CyborgCentaur Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 I did a search- if this has been addressed, my apologies, I missed it. This is more feedback than a question, or an issue needing immediate resolution, and it's not really a complaint, though I am a little disappointed. It seems that I have exactly the same problem with my fairly-new Voyager GT 8GB that I've had earlier with a Voyager 2GB drive, and before that with two rubber-clad-and-capped ATP Toughdrives. No problems with the electronics, and not that I'm prone to lose the cap because it's not attached- it's that the cap actually, physically, gets looser and looser over time. I know this doesn't jibe with most people's experience, and I think the key difference is that I wear the drive suspended around my neck, under my shirt, and pretty much 24 hours a day. I only take it off to use it (sometimes- sometimes I just plug it in to a USB cord while still around my neck, which I'm told is insufferably geeky), or to bathe, or for swimming, that sort of thing. This what I had in mind for all of these drives, and seems like use they should be well suited for. The caps, whether original or replacement (and I've had a number of each) start out plenty snug, but then, over a period of months, they gradually get easier and easier to slip off, until finally they're just falling off by themselves, first rarely, then pretty constantly. It's not an illusion, the cap actually seems to swell somehow and get physically looser. Cleaning the cap (inside and out, with various cleaners) and the USB plug has no effect, it doesn't seem to be any sort of surface contamination. It's not wear- I really don't use the drive all that often, usually no more than once a week or so. I've come to suppose that somehow the rubber itself is absorbing moisture from the high-humidity environment next to my skin, and gradually swelling. I've requested a (another) replacement cap, which I'm sure will solve the problem- for another four months or so. Am I the only one on the planet experiencing this, or has it been reported elsewhere, and Corsair is aware of it/working on it? Maybe it's not related to how I wear it at all, and the same phenomenon is behind other users losing theirs? Any feedback on preventing it, or solutions? After getting replacement caps, I've tried boiling, freezing, and even briefly microwaving the loose caps to see if I could get them to become snug again, but nothing so far has made any difference. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 22, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 22, 2007 Thank you for posting your comments and concerns and I will look into this and see what can be done. But one thing from what you posted that might be worth talking about was you say that you clean the drive and Cap I assume, what are you using to clean it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyborgCentaur Posted October 22, 2007 Author Share Posted October 22, 2007 Thanks.. I appreciate your time. At times in the past I thought that perhaps the caps were slipping off because of oils accumulating on the surfaces. In cleaning the caps I've tried dishwashing liquid or Simple Green and water (followed by drying with a paper towel, then a q-tip, then a hair dryer). On the USB connectors I've mostly just rubbed them with a paper towel or dry, clean cloth, but I did try alcohol on the one of the earlier drives, and on at least one cap. It increased friction slightly, just from having clean surfaces, but it didn't make any great difference. Seems counter-intuitive that rubber would absorb moisture, but I'm at a loss for a more reasonable hypothesis as to why this is happening. Of course, with a friction fit like this, a few thousandths of an inch could make a big difference. As I said, it first happened with the ATP "Toughdrives". The first time I reported it, they sent me two new caps, supposedly of improved design. I was hoping that would fix it, but it didn't, they both loosened up, over months each. After that, they didn't respond to my e-mails any more. I've got some rather stocky, small rubber bands that fit around the caps and help a bit, though they don't make them as snug as they should be. I saw a post here about heat-shrink tubing, and may try that if nothing else presents itself. For the record, I am otherwise pleased with the drive- it's MUCH faster than any of my older ones. Would be nice if the thumb drive manufacturers and Dell would get together on which side has the LED on it (it faces the wrong way on every USB port on every Dell I've tried), or maybe the LED could have a window to each side of the drive... but that's a quibble. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 23, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 23, 2007 Rubber will not absorb moisture, but some cleaning fluids may cause the rubber to soften and or swell. I would just use mild dish soap to clean it. But I have had mine for more than a year and I have never cleaned it. So I don't know why you would need to do that so much. And you should not use Petroleum or alcohol based cleaners with this device Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyborgCentaur Posted October 23, 2007 Author Share Posted October 23, 2007 Rubber will not absorb moisture, but some cleaning fluids may cause the rubber to soften and or swell. No doubt- but the cleaning was an attempt to deal with the loosening, so clearly that's not the case here. I would just use mild dish soap to clean it. But I have had mine for more than a year and I have never cleaned it. So I don't know why you would need to do that so much. Well, as I said, I thought that the fact that the cap was falling off (or slipping off) might be a result of surface contamination. Turns out not to be the case. That was the only reason for the cleaning, so let's not confuse cause and effect... Rubber will not absorb moisture... As I said, intuitively I'd agree. However, based on my actual experience, I'm unconvinced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted October 23, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted October 23, 2007 Thank you for the clarification and I will look for some answers for you, but for now all I can offer would be to replace the cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyborgCentaur Posted December 4, 2007 Author Share Posted December 4, 2007 Gotta say, I'm not thrilled with the way this is going. I sent an e-mail asking for a replacement cap on October 21st. The response said that I should receive it in "1-2 weeks". Still waiting. I sent a follow-up e-mail on November 30th. Not even a response yet. In the meantime, I'm keeping the cap on my 8GB GT by using a rubber band so it's snug enough to stay on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 5, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 5, 2007 Please either call our customer service at 888-222-4346 or 510-657-8747 and dial "0" or follow the link in my signature "If you have submitted the RMA using the on line form and have not got a reply!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
togoon Posted December 20, 2007 Share Posted December 20, 2007 Am I the only one on the planet experiencing this, No, I encountered the same problems with my cap. As you I tried different cleaning methods (beside boiling freezing and microwaving :): ) to get cap and plug free of grease (water, soap and even isopropanol) but nothing solved the problem. greetings togoon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted December 20, 2007 Corsair Employees Share Posted December 20, 2007 Please send a email request to jackflash@corsairmemory.com along with your name address and phone number and they will send you a new cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteT Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Am I the only one on the planet experiencing this Just for reference i am also experiencing this problem. I have sent an email to jackflash@corsairmemory.com Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsair Employees RAM GUY Posted January 22, 2008 Corsair Employees Share Posted January 22, 2008 NP Please let us know how you make out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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