Slim Locking Mechanism

[bryan1980]

I've noticed that the lock down knob on my Slim has gotten very hard to tighten. It's almost impossible to lock it down with wet hands. Is there anything I can do about this?

 

[Go West Young Man]

Likely just some residue getting in the works and gunking it up. Just give it a good long soak in warm soapy water, it should clear itself up.

 

[bryan1980]

Likely just some residue getting in the works and gunking it up. Just give it a good long soak in warm soapy water, it should clear itself up.

Will do, the only reason I didn't do it to this one is that I got it off the 'Bay, and the seller claimed it was "shave ready".

 

[Go West Young Man]

Ick! Any razor you buy used needs a thorough cleaning before use.

 

[ALATRON]

I'm not sure of the need to wrench the gillette adjustables closed for every shave. If it feels secure that should be enough. It seems more like it will early break it.

 

[BBrad]

One of the most common issues with Gillette Adjustables is gunk accumulating in the coils of the compression spring located at the bottom of the handle. This spring is what gives us the "quarter turn lockdown" that we feel when we tighten the razor. Chris is correct - a good long soak in hot soapy water is the ticket! Work the mechanism during the soak to help break up the crud.

People have also had success using solvents like mineral oil or WD-40 poured/sprayed down the center shaft to help dissolve the gunk prior to the hot water soak. Mineral oil won't harm a thing, but do not soak the razor in WD-40 or let the residue remain on the outer surface as it can damage the plating.

"Shave Ready" only means "clean enough for a pretty picture" to some eBay sellers . . . your razor is due for a nice hot bubble bath!

 

[BBrad]

I'm not sure of the need to wrench the gillette adjustables closed for every shave. If it feels secure that should be enough. It seems more like it will early break it.

The Gillette Adjustables have a compression spring which must be compressed in order to keep the blade from loosening during use. The spring compensates for the change in assembly length resulting from adjustment. My first Slim didn't compress . . . I didn't know it was supposed to and wondered why the razor kept cutting me!

I'm not sure I want to meet the guy that can break a Slim or Fat Boy with his bare hands . . . unless I'm sure he's on my team!!

 

[bryan1980]

I did give it a toothbrush scrub under some warm running water with some dishwashing soap after I got it, then I hit it with some MAAS. It's soaking as we speak.

 

[Go West Young Man]

I did give it a toothbrush scrub under some warm running water with some dishwashing soap after I got it, then I hit it with some MAAS. It's soaking as we speak.

In that case, you're golden!

 

[drawonme]

I always finish with a tiny drop of mineral oil. Seems to keep the mechanism clean longer.

 

[celestino]

Likely just some residue getting in the works and gunking it up. Just give it a good long soak in warm soapy water, it should clear itself up.

+1 with what Chris suggested. Good soak should help out.

 

[rajagra]

Is there any chance the change you've noticed is due to using a different setting?
The quarter-turn that is often mentioned is misleading. The distance you have to turn to lock varies with the setting. At least on mine.

 

[BBrad]

. . .
The quarter-turn that is often mentioned is misleading. The distance you have to turn to lock varies with the setting. At least on mine.

+1 . . . absolutely!!