yes me too. Had my Solo a week or so. Got one of Ed's stems, used it for one session then went to see if the glass stock stem fit as well and noticed how loose the glass became. Frustrating, because the glass was perfect before, now the glass will fall out easily. What are you doing? Rings, new retainer ring, call Arizer?
Howdy. Sounds like Ed's stem might be a little bigger than the stock one you were using? It opened the seal up a bit more?
It would have happened anyway, others report the stem loosening up over time. Mine did even though for the first few weeks I used only the bent stem it came with. About the time I started using my GonG stem from PV the stock one started turning on it's own.
Dreamer used to combat this by pressing the edge of the (hot at the time) seal inward with the stem in a few places. She reported this tightened it up for a while.
IMO it was going to happen anyway, all you did is move that date forward some. I doubt if Arizer ever planned to guarantee tight fit (anyone get service to correct this 'flaw'?)....for sure they never intended we use the stem as a handle.
OF, I have the "thick cap." So when I get some o-rings I'll have to shave them or just not screw the lid on all the way correct? Bummer that I don't have the right cap to have no mods done to the ring, but oh well more DIY for me
Yes, I think that's right, although I've never done it. Mine fits perfectly (or nearly so) and the thick lid version isn't really mine to play with.
I guess a guy could carefully go after it with a razor blade, but I'd be more tempted to sand it? Maybe stick the ring to a block of wood with some double stick tape and rub the lot over a sheet of 240 or 320 grit in a circles or figure 8s? Then flip it over and go after the other side?
I've also done similar things with Duct Tape (the Handyman's Secret Weapon....) and adding a sheet of paper with a hole in it around the part to keep the tap from sticking to the sandpaper. Either way will keep you from sanding your fingerprints off in the process.
In any event, the critical part of the ring is, I think, the center part when laying on it's side? That is if you look at a cross section of the 'cord' of the ring you want to keep between 2 and 4 o'clock (and 8 and 10 on the other side) while going after the 11 to 1 o'clock part and 5 to 7? Sanding equal width 'flat spots' on the ring seems like the call to me.
It might be worth looking into a thinner ring, say size 015? It's 1/8 not 3/32 cord (but the same ID so stem fit should be similar). That's about what I measure the cover difference to be. Perhaps someone can find one at a local hardware store (wrong material) and try it for fit? If I remember, next time I'm down I'll have a look here.
OF