Top-O-Matic
Posted by Dwayne on Tuesday, 08-Jan-2008
I have a Top-O-Matic and have been using Stokers #2 tobacco with premier tubes. I bought some Vera Cruz Nocturnes and am having trouble filling the tubes even when I use less tobacco. My premier tubes fill great but not the Vera Cruz. I know they are thicker paper but what is going on here?
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- Re: Top-O-Matic
- Posted by KL on Sunday, 13-Jan-2008
It seems to me, that the most reported problem with Top-O-Matics are under filling tubes. I myself have had the top's gripper rip the tube trying to hang on to it. But hanging on to the tube with your fingers fixes the problem so the gripper needs more surface area to hang onto the tube.
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I have even turned the tube so that the gripper is on the glued seam that runs length wise on the tube for more resistance to ripping with only limited results. It seems the gripper should be a half moon shaped shoe that grips the tube. The machine would work so much better as far as under filling goes.
- Re: Top-O-Matic
- Posted by Dave Lers on Tuesday, 15-Jan-2008
The source of the problem is the TOM's weak low quality (easily deformed/poor memory) spring. Putting the same size Supermatic spring on the TOM will significantly increase gripper holding power, allow for a proper release timing and a gripper with more surface area (e.g. surgical tubing).
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- Re: Top-O-Matic
- Posted by CASmoker on Monday, 21-Jan-2008
I have to agree with Dave. I bought a Top-O-Matic from Costco a little over a month ago. My first experiences with it were heavenly with the smooth action and consistent fills all the way to the filter without any need to tap down the sticks. After stuffing about 3-4 cartons of smokes over a 2-3 week period I started to experience the problem with early release of the tube and it is indeed from fatigue of the spring on the tube release mechanism. Last night the problem reached it's pinnacle with the early tube release occurring with almost a quarter of the tubes I stuffed. Going back to my 9 year old Supermatic II, I found no problems with early tube release and consistently packed sticks with every crank. My original inclination was to get one of the current Supermatics to compliment the Supermatic II that has served me so well over the years and that is probably what I'll do with my next tobacco order. Thank goodness for Costco's no-nonsense return policy
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- Re: Top-O-Matic
- Posted by Dave Lers on Monday, 21-Jan-2008
My main issue is the light spring tension, its so borderline that any wear to the gripper face significantly reduces the grippers grip. You could see if you can find a stronger spring and some latex surgical tubing (can't vouch for the RC/silicone tubing). Try the spring first. If the tubes tear, try the tubing. If you still get tearing, you'll have to adjust the release timing or see if you can find a slightly weaker spring.
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- Re: Top-O-Matic
- Posted by KL on Tuesday, 08-Jan-2008
I Know the machine is supposed to hold the tube on the nozzle for you, but for whatever reason the tubes coming off early right ?
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So until you get your tobacco right or the machine adjusted, just hold the tube on the nozzle with your fingers while you inject (with a light pinch-like action) just start holding the tube on the nozzle at the point when it's coming off too early (so that it wont come off too early anymore). then when you feel the spoon hit the filter, let it go, At that point, let the spoon push the tube off the nozzle by it's self then crank the handel back like normal, you should have a perfect smoke.
There are sections of this forum to learn how to tune your machine and/or tobacco for best results, so you don't have to use little bandaid moves like this one. In other words, this is a temp. suggestion