Reo maintenance PSA

[Soignee]

Hi, my name's Soignee (but you can call me Bob),

I am by no means a Reo Master and am still learning the in's and out's of this device. Many of you Reo Pro's have probably been here and done that already, but I thought I might do this little PSA for some folks that are just starting out with their Reo's

I have a really long stop-n-go, stressful drive to work everyday ('bout and hour each way). Some days, I'd rather drive in NYC or Baton Rouge...

I began to develop massive voltage drop about half way through my drive today and switched batteries thinking I had accidentally pulled a battery off the charger too early (or whatever). The next battery had the same lack of power as the other one as I pulled into work. I typically have about 10 minutes to rewick, change batteries and refill a bottle. So I did the quick maintenance thinking perhaps it was my nasty coil and a loose connection, applied some deoxit and tightened the screws after a dry burn. Slapped my a fresh battery in and hit the drudge.

I did a bathroom vape break and still had a loss of power. When I took a look at the firing pin/positive post as it was firing, I was shocked to see arcing going on, especially after having applied deoxit. Made it through my shift, hit the mini van, wiped the firing pin, fresh battery and applied deoxit again. Only had a couple of minor VD's headed home, little twist or push of the battery and it was fine but no more arcing. After metering all the batteries involved, the lowest voltage was 3.97, so they were all fresh.

Enough background...here's the equipment.

Reo Grand (purchased used)
Sub ohm contacts
New, never collapsed spring
AW 18650 2200 mah 20 amp battery
Orbtronic 18650 3100 mah 30 amp Button Top battery
Rm2 twisted 26 gauge metered at .47 ohm

Broke everything down when I got home and here's what I learned:

1) Always, always remember to take the firing pin out of the Reo BEFORE you clean it.
2) Always, always remember to put a towel in the bathroom sink, covering the drain, BEFORE you clean your Reo in case you forget to take the firing pin out. You'll be fetching that pin out of the p-trap as quickly as you can so it doesn't go down the pipes
3) Be sure to check out the top of the firing pin for debris and collected carbon. I forgot to snap a picture, but there was a 4 mm blob of carbon/juice/dust/god knows what on top of the pin.
4) Don't ever use anything abrasive on your firing pin...It's just gonna scrape the plating off and encourage arcing. Here's a pic of what I mean. You can see the scrap marks on the plastic housing proving someone (might have been me, not sayin') did some firing pin "cleaning".

As you can see, the pin is not in good shape...needless to say, I have a rebuild kit on the way.

5) Do regular maintenance, I've had a lot going on lately and have been lazy. Haven't applied deoxit in probably 2 weeks to the batteries or pin/spring. I haven't given the Grand a bath in 4 months, I don't over squonk and it never looks funky. But when you start to take it apart...you see the crud! Don't be lazy like me! Deoxit is a 30 second thing. A full bath and rebuild, 15 minutes tops. The crud on top of the firing pin did give me pause and I believe contributed to the arcing!

I did get the opportunity to revisit my backup IPV with a TOBH topper while I did the 15 minute breakdown and rebuild and although I really enjoyed it and the Wakonda was really tobacco forward in the TOBH. I just couldn't squonk the IPV which was a real pita...I am going to mod mah TOBH to a BF though

I hope the errors of my ways will help someone out there!

 

[Debadoo]

Thanks for posting this!!

 

[JetMac]

Routine maintenance goes a long way. Once you develop a habit it becomes second nature, quick 5 min bath, blow dry mod with compressor, apply noalox, rebuild atomizers, enjoy vaping again for another two weeks. That's my routine and its works for me and my wife's grands.


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[dbrandt01]

Good post. I've been slacking and haven't done this in a couple weeks. Plus I lost my deoxit. I'm thinking this will be something I am going to do today.

 

[Rule62]

I give my Reos a good bath every few weeks or so. One thing I do not do is disassemble the top firing mechanism. However, sometimes I will remove the screw and slide the delrin cover down. After washing, I just blow everything dry with canned computer air, reapply Deoxit on the contact points, and good to go.


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[K31Scout]

Good sub ohm advice. I haven't cleaned mine since August and just gave it a flashlight check and it's fine. I vape a single 1.2 ohm coil in all my atty's with AW IMR and Samsung batteries with no arcing. I use Deoxit on the batteries now and then. If I ever step down to sub ohm I'll remember this post.

 

[TraceyS]

Hi, my name's Soignee (but you can call me Bob),

I am by no means a Reo Master and am still learning the in's and out's of this device. Many of you Reo Pro's have probably been here and done that already, but I thought I might do this little PSA for some folks that are just starting out with their Reo's

I have a really long stop-n-go, stressful drive to work everyday ('bout and hour each way). Some days, I'd rather drive in NYC or Baton Rouge...

