What could be wrong with my Kanger subtank mini?

[KattMamma]

I've had this thing about 2 weeks, and if I didn't love the flavor and vapor when it's working right I would have already thrown it in the garbage.

IT WON'T WICK!!

I would have suspected bad coils, but it's done this with the coil that came with it, along with 4 coils from a 5pk I bought (still one new coil left) -- the only reason I haven't already used more coils is because I've been using other devices (an Atlantis on a CF sub, and a T3D on an Evod VV but it won't do higher VG) when I get too frustrated with this one.

Hubby plans to help me take it apart and replace the (seals? not sure what they're called) this weekend, but is there anything else we should look for?

Here's the full details of what I'm using, and what I've tried :

tank is on an istick 50w

I have been running lower watts because higher watts makes the problem worse -- right now it's set at 16.5w and 3.3v.

Using 0.5 ohm coils - which should be fine above 15w? I plan to buy some 1.2 ohm coils today to see if that helps but I'm not hopeful.

I initially put 80vg juice in, then went to 70vg juice when I started having probs - but hubby has the exact same setup and runs both of these juices with no probs, and the same coils last him at least 5 days (usually 7?). I have mixed 50/50 with the 70vg to thin it even more and still no luck.

Before I started figuring out something was wrong, I was running about 22-25 watts, and would run for a day or two then would suddenly get a nasty dry hit with NO warning - it would be fine on one vape, set it down, 20 minutes later pick it up and get a dry hit (yes, I leave it standing straight up)

After that happened twice (and I changed coil each time) I started paying more attention to what is happening when I'm vaping. NO BUBBLES.

- and yes, I am putting a few drops of juice on the new coil when I install it, then letting it sit in the tank for a while before using it, then giving it a few draws without firing to prime it well

I've tried tightening everything and loosening everything - I can't tell that either makes a difference.

The only time I notice it making bubbles like it should (about every other draw - I do slow draws, small to medium sized I guess, not big draws) is when the tank is about half full - this makes me think it's a pressure problem? Which is why I tried tightening and loosening, to no avail. When it's not working right, I can take 15 or 20 draws with NO BUBBLES. I've developed a habit of drawing first, then pushing the button, to keep the juice flowing, or I would have already burnt more coils I'm sure.

When it IS making bubbles, they always come from one side of the coil only -- no matter which way I hold the device while vaping, the bubbles are always from the same side. I didn't notice this for a while, but it's been true for the last 2 coils.

I'm stumped. I'm hoping that hubby will fix the prob by replacing those (seals?) this weekend, plus we'll give it a really good cleaning, but again - is there something else we should check while we have this thing taken apart?

I would just swap with hubby and make him deal with it, except I know it would make him smoke cigs, while I will keep trying to tough it out and hopefully fix it (or maybe just go buy another one and hope it works).

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE for any suggestions - this has been maddening!

 

[Mogar]

I have had this issue once or twice and have some things you can try.
- The base may be leaking first off, sounds a bit different than your problem but this does happen at times. When you replace the coil, make sure it is not on your device. The subtank has a floating pin that will put reverse pressure on the coil and make you think it is completely seated when it is not. When you take the tank apart, you will see the pin can easily come out with very little pressure. Always seat new coils with the base off the mod.
- Take primer puffs from time to time. I actually twist it to fully closed when I do this or cover the air hole.
- When the juice levels are at the top of the coil, try not to vape too hard with the tank sideways. If the coil wicking hole is open/exposed to air and you take a pull on it, it can put a bubble inside the wick on that side restricting the juice flow through that hole.
- (this is something I do from back in the Coleman Lantern days, ya I know I am showing my age) When refilling the juice, re-prime the wick by putting another drop on the coil, and I take a safety pin and poke it into the wick. This way if any buildup has occurred at the opening or in the middle of the wick (air bubble) it will correct this.

70/30 is a thick juice, but should not cause any issues. if you mix a 50/50 with it (even proportions) then you have close to a 60/40 and definitely should not be any issues at all.

Have you tried the RBA section on the tank? I personally rebuild my OCC coils just because they fit better in my kit than loose strands of cotton to rebuild, and is easier to replace in a bar or at work.

 

[KattMamma]

Thank you Mogar!

I do remove the tank before replacing the coil, and have not noticed any leaking except when I loosened it too much when I was trying everything!!

Early on in this venture, I did think I had raised the tank too high, exposing one side of the wick, but that was over a week ago and I've been keeping this thing almost fully upright since, to no avail.

Bubble in the wick? Interesting - not sure if this could be it since I've been careful for the last week or more, but I will try poking a needle in the wick when I refill.

I can't do RBA. Hubby has said he would help me do this, but I'm a fiercely independent gal so I've been resisting. I just can't do it myself because my hands and my eyesight are bad.

If this thing were working right, would primer puffs really be necessary? I could see it while chain vaping (and I do chain vape at times, and prime it when I do), but why would I need primer puffs if I'm only hitting it every 20 or 30 minutes?

