Slim Adjustable - Blade gap discrepancy?

[dbconlin]

I just picked up a '63 slim adjustable on eBay. I loaded a blade and noticed that at the lowest adjustment levels there is a visually obvious discrepancy between the blade gap on either side of the head (i.e. each edge of the DE).

Is this normal? Did I get a lemon? It is much less noticable if even present at higher adjustment levels (say getting above 4 or 5).

TIA.

 

[ssilcox]

This is a common occurance with adjustables. If they get dropped any time in their life they can have this issue.

Easy to fix. Get a set of needle nose pliers. I usually put some sort of cloth between the pliers and the razor, grip the guard bar on the bent side, then slowly - slowly - slowly - bend it back into place. It is easy to overdo it, so be patient and you can get it right back to where it should be.

 

[dbconlin]

I think perhaps I wasn't clear - the guard bars look straight, not bent. I mean the discrepancy is between one edge and the other (when you flip the head over). So I can shave one side at a certain adjustment level and when I flip it over, it is like I am on a different setting.

Thoughts?

 

[ginhud]

I think ssilcox hit the nail on the head. maybe it was out of synch in the past and someone straightened a bar but got one bar either too high or the other one too low. I had a fatboy out of synch and it took some time measuring and adjusting and same thing again many times till they equalled each other. use a feeler gauge to measure each side per the notes in the wiki. In the case of moving a whole bar up or down I think there are three points of attachment between bar and head. Of course the "how you do it" is entirely up to you because you can put a mark on the plating if anything goes wrong! hope this helps!

 

[ginhud]

another thought, be sure your adjuster is moving up and down and not stuck due to some previous foreign, well, crud, for lack of a better word. Good luck Sir!

 

[Boba Fett]

another thought, be sure your adjuster is moving up and down and not stuck due to some previous foreign, well, crud, for lack of a better word. Good luck Sir!

+1. If the guard bars look fine, I think this is much more likely. Get a good look into the mechanics of the razor, if you can, and you might see something. It has been suggested to clean razors by soaking them in a solution of scrubbing bubbles. If there is gunk in there, this should take care of it.

 

[ctakim]

About 50% of the slims and Fat Boys I've gotten off the bay have the safety bar out of alignment. I assume it is from drops or the bumps and bruises over time. I use a flat head screwdriver in the slot just behind the part of the safety bar that I want to gently raise. Do this with care and don't let the blade slip and it will leave no marks on the razor.

 

[dbconlin]

Thanks for the advice - I will try these.

Is there any reason this would be more likely with an adjustable?

 

[rainman]

Thanks for the advice - I will try these.

Is there any reason this would be more likely with an adjustable?

More moving parts, more of a chance for a problem.

 

[cpshave]

when you say guard bar or saftey bar, do you mean the bar in the middle that you put the razor on? I have the same problem with a fatboy.

 

[Muirtach]

About 50% of the slims and Fat Boys I've gotten off the bay have the safety bar out of alignment. I assume it is from drops or the bumps and bruises over time. I use a flat head screwdriver in the slot just behind the part of the safety bar that I want to gently raise. Do this with care and don't let the blade slip and it will leave no marks on the razor.

+1. I use a small electronics screwdriver. works great and allows for a bit more finesse than pliers

 

[cpshave]

is the safety guard under the blade area?

 

[ssilcox]

is the safety guard under the blade area?

Yes, it is the bar that is under the edge of the blade (and keeps us from slicing our face off )