Troubleshooting Common 510 Cart Issues

510 thread technology is the most standard battery and cart system in the world of vaping. People appreciate it for its versatility. You can mix and match cartridges, allowing you to try products from a wide variety of brands. The interface is simple, compact, and user-friendly.

However, you will still occasionally encounter problems. Dry hits. Weak vapor. Maybe just inefficient airflow. In this article, we take a look at the most common cart issues for 510 thread users and identify easy solutions.

Why Cart Problems Happen?

Though built to last and generally efficient, there are several common issues that lead to the majority of cart problems. Damaged connection points. Improper threading. Or incompatible products.

The latter point is of particular concern. Depending on where you shop, you might come across off-brand discount products. Though it might be tempting to save money, you need to make sure that the cartridge you are using is coming from a licensed manufacturer. Many of the worst vaping-related illnesses have been the result of people using unregulated cartridges.

The next few headings get very specific about troubleshooting problems that people commonly experience with their 510 vape cartridges.

Disclaimer

All of the recommendations that we are about to provide don’t really apply to off-brand cartridges purchased under questionable origins. In other words, if you’re using a vape cartridge that you bought outside of a dispensary setting, that in and of itself could easily be the problem.

It’s really important to use legitimate cartridges not only because they’ll perform better, but also because they are safer. Tempting though it might be to save a little bit of money on a discount cartridge, you’ll be better in the long run and in every conceivable way by using dispensary-quality materials every single time.

Any vaping-related illness or disease you’ve ever heard of in the context of cannabis consumption has been caused by off-market products or off-brand, unregulated products.

No Vapor Produced

The most obvious sign when something is wrong. You suck on your vape. Nothing comes out. The most obvious potential fix is to charge your battery. If the lights aren’t blinking and you haven’t used it in a while, that may be your issue. In which case, the easiest solution is simply to charge up. Give it at least an hour.

On the other hand, it could be the cartridge itself, in which case you might be looking at a connection issue. Threading areas can get gunked up with hardening oils. Some people will gently heat the area, either by running the heating element on the pen itself or even taking a hair dryer to the end of the unit and then swabbing it with cotton. This will help lift the oils and may reduce clogs.

Poor Battery Connection

You’re trying to hook up your cartridge, but it’s loose or misaligned. This is often the result of dirty contact points. Visually inspect the threading in your unit and again, swab it gently with a piece of cotton. Rubbing alcohol is an effective way to lift and remove gunky oils and other impurities.

Also, make sure that you’re tightening your unit correctly. A lot of people want to really crank it shut, but overtightening will damage the contact pin, which can ruin the cartridge altogether.

Clogged Airflow

You draw on the pen. If anything comes out at all, it’s a frail little flavorless wisp. This, you can tell, is different than the experience of, say, a cartridge that is nearing empty. For one thing, you can see that the reservoir is full. And for another, you’re familiar already with the unsatisfying burnt taste that comes with a cartridge nearing the end of its natural life.

Here, we have a clogged airflow filter. It’s common enough for frequently used vapes, but it’s also one of the more frustrating problems you can come across.

This is what happens. Oil achieves a soft liquefied state when it’s heated, but hardens inside the airway or around the heating element afterward. This will happen almost inevitably, no matter how or when you use your vape, but it’s made worse by cold storage conditions.

Another potential source of a clog is overstimulated heating elements. Yes, a common suspect for many vaping issues.

What happens in those cases is that you’re burning the oil in a way that produces sticky, difficult-to-remove resin. That is ultimately a harder issue to solve than simple, solidified oil.

In either case, you want to give your pen a good rubdown with rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab. Sometimes it’ll come up easy. Other times, it won’t. But in all cases, you have a fixable problem on your hands.

Dry Hits or Burnt Taste

You draw on your pen. It does produce vapor, but it tastes burnt. There are a couple of possible reasons. The first and most likely reason is that your cartridge is nearing the end of its life cycle. It’s not quite empty, but getting there. In which case, you may squeeze a few more hits out of it, but it will always be a matter of diminishing returns.

If you visually inspect the reservoir and can clearly see that there’s ample oil left over, it might be that you’re overstimulating the heating element or setting your voltage too high. Lower your power threshold and take more time in between hits.

Bubbles Forming in the Oil

This is a slightly less common complaint than the others we’ve described in this article. It’s also generally not an extremely concerning one. Oil bubbles forming in the tank could represent the owner’s habit of overfilling. It could also be indicative of recent changes in temperature.

