Help with Gilette Fatboy problem.

[perry01150]

Hi.

Finally caved in and bought myself a Gillette Fatboy. Well I say a.......I bought two.

Both arrived from the US this week. Was really lucky with one as it came in original box and metal razor blade case (bit rusty but very nostalgic).

Anyway the reason I'm raising this post is that both razors are obviously identical, other than ones an E1 and the other is a F1. The F1 feels really slick when opening, you get abit of a smooth resistance when turning the mechanism and when closing you get the little quarter turn to lock.

The E1 though feels abit rough. Bit squeaky when turning, a lot less smooth and no quarter turn at the end. More like tightening a bolt.

I know these items are very old I was just wondering is this normal. Is there a quick DIY refurb I can do to fix one. Any advice would be great. I am new to the older razors as. Cheers peoples.

 

[garyg]

Soak overnight in some dishwashing liquid and really hot water, usually that will flush them out. If not, repeat. You can use mineral oil to re-lube after it is cleaned out a bit. You can actually disassemble the E for cleaning but it is fiddly.

 

[perry01150]

Cheers chaps. The quarter turn is there now. Still abit sneaky. Will cycle chain oil suffice or is mineral oil specific for the razor?

 

[garyg]

I'd give it another soak, mineral oil is actually digestible, I'd not want chain oil on me face, but your choice, glad it has loosened up

 

[perry01150]

Good point. Think I was thinking mechanically not facially......if you know what I mean. Thanks for the tips. Test shave tomorrow. Level 5 to start need to research which way to go for more aggressive/less aggressive. I assume one is the harshist.

 

[i8ntskeered]

1 is the least blade exposure, or "mildest" setting. I have better luck with a higher, or "aggressive," setting. YMMV.

Alex, a very knowledgable member, recommeds soaking in hot water and Dawn dishwashing liquid as many times as necessary to de-gunk adjustables and get the moving parts moving smoothly.

Enjoy your new razors! They are awesome shavers.

 

[alex2363]

1 is the least blade exposure, or "mildest" setting. I have better luck with a higher, or "aggressive," setting. YMMV.

Alex, a very knowledgable member, recommeds soaking in hot water and Dawn dishwashing liquid as many times as necessary to de-gunk adjustables and get the moving parts moving smoothly.

Enjoy your new razors! They are awesome shavers.

Yes, I have personally done that to many razors including my own. I would recommend this soaking step as the primary step to the Fatboy recovery. The keyword is patience. The razor did not get gunked up overnight. I am sure it took decades, so atleast give it hours or days for it to get degunked.

 

[mikelz777]

What is the issue if your Fatboy is totally clean inside but it is very difficult to make the 1/4 turn lock? It's been so difficult to turn at times that I just turn it enough so the bay doors stay closed and the razor doesn't slip out of the "1/8th turn". (I get about 1/2 way to the 1/4 turn before I feel I shouldn't force it further.) I'm 100% certain the razor is clean as a whistle because I partially disassembled it. There's no difficulty at all making the 1/4 turn lock when there is no blade in it.

One thing I do notice is when I shake the razor to rid it of water, is that there is a very slight play between the handle and the twist knob that opens the doors. It doesn't drop and it isn't what I'd call loose but when I shake it I notice it. Might that have something to do with it? Does it have something to do with the positioning of that interior washer that can't be removed? (The shaft goes through it and the little "shoulders" on the bottom half of the shaft rest on it.)

 

[mikelz777]

Maybe it's a spring issue? When disassembled, I recall that the spring was flat on each end as if from years of friction. I just re-tested it now and find that I can't get the 1/4 turn lock down with the blade removed either. It also has a squeak I can't remedy. The adjustments and everything work just fine as they should with the exception of the 1/4 turn lock. It locks down just fine without the full 1/4 turn. If it were an easy fix it would be nice if it worked like my Slim which has no issues. Maybe I'll just have to chalk it down as quirks of an old but perfectly functional razor and leave it at that.

 

[perry01150]

Just to update the soaking and also scraping out abit of ingrained gunk in the thread of the opening nob has enabled it to be locked fully now. Only issue is the two hav a very different feel when locking. One is really smooth, the other abit loose and squeaky. Just wondered why and if it could be remedied. Oh the soaking advice was golden. Thanks.

 

[alex2363]

Just to update the soaking and also scraping out abit of ingrained gunk in the thread of the opening nob has enabled it to be locked fully now. Only issue is the two hav a very different feel when locking. One is really smooth, the other abit loose and squeaky. Just wondered why and if it could be remedied. Oh the soaking advice was golden. Thanks.

Continue soaking, be patient and u will reap the rewards.

 

[alex2363]

Just to update the soaking and also scraping out abit of ingrained gunk in the thread of the opening nob has enabled it to be locked fully now. Only issue is the two hav a very different feel when locking. One is really smooth, the other abit loose and squeaky. Just wondered why and if it could be remedied. Oh the soaking advice was golden. Thanks.

Try give it taps on the bottom plate with a small rubber hammer ( i use the end of screw handle) and tap on it as you turn the a adjusters and open and close the doors as you tap the bottom plate.