Kayfun Lite Plus 2021 - Muted flavor

[KKonaW]

Hello,

I'm having problems getting any flavor out of my (authentic) Kayfun. It's my first rebuildable and I feel like I've tried everything, I've wicked it close to 50 times and changed ~10 coils and I just can't get it right. I've watched about every single video on YouTube about it and they all seem to have a different method, yet I just can't get it right.

I got it right one time, and that was on my first ever build, however it was popping and crackling so much that I figured it wasn't normal. I eventually found out that was because of a broken o-ring in the chimney which I now have changed. I'm guessing that caused it to wick very efficiently? However, even if I use it as a dripper it's muted, which leads me to believe it's not a wicking problem. I don't get dry-hits and it's never leaked.

There's no off-taste, I get good amounts of vapor, but it's always just muted.

I keep my (2.5ID) coils 1mm-2mm (closer to 2mm) above the airflow. I only have 28g kanthal wire and I've tried both contact and spaced builds, 5-8 wraps. I've tried various thickness of the cotton. I vape at 12-16 watts, depending on the ohms.

I've used cotton bacon prime, but now I'm using BP Mods Pro cotton 2.5mm as I feel like it's easier to be consistent with.

What can I be doing wrong? This tank surely can't be this finicky, when most of the reviews says it's easy to build and they all seem to have a different way of building and wicking it. I should have got it right by accident by now. It's not vapers tongue and it's not the juice as it gives me great flavor in my Zlide tank.

It's the 22mm tank and I'm using the 4ml cap.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, suggestions for 28g kanthal coil builds etc, so I can eliminate at least one of the variables while troubleshooting my building and wicking. I'm so close to giving it up and buying a pod.

 

[Izan]

Hi and welcome,
IMO, Sounds like too much wick.
I would thin my wicks until I got some weeping/leaking and then add back a small amount.
Photos of your coil build and wicking attempts would be useful moving forward.

Cheers
I

 

[KKonaW]

Hi and welcome,
IMO, Sounds like too much wick.
I would thin my wicks until I got some weeping/leaking and then add back a small amount.
Photos of your coil build and wicking attempts would be useful moving forward.

Cheers
I

Thanks! I used a lot less cotton this time and now the flavor has improved. I might have used too little cotton as I could pull it through with hardly any resistance, just enough so that I could tell I was pulling it through something. I'll try slighty more inside the coil and rather thin out the wicks a bit more on the next rewick, to see how that'll affect the flavor.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Thanks! I used a lot less cotton this time and now the flavor has improved. I might have used too little cotton as I could pull it through with hardly any resistance, just enough so that I could tell I was pulling it through something. I'll try slighty more inside the coil and rather thin out the wicks a bit more on the next rewick, to see how that'll affect the flavor.

I have a couple authentic Kayfun lite 2019's - they have the exact same build deck as your KFL21. The only major difference between the KFL19 and a KFL21 is the Aerokon airflow control.

When I install wicks on any of my Kayfun's, or on any RBA, I am able to move the wick side-to-side in the coil while feeling some resistance. If it moves too freely, there is not enough cotton. If the wick has too much density - you will know immediately - it will be difficult to thread through the coil. Or your coil will move around as you install your wick.

Specifically with the KFL19 I trim about 30% off the wick tails. Kayfun's do not perform well with too much (bunched up) cotton in the juice wells.

Also, you may find this helpful...

There are a couple tips for wicking RBA's.

Wick too tight in coil = dry hits

Wick too loose in coil = flooding

You want to find the Happy Medium. Finding that can take some trial and error.

Wicking with cotton is a total "feel" thing. You want to feel some resistance as you move your wick back and forth through the coil. It should not be too loose. And it should not be too tight as you move it side-to-side in the coil.


Good luck and I hope that helps.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

This tank surely can't be this finicky, when most of the reviews says it's easy to build and they all seem to have a different way of building and wicking it.

You would be surprised at the number of people who find Kayfun's finicky.

Personally I find them to be very easy to build on and wick. My first RTA many years ago was a Kayfun.

You'll get there, be patient with your wicking.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

@KKonaW, take a look at this thread...

Authentic Svoemesto Kayfun Lite - 2019 & 2021 Version

Hello, and welcome! It's now official. Svoemesto will be releasing their updated, 2019 version of the Kayfun Lite on 2/22/2019. Need I say how groundbreaking the original Kayfun Lite was? No other atomizer was more revolutionary than the...

www.e-cigarette-forum.com

That thread has everything you need to know for getting the best out of your KFL21.

If you want that thread reopened in order to post there - we can do that. Just ask and @classwife will make it so.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Also... please post photos of your build and wicking... that will be helpful.

