Changing a clogged wick in Nova - with pics!

[Brambles]

I have been taking lots of pictures this evening, and although not totally happy I have all I need I thought I would post anyway and give a description write up for each explaining how to change a dirty wick in a working Vivi Nova.

PLEASE bear with me and not reply until I have finished posting the pics and writing up. Maybe this wil be useful info maybe not.

Picture one, the nova in bits and washed.

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[Brambles]

The clogged dirty wick which would not wash clean and had been dry burned a few times previoulsy.

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The atomiser head closer up

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[Brambles]

First remove the bottom contact insert noting how the two contact wires are located and seated. Carefully and gently remove the contact.

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[Brambles]

Now carefully remove the rubber bung being careful not to damage or bend the wires.

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[Brambles]

Noe remove the coil and wick carefully, you may need to move the wires slightly to unhook form under the bottom of the tube. The idea is not to distort the coil or wires in any way.

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[Brambles]

Cut a new piece of wick. You need a nice clean cut with a neat piece of wick as later you are going to thread this like a cotton in the eye of a needle. (3mm wick or you could use 4 pieces of 1mm)

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[Brambles]

Now you need to remove the old wick from the coil carefully. I was lucky and managed it easily. Hold the coil gently in your fingers and try and twist the wick in direction of its wind as you gently pull or push it out. If the coil is bonded to the wick with carbon then burn it clean in the flame of a lighter. You can also cut the wick on one side of the coil and then remove as easier. Do not disort the coil, but you may have to lossen the turns a bit at one or both ends. Use a cocktail stick to reform the coil and make sure it is all neatly shaped again. Sorry I do not have a pic yet of the cocktail stick being used.

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[Brambles]

The removed coil.
(edit - due to feed back later in forum). Now take the coil if dirty still and put in flame of a lighter. Hold legs in needle pliers or tweezers gently and slowly move the coiled part into the side of the flame until it is nice and clean. You do not want to heat the legs up in flame as could tarnish and not make a good connecftion when reassembled.

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[Brambles]

The coil now burmed clean and new piece of wick. The next bit is really fiddly. You need to thread the wick through the coil. Wet the end slightly ( don't lick it but wet your finger and then wet the wick) and twist like you would a piece of cotton threading a needle. Holding the coil very gently in your thumb and forefinger , rotate the wick as you gently try and push it through the coil. It is easy once you get the hang of it, patience and be gentle with it. The secret is rotating the wick by rolling in it your thumb and finger with other hand. I actually sometimes manage this without a bit of spit to dampen the wick end!!

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[Brambles]

Success!!! HOORAY!

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[Brambles]

Now to reasssemble. You need a small piece of tube to guide the wires down into the metal tube. Otherwise you will bend the legs. The idea is to form the coils legs to the shape they wil be when assembled. They will foul teh sides of the atomiser tube so the plastic straw helps. I cut a small length of plastic straw, then cut it along its length so I can roll it tigher and insert as shown.

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[Brambles]

Guide the legs down and press the tube through the atomiser base as you feed the wick into the slots. Small tweezers or needle nosed pliers used to flatten the wick to the width of the slot helps and down the wick goes. Pull the straw out the bottom and place in the top to hold the wick and coil in place...next pic but one

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[Brambles]

Note the wires at bottom.
One wire should be slightly longer than than the other, The long one is the centre contact and the short is the side or tube connection .

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[Brambles]

The long one is the centre contact and now the rubber bung can be position so it passes through the centre. The shorter wire is trapped against the outer tube by the bung. If all is neat and tidy it will line up with the wick slot. Lets calll it 9'o'clock. the wire through the centre hole should be sitting at 3'o'clock.

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