I actually asked hubby to SHOW ME how he's vaping, since he is having NO TROUBLE with the same gear and juice. He runs 25-30w and is a borderline chain vaper. He takes a fast but tiny draw, holding the button during the draw, then immediately follows with a big draw holding the button (he couldn't explain why he does the tiny draw first). It seems to work very well for him, so I tried it at 25w with a new coil. Worked ok for about a day and a half, then big nasty dry hit.

Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[pistolpete]

Before you put the coil on the tank just prime the heck out of it with the juice in a little cup

 

[KattMamma]

Before you put the coil on the tank just prime the heck out of it with the juice in a little cup

Do you mean - like - fill a shot glass with juice and drop the coil in? LOL I never thought of trying that, but I'm game if it won't hurt anything!

 

[pistolpete]

Seems like the only way I can get a non-burn hit you don't need to fill the cup just drip the juice into the coil The cups just so I don't spill everywhere and I always start out around 13 W and work my way up

 

[KattMamma]

I've actually wondered if this tank (and the coils I guess) just aren't suitable for people who don't take big draws? I've watched other people vape, and my draws aren't as big. My draws aren't tiny - a good draw for me lets me blow out enough vapor that it looks like I took a big draw on a cig, maybe even a little more, but I definitely don't do giant clouds (and don't want to - I just want good flavor and I want to see some vapor exhaled).

When I tried hubby's method, I had to switch from "straight to lung" to "mouth only" about halfway thru the draw, cuz that much vapor in my lungs would make me cough. I was trying to take the same size draw as him, and I think I got pretty close, just couldn't take it all into my lungs.

 

[KattMamma]

Seems like the only way I can get a non-burn hit you don't need to fill the cup just drip the juice into the coil The cups just so I don't spill everywhere and I always start out around 13 W and work my way up

LOL ok I won't fill a shot glass with juice!

But I'm seriously ready to try just about anything!

Hubby made me a little holder for my tanks - makes it easier for priming and filling them. I always drip juice onto the coil until I see the cotton getting darker thru the little holes in the sides (are those called wicking holes? windows? still learning... sorry). I have NOT been dripping onto the coil again when refilling (altho I have been letting it sit for a few minutes after filling) but I will start trying this.

It just seems like something else is wrong, since hubby isn't having to do all this and his works fine. Again - the only difference I've noticed between him and me is that I take smaller draws, and have been running lower wattages since burning the 2nd coil. So it seems like it's either the smaller draws, or something is wrong with the tank (or the original coil plus 4 coils from a new pack??)

 

[pistolpete]

Yeah I never thought I'd see the day But my girlfriend is blowing clouds now : )

 

[KattMamma]

Yeah I never thought I'd see the day But my girlfriend is blowing clouds now : )

As my lungs are healing from over 3 decades of smoking, I am finding that they can take a little more vapor than when I first started. Who knows, maybe I'll blow giant clouds some day! LOL

 

[pistolpete]

I hear you she use to smoke two packs of American Spirit blue's before she met me

 

[RandyF]

What airflow setting are you usually using? If it is the wide open setting, and you are taking weaker draws, then that is probably your issue. I don't see priming the coil as your problem, since you said it will work fine for a day then the dry hits start. It sounds more like you are simply not creating enough pressure to draw enough juice into the wick. That would also explain why your husband doesn't seem to have an issue with the same set up. I vape my STm's with .5Ω coils at 28 watts, and my rebuild OCC's at 1.1Ω at 26 watts and I do not get dry hits.

It could be a seal issue, causing you to not get enough pressure, but without any leaking, it would likely have to be your top seal. Also take a very close look at the glass and make sure there are no chips around the edges. Even a tiny chip and throw things off.

 

[vincom]

yup u need to suck it harder.

if not able to or dont like to then lower air setting and every once in awhile suck on it w/out hitting the fire button as this will prime it up.

sounding like a porn movie script

 

[KattMamma]

What airflow setting are you usually using? If it is the wide open setting, and you are taking weaker draws, then that is probably your issue. I don't see priming the coil as your problem, since you said it will work fine for a day then the dry hits start. It sounds more like you are simply not creating enough pressure to draw enough juice into the wick. That would also explain why your husband doesn't seem to have an issue with the same set up. I vape my STm's with .5Ω coils at 28 watts, and my rebuild OCC's at 1.1Ω at 26 watts and I do not get dry hits.

It could be a seal issue, causing you to not get enough pressure, but without any leaking, it would likely have to be your top seal. Also take a very close look at the glass and make sure there are no chips around the edges. Even a tiny chip and throw things off.

I am using the lowest air setting (1 little hole)

I will definitely check the glass - thanks for the suggestion!!

yup u need to suck it harder.

if not able to or dont like to then lower air setting and every once in awhile suck on it w/out hitting the fire button as this will prime it up.

sounding like a porn movie script

LOL That's exactly what it was sounding like!

So unless I increase my lung capacity enough, I'm likely always going to be stuck with primer puffing??

