Too Tight Gasket - Help A Newbie?

[mamajosie]

Hi, I got my hookah and am excited to try it out but the thick black rubber gasket or grommet (I forgot which it is called) between the stem and vase is too tight and I almost busted the whole rig trying to get it out after I had forced it in there. I did try wetting it and I think it is still too tight because even when I got it in it wasn't level and is just super tight. Should I get a file and try to file or cut of some of the outside of the rubber grommet or can I put silicone lubricant on it or something? It is a KM jr. exotica if that matters. Thanks - Josie Edited July 20, 2008 by mamajosie

[mattarios2]

Hi, I got my hookah and am excited to try it out but the thick black rubber gasket or grommet (I forgot which it is called) between the stem and vase is too tight and I almost busted the whole rig trying to get it out after I had forced it in there. I did try wetting it and I think it is still too tight because even when I got it in it wasn't level and is just super tight. Should I get a file and try to file or cut of some of the outside of the rubber grommet or can I put silicone lubricant on it or something? It is a KM jr. exotica if that matters. Thanks - Josie

if you really have trouble getting the stem in and out of the vase w/ water then shave some down. I'd suggest just dealing with it, and it will eventually start to fit nicely.

[SmokinMoose]

Hi, I got my hookah and am excited to try it out but the thick black rubber gasket or grommet (I forgot which it is called) between the stem and vase is too tight and I almost busted the whole rig trying to get it out after I had forced it in there. I did try wetting it and I think it is still too tight because even when I got it in it wasn't level and is just super tight. Should I get a file and try to file or cut of some of the outside of the rubber grommet or can I put silicone lubricant on it or something? It is a KM jr. exotica if that matters. Thanks - Josie

I use dish detergent on mine, seals it perfectly and easy to take out after.

[mattarios2]

Hi, I got my hookah and am excited to try it out but the thick black rubber gasket or grommet (I forgot which it is called) between the stem and vase is too tight and I almost busted the whole rig trying to get it out after I had forced it in there. I did try wetting it and I think it is still too tight because even when I got it in it wasn't level and is just super tight. Should I get a file and try to file or cut of some of the outside of the rubber grommet or can I put silicone lubricant on it or something? It is a KM jr. exotica if that matters. Thanks - Josie

I use dish detergent on mine, seals it perfectly and easy to take out after.

just make sure to use a little, I wouldn't want any falling in the water ...

[hookah hippie]

just use a little water and it will eventually fit perfectly everytime rather it be extremely tight then too loose

[mattathayde]

water or a touch of vegetable/mineral oil. on it

dont file rubber its going to be bad, if you have to cut it (last resort) use a fresh xacto blade

-matt

[dom209]

like its been said already, new hookahs tend to have a really tight fit... but after soe use the grommet will get broken in and fit perfectly

[mattathayde]

o i forgot the most import reason for it being tight... you havent smoked enough, a proper break in session will fit it
-matt

[hookah hippie]

o i forgot the most import reason for it being tight... you havent smoked enough, a proper break in session will fit it
-matt

That's correct smoke more!!!!!!!!!!! and it will loosen up

[pigpen]

If the gasket is true rubber oil will break down the rubber and turn it into a sticky mess. Stick with soap or use silicone.

[Codename067]

Just sand it down and keep trying it. It takes s little time and it gets messy, but its also permanent.

[mattathayde]

If the gasket is true rubber oil will break down the rubber and turn it into a sticky mess. Stick with soap or use silicone.

rubber tree rubber maybe but rubber being from petroleum , which im assuming it is, shouldnt break it down, unless im totally miss informed and not thinking correctly at this point

-matt

[SuburbanSmoker]

Every KM i ever bought came with the gasket being wayyy to tight. takes about 5-10 sessions before it will slide in/ you develop a technique for getting it in. Better that its too tight then too loose IMO

[mamajosie]

Hey guys, I found a second grommet that came with it and it is a bit too loose but I bought some electrical tape and I am gonna make it bigger so it will fit. The one that is too tight it sort of angled so it is fine on the lower part but up at the top of the grommet is where it is too wide. I tried the dish soap on that one and even when I press it in hard, it slowly pops back out a little and makes the whole thing tippy and unstable so I think the one that is slightly too loose will work better once I get some electrical tape wrapped around it. I will let you know how it works out tomorrow when I finally try it out! Thanks - Josie

[Snoopy1966]

Put the tape on the place where the grommet goes first. Otherwise the tape does not stay on the grommet. Thats what I had to do for the double pear I just got. It was little lose, so I wrapped some electrical tape around a few time, put the grommet on, it was a little lose still, so I put more tape on and it was good to go. The best thing to do with the one that is lose is buy a MYA band from HC. I have lots of them. Should be in everyones Hookah survival kit. Then you can take off the tape and it cleans up easy from the metal and then put the MYA band around the grommet. .

[mattathayde]

X2 on snoopay's suggestion, electrical tape and tight fits that slide in and out do not like each other

-matt

[pigpen]

If the gasket is true rubber oil will break down the rubber and turn it into a sticky mess. Stick with soap or use silicone.

rubber tree rubber maybe but rubber being from petroleum , which im assuming it is, shouldnt break it down, unless im totally miss informed and not thinking correctly at this point

-matt

the type of rubber used in the gaskets will break down with contact with oils.
The key is prolonged contact - if you are oiling up that gasket and not washing it after every use it WILL break down. I had a bottle capped with the same type of rubber - I had oil stored in the bottle. During storage the bottle got knocked on its side and the oil literally melted the rubber.
That is because synthetics are only derived from petro - but not made of it. The chemicals used in the production of the rubber is dis-similar from petro as eggs are from cake.

But while it is unlikely a gasket will be in contact with the rubber long enough to do noticeable damage - its so easy to avoid meltdown. Just use soap.