I began to develop massive voltage drop about half way through my drive today and switched batteries thinking I had accidentally pulled a battery off the charger too early (or whatever). The next battery had the same lack of power as the other one as I pulled into work. I typically have about 10 minutes to rewick, change batteries and refill a bottle. So I did the quick maintenance thinking perhaps it was my nasty coil and a loose connection, applied some deoxit and tightened the screws after a dry burn. Slapped my a fresh battery in and hit the drudge.

I did a bathroom vape break and still had a loss of power. When I took a look at the firing pin/positive post as it was firing, I was shocked to see arcing going on, especially after having applied deoxit. Made it through my shift, hit the mini van, wiped the firing pin, fresh battery and applied deoxit again. Only had a couple of minor VD's headed home, little twist or push of the battery and it was fine but no more arcing. After metering all the batteries involved, the lowest voltage was 3.97, so they were all fresh.

Enough background...here's the equipment.

Reo Grand (purchased used)
Sub ohm contacts
New, never collapsed spring
AW 18650 2200 mah 20 amp battery
Orbtronic 18650 3100 mah 30 amp Button Top battery
Rm2 twisted 26 gauge metered at .47 ohm

Broke everything down when I got home and here's what I learned:

1) Always, always remember to take the firing pin out of the Reo BEFORE you clean it.
2) Always, always remember to put a towel in the bathroom sink, covering the drain, BEFORE you clean your Reo in case you forget to take the firing pin out. You'll be fetching that pin out of the p-trap as quickly as you can so it doesn't go down the pipes
3) Be sure to check out the top of the firing pin for debris and collected carbon. I forgot to snap a picture, but there was a 4 mm blob of carbon/juice/dust/god knows what on top of the pin.
4) Don't ever use anything abrasive on your firing pin...It's just gonna scrape the plating off and encourage arcing. Here's a pic of what I mean. You can see the scrap marks on the plastic housing proving someone (might have been me, not sayin') did some firing pin "cleaning".

As you can see, the pin is not in good shape...needless to say, I have a rebuild kit on the way.

5) Do regular maintenance, I've had a lot going on lately and have been lazy. Haven't applied deoxit in probably 2 weeks to the batteries or pin/spring. I haven't given the Grand a bath in 4 months, I don't over squonk and it never looks funky. But when you start to take it apart...you see the crud! Don't be lazy like me! Deoxit is a 30 second thing. A full bath and rebuild, 15 minutes tops. The crud on top of the firing pin did give me pause and I believe contributed to the arcing!

I did get the opportunity to revisit my backup IPV with a TOBH topper while I did the 15 minute breakdown and rebuild and although I really enjoyed it and the Wakonda was really tobacco forward in the TOBH. I just couldn't squonk the IPV which was a real pita...I am going to mod mah TOBH to a BF though

I hope the errors of my ways will help someone out there!

Thanks! Good tips for me!

Tracey

 

[Fuzzy Bruce]

Thanks, Bob!

I had an intermittent firing problem that may have been caused by poor preventive maintenance. Through trial and maybe error I would like to add to your list. My problem was with a wrinkle finished Grand.

No amount of cleaning would solve the issue I was having. Just short of sending my Reo back for a work over, I removed the negative spring and coated the bottom with some Noalax. I also noted that the tapered head of the spring screw made contact to the body at a place where there was no wrinkle finish. There, I used Deoxit D100L since it was such a small area.

I can not say for sure what specific actions taken solved the firing problem but,,, to this day, no firing or any other problems have been noted.

 

[ancient puffer]

Thanks, Soignee, all good advice. Although, I too, never remove the firing pin. My routine is: remove battery, remove atty, remove juice bottle, rinse thoroughly under warm water, toothbrush if needed, stream water though the 510 until it's a constant steady beefy stream, dry, reassemble, deoxit firing pin and spring, vape.

 

[muzichead]

The crud on top of your firing pin didn't add anything to the arcing at all, it was because of the arcing... The arcing was caused by the firing pin that was filed down, by whomever... This is why Rob had issued a warning about not filing the new contacts, as they would become no more efficient than the previous ones... Replacement is a good idea in this case...

 

[pennysmalls]

About once every two weeks or so I'll take a q-tip dipped in ISO alcohol and clean the firing pin head with it. Then after it's dry I rub a white eraser over the firing pin head. This is a maintenance tip I read here some months back and it seems to keep the firing pin head nice and clean.

 

[Mrs C]

I will add if the deck on your RM2 is stained a quick scrub with some baking soda and a toothbrush will whiten it up nicely

 

[Soignee]

I will add if the deck on your RM2 is stained a quick scrub with some baking soda and a toothbrush will whiten it up nicely

Mrs C, I actually have been wondering about how to remove those nasty stains!

Many thanks to you!

