condensation) I will be happy.

I just wanted to show a few picts, of the swabs after the bubble bath, to show that it is still dirty or oxidized. I will put up the photos of the grime.

I want to THANK you all for your suggestions and Im glad Symbolik suggested to clean it again, and for changing the o-rngs and those other suggestions on previous page by a couple people last night, I have a bad memory or Id post your names too.
So for you youngin's here is the Safety Dance:



Here is a photo of the gunk just from the locking ring and compression band and the buttons that I cleaned off after going over them with cape cod. The red circles are what came off the top contact , and the large black marks on the left are what came off the telescopic tube. That was after I scrubbed with Dawn and alcohol.

 

[Riverboat]

Wow all these problems with your ELA....Had mine since the middle of last year...Original Compression Band still functions perfect...And what is with all that daily cleaning? The only thing I have to do is wipe out my atty threads and its clean as a whistle.....

 

[anavidfan]

Wow all these problems with your ELA....Had mine since the middle of last year...Original Compression Band still functions perfect...And what is with all that daily cleaning? The only thing I have to do is wipe out my atty threads and its clean as a whistle.....

I dont know, maybe im "dirty" or heavier vaper? I think part of the grime has to do with the Ody having a 510 air intake so condensation of vapor and back vapor going into the insides? I have really dry skin and wash my hands too many times a day, ( old OCD from being a surgical tech and scrubbing for surgery?) Its been humid, but not Florida humid. I wish I new....

Maybe its the water? I know that the water here is very dense in calicium and all the fluoride and minerals. When I fill up things with hot water, its very very whitish and cloudy.

 

[wfo_ak]

Glad you're at least making progress on fixing it, if not all fixed up already! I've been using all-in-one gun cleaner/oil on mine lately with good results, dissolves all the buildup really well. Hoping there won't be any long term ill effects, can't imagine it could cause too many problems though. Real pain to clean off the compression ring/tube if you accidentally get some on there, and also taste a little funny so have to be careful when I use it.

And the new o-ring under the battery seems to have fixed my odd battery problem. Not sure what I did to that old one but it was a very unhappy ring when I finally got it out of there. Maybe I should have been pulling that out of there when it was getting baths?