@sethhobrin One thing that I've found really helps is to always take off the threaded cap and screw the cart onto that separately first. Then screw the threaded cap and cart all at once onto the 8.
Start with the gold nuts on the 8 center post adjusted way up. As you screw the cap and cart down you'll feel resistance once they connect with those gold nuts. Stop once you feel solid resistance don't keep tightening it down.
Since you adjusted the gold nuts way up there will be a gap between the threaded cap and the 8. Use the size of the gap to tell you how much to screw down the gold nuts so that the gap goes away. I personally make sure there is always solid resistance on those final few turns. This way I know the cart and the gold nuts are making tight contact.
Well written... although I do suggest I suggest one significant difference; Start with the nuts properly installed and run all the way down. Make sure the tapered lower nut covers the unthreaded lower portion of the post; "down" on that nut feels sharper up top. The part that goes up is flat on top. The top nut make sure it's flat on top. Run the nuts all the way down but not tight. Feel the (lack of) resistance threading just the top cap onto the 8 body, and how there is Zero resistance until the top cap bottoms out against the 8 housing!
One thing to consider: You must build the cartridge assembly from the top-down, then install it onto the top cap, then adjust the gold post. If you install a Hercules bottom insulator with no cartridge to make contact with the pin inside the insulator, the adjustment of the 8 will be off; the top nut will be adjusted too far outwards.
For example: Seat the pin of the AC base by removing the coil, pushing the base onto a table, and seating its center pin into the base. Then thread the coil into the AC base and ensure you feel contact being made (slight resistance or drag) before the coil bottoms. If your coil is oily you may elect to place a housing over it; if clean maybe not... In any case, now that the Alpha Centauri is fully assembled, install the unit into the 601 (or 510, if that's what you're working with) threaded 8 top, and only then proceed to adjust the 8 post.
If you thread the top cap all the way in, take the top cap off and try facing the button towards you, then pinch and hold the top nut while spinning the vaporizer button away from you 180°. Reinstall the top cap+assembly and gently at the end- see if you feel any resistance. If not, try another 180° and test again. If you over shoot that perfect contact 'just at the end', all you have to do is back off the nut a little bit: The ideal spot to feel resistance is in the final 5-10° of threading the 510 or 601 cap onto the 8, 1-2 sheets of paper thickness gap before the cap goes snug. If you have to tighten say a full 1/4 turn that's going to put unnecessary force on the vaporizer cartridge / AC bottom assembly / Hercules bottom assembly.