For example, perhaps you’ve taken your pen from a temperature-controlled interior space to a very, very cold or very, very hot exterior one. This is generally not a significant issue, but it should be monitored. Extreme temperature fluctuations can damage the quality of both the oil and your pen’s battery.

The only time you should be really concerned with oil bubbles in your pen is in the case of a cartridge of unknown provenance. If you aren’t one hundred percent sure that the cartridge you’re using is from a licensed and approved manufacturer, bubbles should have a bigger implication.

If you think that your vape cartridge does have a sketchy origin story and you’re seeing those bubbles, consider that your sign to scrap the entire enterprise in favor of a safe cartridge of known origin. Cannabis vaping is generally considered safe when high-quality products are being used. That goes away when you’re puffing on an off-brand cartridge purchased from the back seat of a van.

Oil Running Out Quicker Than Expected

If you’re consistently finding that your cartridges are maxing out earlier than you thought they would, there are a few possibilities. Only one of which is that you’re entering the experience with unrealistic expectations.

First of all, the most likely scenario. In many cases, cartridges that are exhausting themselves too quickly are being overstimulated by the heating element. You have your heat setting cranked up too high, or you’re hitting too often. It’s good to allow your vape a sixty-second cooldown period in between hits. Otherwise, the heating element will overactivate, which can diminish the mileage you get out of each cartridge or even damage the oil.

There are other possibilities, of course. Maybe you draw longer than most people. Maybe you’re not storing your cartridge the right way, and it’s developed a leak that has hitherto gone unnoticed. Most of the time, though, when your cartridges aren’t going as far as you thought they would, it’s thanks to the heating element.

You don’t actually need to fix this problem if you prefer vaping this way, but you may find your overall experience to be more enjoyable if you step back just slightly.

Wrapping Things Up

When you lay out every potential problem a cartridge can experience, all in a row, it can sound very alarming. The reality is that eighty to ninety percent of the time, your vape cartridge is going to perform exactly the way you expect it to. There’s an additional ten to fifteen percent padding you can add simply by following best practices.

Every once in a while, yes, you’ll get a defective cartridge. In which case, you’ll probably need to cut your losses and replace the product. You may or may not receive a rebate by contacting the manufacturer or the dispensary. Dispensary records are generally well-kept, so it will at least be easy to prove your purchase.

At the end of the day, though, most of the time, cartridges are easy, low-maintenance products to own that require little in the way of maintenance or even forethought.

The two highest impact behaviors you can adopt today to avoid cartridge issues? The first is proper storage. We mentioned at several points in the article that there are plenty of common issues that can be caused by laying your cartridge on its side rather than upright. It’s mildly annoying, but it’s also impactful. If you have a good spot, just make a habit of keeping your cartridge in a standing position when you aren’t using it.

The other issue? Overstimulating the pen. That battery is going to get really, really hot if you aren’t giving it a little breathing room here and there. Use less voltage rather than more when in doubt, and don’t be afraid to pump the brakes on taking a hit.

One of the nice things about vaping cannabis? It’s not rocket science. A few simple tips here and there, and you’ll have an enjoyable, pleasant, predictable experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I prevent my 510 cartridge from getting clogged?

Store your cartridge upright at room temperature when not in use. Avoid leaving it in cold cars or hot environments. Take breaks between hits to let the heating element cool down for about sixty seconds. This prevents oil from burning and creating sticky residue that causes clogs.

Can I fix a clogged cartridge by heating it up?

Yes, gentle warming often works for clogs caused by hardened oil. Hold the cartridge in your hands for a few minutes or use a hair dryer on low heat from several inches away. Never use direct flame or high heat, as this can damage the cartridge or create safety hazards.

Why does my cartridge keep clogging even when stored properly?

Frequent use without cooldown periods can overstimulate the heating element, burning oil into sticky resin. Some cartridge designs are more prone to clogs than others. If you’re experiencing repeated clogs with proper storage and usage habits, consider switching to a different brand or cartridge style.

Is it safe to use a cartridge that has been clogged multiple times?

Multiple clogs can indicate burnt oil residue buildup inside the cartridge. While not immediately dangerous, this affects taste and vapor quality. If cleaning doesn’t resolve recurring clogs, replace the cartridge rather than continuing to use a compromised product.

What’s the difference between a clog and an empty cartridge?

Empty cartridges produce weak vapor with a burnt taste, and you can visually see little to no oil remaining. Clogged cartridges show plenty of oil in the reservoir but produce little to no vapor, or only thin, flavorless wisps when you draw on them.