I got a bit OCD about this today, and I'm more convinced than ever that it is a seal or something else affecting pressure. I wasn't getting any bubbles, so I was trying to loosen or tighten the tank (don't remember which) when I saw bubbles! I stopped and backed it up just a tad to compensate for my reaction time, and I had decent wicking for a good while -- then it stopped. Again. But the tank was about 3/4 full, and I haven't seen bubbles on a 3/4 full tank for at least the last 2 coils.

Got too busy to mess with it mid day so I just primed it every time I vaped, but then tinkered some more a while ago, found the sweet spot when loosening/tightening - and voila! bubbles on a nearly full tank! I don't think I've ever seen that!

Both times I found the magic spot, it lasted a while (20 hits or so?) then petered out... but doesn't that mean it's probably a seal or something else pressure related?

I also realized today something I forgot to mention -- doh! When I am putting the tank back together after a refill or coil change, there's an ever-so-slight feeling of something scraping just for a microsecond - like there's a tiny burr or something isn't perfectly round.. or something. I had mentioned this to hubby a while back, he said his does the same and it doesn't cause him any trouble, so I dismissed it. Now I'm realizing this may be important after all - his could be similar but a different issue than mine. Or maybe he just overcomes it by sucking harder LOL.

Thank you all for the suggestions - I plan to be sick tomorrow LOL but we will replace the seals Sunday and look for any chips in the glass plus feel around for any burrs or rough spots -- if you guys think of anything else that might cause such bizarre symptoms I would appreciate it... I will post back any new developments in case anyone else is having any similar issue (I hope not - this nearly drove me nuts)

 

[tehmidcap]

If you haven't had it much longer than that 2 weeks, it should have come with a 30 day warranty... Maybe there was just some minor assembly problem?

 

[gpjoe]

Check the edges of the glass to make sure there are no chips or voids that might prevent the tank from sealing. I admit that I just skimmed the posts above, but agree that it may be an issue with sealing. Have you already tried switching to the spare tank glass? It seems very odd that it won't wick properly. I use max VG with my OCC's and rarely get a dry hit. I'm vaping with .5 ohm coils but at a much lower wattage than you - rarely over 10 watts.

Good luck

 

[edyle]

If it's a low pressure problem, maybe turning it upside down every now and then would help.

 

[KattMamma]

So we replaced the seals Sunday, but I wanted to give it a day or two before posting an update.

WE HAVE BUBBLES LOL

I looked the old seals over and there were no dings or bumps, but one of the seals was irregular - it was, um, thinner on one side than the other. Not sure if that could have caused the problem or not, but so far the new seals seem to be doing their job.

I still only see bubbles on one side, no matter which way I hold the device (is that normal?) but I'm just delighted that I am seeing bubbles for every 2 or 3 draws (whereas before I could go 20 draws with no bubbles and of course would get a dry hit long before that)

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!!

 

[militantomg]

Thank you Mogar!

I do remove the tank before replacing the coil, and have not noticed any leaking except when I loosened it too much when I was trying everything!!

Early on in this venture, I did think I had raised the tank too high, exposing one side of the wick, but that was over a week ago and I've been keeping this thing almost fully upright since, to no avail.

Bubble in the wick? Interesting - not sure if this could be it since I've been careful for the last week or more, but I will try poking a needle in the wick when I refill.

I can't do RBA. Hubby has said he would help me do this, but I'm a fiercely independent gal so I've been resisting. I just can't do it myself because my hands and my eyesight are bad.

If this thing were working right, would primer puffs really be necessary? I could see it while chain vaping (and I do chain vape at times, and prime it when I do), but why would I need primer puffs if I'm only hitting it every 20 or 30 minutes?

I actually asked hubby to SHOW ME how he's vaping, since he is having NO TROUBLE with the same gear and juice. He runs 25-30w and is a borderline chain vaper. He takes a fast but tiny draw, holding the button during the draw, then immediately follows with a big draw holding the button (he couldn't explain why he does the tiny draw first). It seems to work very well for him, so I tried it at 25w with a new coil. Worked ok for about a day and a half, then big nasty dry hit.

Thank you for the suggestions!

Give the RBA shot. Honestly I figured when I got mine I would never use it... now I've got a box full of OCC coils because I've switched to the RBA's exclusively for my mini subtanks. I honestly plan on getting the subtank plus 25mm because it's going to use the mini's RBA section which I love so much. There are tons of videos you can watch for guides, hell you can even buy a 20pk of the coils already premade, all you need to do is screw them down and wick it. Good luck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6awmLa3xhGM

 

[Akasticker]

I had the same problem with my first sub tank mini. It didn't matter what I did even with 50/50 juice it just never wicked or had bubbles in the tank. I had it replaced and the new one works perfect. I spent 3 days trying to figure out the problem and find and air leak or seal and nothing... Some of them are just defective. It's kanger. I expected every problem that has come up with their tanks... They don't care they just pump out new tanks and silently fix the problems as the arise.