 

[Cheryl75]

I will add if the deck on your RM2 is stained a quick scrub with some baking soda and a toothbrush will whiten it up nicely

Excellent info, Thank You!!

 

[Justice]

I know its been said here but I just have to bring it up again there is absolutely no need to remove your firing pin its a waste of time and your asking for problems doing this repeatedly plus poor Rob is going to have nightmares fixing Reos from people messing them up

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Mrs C, I actually have been wondering about how to remove those nasty stains!

Many thanks to you!

Denture cleaner also works very well to clean the ceramic deck on a RM2 (pro trick I learned from a cagey reo vet).

 

[Sloth Tonight]

Great post brother Soignee! I never take out my firing pin (I'm afraid to take anything apart I don't have to - I'm a clutz and worry about getting it back together, LMAO), but I apply Deoxit to my battery contact every time I put one in the mod. Otherwise at .3-.4 ohms I get minor sparking upon the release of the firing pin. Excellent post I hope your rebuild kit gets there soon and fixes everything right up brother

 

[ckquatt]

Denture cleaner also works very well to clean the ceramic deck on a RM2 (pro trick I learned from a cagey reo vet).

Yep! X1000! Thats what I use for my RM2 (actually I clean all my gear with them!). It'll make it pearly white just like the day you bought it! It also gets all the gunk out from under the deck too!

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[distortoblotto]

Hi, my name's Soignee (but you can call me Bob),

I am by no means a Reo Master and am still learning the in's and out's of this device. Many of you Reo Pro's have probably been here and done that already, but I thought I might do this little PSA for some folks that are just starting out with their Reo's

I have a really long stop-n-go, stressful drive to work everyday ('bout and hour each way). Some days, I'd rather drive in NYC or Baton Rouge...

I began to develop massive voltage drop about half way through my drive today and switched batteries thinking I had accidentally pulled a battery off the charger too early (or whatever). The next battery had the same lack of power as the other one as I pulled into work. I typically have about 10 minutes to rewick, change batteries and refill a bottle. So I did the quick maintenance thinking perhaps it was my nasty coil and a loose connection, applied some deoxit and tightened the screws after a dry burn. Slapped my a fresh battery in and hit the drudge.

I did a bathroom vape break and still had a loss of power. When I took a look at the firing pin/positive post as it was firing, I was shocked to see arcing going on, especially after having applied deoxit. Made it through my shift, hit the mini van, wiped the firing pin, fresh battery and applied deoxit again. Only had a couple of minor VD's headed home, little twist or push of the battery and it was fine but no more arcing. After metering all the batteries involved, the lowest voltage was 3.97, so they were all fresh.

Enough background...here's the equipment.

Reo Grand (purchased used)
Sub ohm contacts
New, never collapsed spring
AW 18650 2200 mah 20 amp battery
Orbtronic 18650 3100 mah 30 amp Button Top battery
Rm2 twisted 26 gauge metered at .47 ohm

Broke everything down when I got home and here's what I learned:

1) Always, always remember to take the firing pin out of the Reo BEFORE you clean it.
2) Always, always remember to put a towel in the bathroom sink, covering the drain, BEFORE you clean your Reo in case you forget to take the firing pin out. You'll be fetching that pin out of the p-trap as quickly as you can so it doesn't go down the pipes
3) Be sure to check out the top of the firing pin for debris and collected carbon. I forgot to snap a picture, but there was a 4 mm blob of carbon/juice/dust/god knows what on top of the pin.
4) Don't ever use anything abrasive on your firing pin...It's just gonna scrape the plating off and encourage arcing. Here's a pic of what I mean. You can see the scrap marks on the plastic housing proving someone (might have been me, not sayin') did some firing pin "cleaning".

As you can see, the pin is not in good shape...needless to say, I have a rebuild kit on the way.

5) Do regular maintenance, I've had a lot going on lately and have been lazy. Haven't applied deoxit in probably 2 weeks to the batteries or pin/spring. I haven't given the Grand a bath in 4 months, I don't over squonk and it never looks funky. But when you start to take it apart...you see the crud! Don't be lazy like me! Deoxit is a 30 second thing. A full bath and rebuild, 15 minutes tops. The crud on top of the firing pin did give me pause and I believe contributed to the arcing!

I did get the opportunity to revisit my backup IPV with a TOBH topper while I did the 15 minute breakdown and rebuild and although I really enjoyed it and the Wakonda was really tobacco forward in the TOBH. I just couldn't squonk the IPV which was a real pita...I am going to mod mah TOBH to a BF though

I hope the errors of my ways will help someone out there!

Excellent post my brother!

A clean device is a happy device.....

 

[redeyedancer]

Definitely dont remove the positive contact there is no reason to do so . No need to remove the delrin insert unless your rebuilding the mod