[mamajosie]

Put the tape on the place where the grommet goes first. Otherwise the tape does not stay on the grommet. Thats what I had to do for the double pear I just got. It was little lose, so I wrapped some electrical tape around a few time, put the grommet on, it was a little lose still, so I put more tape on and it was good to go. The best thing to do with the one that is lose is buy a MYA band from HC. I have lots of them. Should be in everyones Hookah survival kit. Then you can take off the tape and it cleans up easy from the metal and then put the MYA band around the grommet. .

I am not sure I follow you. You mention the issue of the tape cleaning off the metal though, so I wanted to clarify that this looser grommet fits great with the stem but it is the grommet inside the vase fit that is too loose. So will it work to wrap the outside of the grommet with tape to make a tighter fit inside the vase or not? Thanks - Josie

[mattathayde]

Put the tape on the place where the grommet goes first. Otherwise the tape does not stay on the grommet. Thats what I had to do for the double pear I just got. It was little lose, so I wrapped some electrical tape around a few time, put the grommet on, it was a little lose still, so I put more tape on and it was good to go. The best thing to do with the one that is lose is buy a MYA band from HC. I have lots of them. Should be in everyones Hookah survival kit. Then you can take off the tape and it cleans up easy from the metal and then put the MYA band around the grommet. .

I am not sure I follow you. You mention the issue of the tape cleaning off the metal though, so I wanted to clarify that this looser grommet fits great with the stem but it is the grommet inside the vase fit that is too loose. So will it work to wrap the outside of the grommet with tape to make a tighter fit inside the vase or not? Thanks - Josie

your thinking stem>grommet>tape into vase, no you need stem>tape>grommet>vase

the tape needs to be in between the stationary piece and the grommet to make the fit tighter but the friction is being put on the grommet
-matt

[mamajosie]

Put the tape on the place where the grommet goes first. Otherwise the tape does not stay on the grommet. Thats what I had to do for the double pear I just got. It was little lose, so I wrapped some electrical tape around a few time, put the grommet on, it was a little lose still, so I put more tape on and it was good to go. The best thing to do with the one that is lose is buy a MYA band from HC. I have lots of them. Should be in everyones Hookah survival kit. Then you can take off the tape and it cleans up easy from the metal and then put the MYA band around the grommet. .

I am not sure I follow you. You mention the issue of the tape cleaning off the metal though, so I wanted to clarify that this looser grommet fits great with the stem but it is the grommet inside the vase fit that is too loose. So will it work to wrap the outside of the grommet with tape to make a tighter fit inside the vase or not? Thanks - Josie

your thinking stem>grommet>tape into vase, no you need stem>tape>grommet>vase

the tape needs to be in between the stationary piece and the grommet to make the fit tighter but the friction is being put on the grommet
-matt

I gotcha. that makes sense now. I am kinda slow with putting things together. I can handle assembling massive lego sets with my little boy but apparently hookahs are out of my comfort zone.

[mattathayde]

Put the tape on the place where the grommet goes first. Otherwise the tape does not stay on the grommet. Thats what I had to do for the double pear I just got. It was little lose, so I wrapped some electrical tape around a few time, put the grommet on, it was a little lose still, so I put more tape on and it was good to go. The best thing to do with the one that is lose is buy a MYA band from HC. I have lots of them. Should be in everyones Hookah survival kit. Then you can take off the tape and it cleans up easy from the metal and then put the MYA band around the grommet. .

I am not sure I follow you. You mention the issue of the tape cleaning off the metal though, so I wanted to clarify that this looser grommet fits great with the stem but it is the grommet inside the vase fit that is too loose. So will it work to wrap the outside of the grommet with tape to make a tighter fit inside the vase or not? Thanks - Josie

your thinking stem>grommet>tape into vase, no you need stem>tape>grommet>vase

the tape needs to be in between the stationary piece and the grommet to make the fit tighter but the friction is being put on the grommet
-matt

I gotcha. that makes sense now. I am kinda slow with putting things together. I can handle assembling massive lego sets with my little boy but apparently hookahs are out of my comfort zone.

its chill, i happen to have the mechanical seeing things in my genes, my grandfather is really good at it and gets rather pissed when others cant see it, it kind of skipped my dad but i got the skill in full force. others couldnt put a bolt into a nut if their life depended on it. i understand the tape thing from paintball where people try to do that for hoppers to fit into the guns but it just doesnt work well

+100 on the legos though, me and my bro grew up on those things, my mom is about to finnish sorting about 20 years worth of legos from between the 2 of us since they all ended up in boxes and not as sets

-matt Edited July 21, 2008 by mattathayde

[Snoopy1966]

[/quote]
your thinking stem>grommet>tape into vase, no you need stem>tape>grommet>vase

the tape needs to be in between the stationary piece and the grommet to make the fit tighter but the friction is being put on the grommet
-matt
[/quote]

You took the words out of my mouth!! Thanks. Thats how I do it and thats what I tried to say. Thats what you get when you do not get much sleep for many days.

And I meant by cleaning the electrical tape off when you get a MYA band and put that on the outside of the gromet. stem>grommet>mya band vase>because that is better then the electrical tape breaking down and getting a sticky and stuff

[roadie]

Hi, I got my hookah and am excited to try it out but the thick black rubber gasket or grommet (I forgot which it is called) between the stem and vase is too tight and I almost busted the whole rig trying to get it out after I had forced it in there. I did try wetting it and I think it is still too tight because even when I got it in it wasn't level and is just super tight. Should I get a file and try to file or cut of some of the outside of the rubber grommet or can I put silicone lubricant on it or something? It is a KM jr. exotica if that matters. Thanks - Josie

I use a little vegetable or olive oil on the gasket.