Thanks

 

[KKonaW]

Thanks for you replies. I'm so tired of building of rewicking it everyday so I'm just sticking with the wick as long as I get some taste. I'll rewick tomorrow and take some pictures.

Everything and everyone suggest I'm using too much cotton, but I'm feeling like I'm using to little after looking at others builds. I pull it through with hardly any resistance. It's less resistance than pulling a small coin over a smooth surface, the coil isn't even close to moving.

I've noticed my insulator (the one close to the 510) is damaged, it's got a crack in it that I can pull to expose the "thing around the airflow pin" it's insulating. Could this be my issue? It's possible that this happened after my first build that was "perfect" with a broken o-ring, as I was taking it a part and wasn't sure that my deck was reverse threaded or not.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

Thanks for you replies. I'm so tired of building of rewicking it everyday so I'm just sticking with the wick as long as I get some taste. I'll rewick tomorrow and take some pictures.

Everything and everyone suggest I'm using too much cotton, but I'm feeling like I'm using to little after looking at others builds. I pull it through with hardly any resistance. It's less resistance than pulling a small coin over a smooth surface, the coil isn't even close to moving.

I've noticed my insulator (the one close to the 510) is damaged, it's got a crack in it that I can pull to expose the "thing around the airflow pin" it's insulating. Could this be my issue? It's possible that this happened after my first build that was "perfect" with a broken o-ring, as I was taking it a part and wasn't sure that my deck was reverse threaded or not.

If the cotton is going through your coil with "hardly any resistance" then you are not using enough cotton. I absolutely would not go with what the majority of people are saying in YouTube videos.

You want to -- feel -- resistance as you pull the wick through your coil. Not a light resistance and not a tight resistance.

As to the cracked insulator. No, that would not cause poor flavor from your juice.

I would order a KFL+ insulator kit from either Creme de Vape or Dicodes-USA and replace the cracked one ASAP. I've ordered gear from both places and never had any problems.

KFL+ insulator kit...

When replacing any part on a Kayfun - tightening to finger tight is the rule. Same goes for the tank to base connection - finger tight only.

 

[KKonaW]

@KKonaW, take a look at this thread...

Authentic Svoemesto Kayfun Lite - 2019 & 2021 Version

Hello, and welcome! It's now official. Svoemesto will be releasing their updated, 2019 version of the Kayfun Lite on 2/22/2019. Need I say how groundbreaking the original Kayfun Lite was? No other atomizer was more revolutionary than the...

www.e-cigarette-forum.com

That thread has everything you need to know for getting the best out of your KFL21.

If you want that thread reopened in order to post there - we can do that. Just ask and @classwife will

If the cotton is going through your coil with "hardly any resistance" then you are not using enough cotton. I absolutely would not go with what the majority of people are saying in YouTube videos.

You want to -- feel -- resistance as you pull the wick through your coil. Not a light resistance and not a tight resistance.

As to the cracked insulator. No, that would not cause poor flavor from your juice.

I would order a KFL+ insulator kit from either Creme de Vape or Dicodes-USA and replace the cracked one ASAP. I've ordered gear from both places and never had any problems.

KFL+ insulator kit...
View attachment 984081

When replacing any part on a Kayfun - tightening to finger tight is the rule. Same goes for the tank to base connection - finger tight only.

My wick ends have probably been to thick the times I've used the correct amount in the coil then. I haven't really been thinning them much as I've seen youtubers just tuck it in there and praise the rta's taste. And because of it it hasn't wicked fast enough for me to get good flavor, but it has held just enough juice to not get me the dry hits.

 

[ShowMeTwice]

My wick ends have probably been to thick the times I've used the correct amount in the coil then. I haven't really been thinning them much as I've seen youtubers just tuck it in there and praise the rta's taste. And because of it it hasn't wicked fast enough for me to get good flavor, but it has held just enough juice to not get me the dry hits.

Yeah, like I said I would steer clear of the YouTube crowd when it comes to wicking a Kayfun. From the videos I've seen they don't use enough cotton through the coil and they over-stuff the juice wells with cotton.

Stuffing too much wick in those small juice wells can cause poor juice flow to the coil. Especially if it clogs up one or more of the 4 juice feed holes (2 at the bottom of each well). That could easily affect flavor.

That's why I stressed the importance of trimming your tails to the top of the o-ring in the photo I posted. That is the correct tail length for the juice wells so as not to experience juice flow problems. Each tail will just touch the bottom of the juice wells. That's what you want.

I also trim roughly 30% off each tail prior to tucking them in the juice wells. I never have any issues with with my wicks staying saturated. Never experience dry hits either.