Source
r/electronic_cigarette•
easysolutions

Sub tank mini, suddenly loose air control wheel problem.

Hi all.

I just had the strangest of problems:

The sub tank mini's air control wheel, became suddenly loose, turning very easily, while up till now it needed much more force to turn. Also it used to click well in each of the three hole(s)-positions, resisting moving from there, while now you can turn it extremely easily. And the weirdest (and scary(?)) part is that at full open, the istick 50 shows 0 ohms, while if you turn it just one millimeter, it shows diff ohms. Something from 1.9 to 3 ohms, (don't know for sure which is the correct value, as I just rebuilt and experimenting, and I'm a relative newbie), changing per millimeter, and it also shows variation if my finger touches the tank and the istick, but tends to go back afterwards.

I've read about istick 50's problems, so that was my first suspect, but it looks like it's the sub tank mini.

The tell tale is the sudden extreme easiness in turning the air wheel. I didn't drop, hit, or do anything strange during this latest rebuild. I currently use it, and seems ok, having closed the big air hole just a mm, so that it shows ~2.2 ohm, instead of 0 full open and not firing. But I can't trust it, and feel uneasy. ..If it makes any difference, I like vaping @15W with 1.5 Ohm.

Any ideas what could possibly be wrong and what might be the reason?

Thanks.

Posted Dec 14, 2015, 9:21 PM UTC

310
CoolloserI'm sorry, I'm Canadian! FoE•

There's a tiny ball bearing that makes that subtle click, I'm assuming it is causing the issues.

3
NY_S凸(ಠ益ಠ)凸•

This happened with an old Subtank Mini of mine. The base actually comes apart, though its not supposed to, with normal usage. Yours probably broke loose, and because of that, the tiny ball bearing fell out or became dislodged. Same exact thing happened to mine. I dealt with the loose airflow...up until the base finally unscrewed apart. I dont use the tank anymore, and wont, until I get a new base. Luckily you can buy just the entire base for them for like $9 or so.

2
easysolutionsOP•

Thanks for the answer, although I don't like it :-/

I suppose the ball bearing can't be saved, and so the looseness will remain, but is there a way to fix the rest of it? So that it doesn't change the ohms with the slightest of movements? Like pressing the base in, or something?

Also, any suggestions for a new tank? To put a baseline, I like the taste of the subtank (although would of course like something better), and the clouds are more than enough. I want a lot of air, and a lot of taste. I'm disappointed with Kanger, so not from them. I vape at 15W, 1.5 Ohms, do NOT want nickel, and want the option for both pre made coils and building my own.

1
king_cheefer_420Sig 150 - Tobeco Velocity•

I don't have pictures but maybe I can type you through how to tighten it back. Hold on to your air flow. See how it's got 3 parts? the ring in the middle and a ring on top and bottom of it? if you hold the bottom and top and turn them it should tighten back together. it will still be a bit loose but should hold you over until you get another air flow for it. That's also what's cause your ohms to change since it's causes the coil/rba head to lose connection from it being further apart.

2
easysolutionsOP•

Thanks for your reply. I just tried what you said, and it seems it's working, as I saw that it did actually screw in better, and now with full open, it does fire and doesn't show 0 Ohms. Also while turning the wheel, the Ohms now don't change. Thank you.

My only problem now is that locally they don't sell just the air flow part of the sub tank, and I also don't have a card to buy online :-/ Not sure if I should get a card and wait until it comes in the mail, or buy another tank.

1
king_cheefer_420Sig 150 - Tobeco Velocity•

What mod do you have?

2
NY_S凸(ಠ益ಠ)凸•

Not sure if it can be saved. Like I said, mine worked fine for awhile after losing the ball bearing, and then finally came apart.

Im not up on the new tanks, really. I went to a Subtank Plus after my Mini broke. I hope you can find a good replacement.

1
RoadSurferJoyetech eVic VT - UD Bellus•

Nope, except as you, I think the issue is probably in your tank...

1
easysolutionsOP•

To add new info:

I just noticed that although it always goes to 0 ohm when you turn the wheel without pressing the fire button, I just turned it to full open while inhaling, that is 1 mm to the left, and it continued firing, and when I try again, it still fires and shows 2.2 Ohms, like before =8-/

1