hi all, i have recently bought a gillette aristocrat adjustable (for those who don't know it's exactly the same as the slim adjustable but gold plated) it is in a perfect condition, the plating is perfect, the TTW mechanism is perfect with quarter turn and all, also the adjustment ring is perfect and clicks fine, the problem is that the plate itself won't move, it's stuck and moves under some force, also what I notice is that it is always stuck on the most aggressive settings even if i try to push the plate downwards then close the TTO mechanism it comes back to the most aggressive settings again? I have soaked it in hot water with dish soap, obviously went at it with a brush and dish soap, put mineral oil in it couple of times and let soak over night, boiled it, all with no luck of actually getting the mechanism to work, I have another TTO adjustable from Gillette (super adjustable) and when on 1 the plate moves so freely with just the touch of my finger?! it is in an overall perfect condition so I don't really know what is wrong with it. If you could help I'd be very thankful.
Gillette slim adjustable (Aristocrat) adjustable plate won't move
- Thread starter ahmoudy
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Send it to Back Roads Gold for there $30 tune up service. He does a great job. I had a Fatboy with same problem, works great now.
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- #3
unfortunately I am in Egypt, it would cost me a fortune to send it to the US for a repair. I just want to know if that is something I could work on myself.
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- #5
There is a way to re-clock malfunctioning adjuster knobs on Fatboy and Slim adjustables.
Just search youtube
Just search youtube
Your spring doesn't look like the cause.
The more I play with this the more enigmatic the mechanism is.
My best guess at this point is that an internal nut is simply out of adjustment, perhaps after having worked loose.
Or... possibly... there is still crud inside, acting as a spacer and forcing it into the hard setting.
You've already boiled it, maybe doing it again for longer would help. I know this is safe on a normal slim, but I'd worry about gold plating. You were braver than me boiling it despite logic saying it's safe. Maybe get other opinions or research it. Then boil it aggressively for a long time if the concensus is it's safe. But do check first.
The more I play with this the more enigmatic the mechanism is.
My best guess at this point is that an internal nut is simply out of adjustment, perhaps after having worked loose.
Or... possibly... there is still crud inside, acting as a spacer and forcing it into the hard setting.
You've already boiled it, maybe doing it again for longer would help. I know this is safe on a normal slim, but I'd worry about gold plating. You were braver than me boiling it despite logic saying it's safe. Maybe get other opinions or research it. Then boil it aggressively for a long time if the concensus is it's safe. But do check first.
Please, please, please don't boil it any more. Getting all the junk out just takes time and patience.
Have a look at this post I put up years ago - Slim adjustable internals and disassembly - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/slim-adjustable-internals-and-disassembly.320693/
There is quite a bit to clean in there.
Soak in dish washing liquid and water, try ultrasonic if possible.
Maybe try a weak vinegar solution or propriatory scale remover to remove scale, don't soak too long with this.
If all else fails it's really not that hard to strip down if that way inclined.
Steve.
Have a look at this post I put up years ago - Slim adjustable internals and disassembly - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/slim-adjustable-internals-and-disassembly.320693/
There is quite a bit to clean in there.
Soak in dish washing liquid and water, try ultrasonic if possible.
Maybe try a weak vinegar solution or propriatory scale remover to remove scale, don't soak too long with this.
If all else fails it's really not that hard to strip down if that way inclined.
Steve.
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Here are two photos on settings 1 and setting 9. I guess the blade gap is right for each settings? While at it i noticed a little blade dent, one of the doors wasn’t completely shut properly, looked it up apparently thats a T bar problem and its tilted, wrapped a tape around a plier and grabbed the end cap with it, tilted it back into place and now it’s perfectly aligned (i think? Even if not thats ok as long as my OCD doesn’t notice it).
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Well WD save day now I would clean well in dishsoap, let dry and use some Olive Oil on moving parts.
WD 40 could case skin problems. Reason I said to clean, and relive with food grade oil.
EclipseRedRing
I smell like a Christmas pudding
I would avoid using olive oil as a lubricant as it will probably turn rancid, especially given that the OP resides in the hot climate of Egypt. I suggest a light mineral oil would be more suitable.
Your gaps look identical to mine.
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- #15
Your gaps look identical to mine.
I have cleaned it thoroughly after the WD40 solution. It seemed like a last resort to me to be honest. And anyway i have a month off starting Tuesday and hence I shaved today I won’t shave again until the 27th of August. So I’ll let it dry out completely for a month and wash again with hot water and dish detergent. I don’t seem to see any trace of WD40 on the upper parts at least since I brushed it with a toothbrush and dish detergent but will still do that again few more times during the month. I usually use mineral oil (I’ll do that from now on) so no more WD but it was a necessity right now
Mineral oil is safe, remember little goes long way.
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- #17
Hence it is fixed, mineral oil is def my go to from now on. It is what I use on my 1976 Gillette super adjustable 109, and it's been utterly great.
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- #18
Love that, will have my first proper shave with it tomorrow. I shaved with it while it was stuck. It was like on settings 10 or more, It was impossible not to cut myself with it, luckily just gave me a little nick under my nose, but I guess tomorrow imma have better luck with it, I hopeYour gaps look identical to mine.
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- #19
I agree, it was literally 110f a couple of days ago and today is 100f. I am glad I used WD 40, thing is magic.
I was going to suggest a de-greaser. I had a coffee grinder adjustment seize up. The coffee oil hardened. Same thing happened on my bicycles (only it wasn't coffee oil).
Skip vegetable oils. They catch dust, harden, and go rancid. Mineral oil is good, a little graphite or something like tri-flow (a mixture of silicone and teflon that momentarily foams to work it's way in.
WD40 doesn't work well as a lasting lubricant. As you noticed, it all evaporates quickly. The WD stands for Water Displacement.
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