Problem with DD TDX design

[Hansfragger]

I took my system apart to modify(hopefully for the better)a number of it's parts. My DD Brass top, copper bottom TDX has never been opened. As I looked into the inlet barb It looked like a worm had taken up residence! As I removed the top to serve an eviction notice, I saw the problem. Danger Den uses an oval shaped foam gasket to hold pressure against the removable nozzle plate. The gasket has a "peel and stick" surface that mates to one side of the nozzle. Then you place the assembly into a recess in the bottom half of the block, then put the top half of the block on with four allen head bolts. I am now concerned with the design of the "replaceable nozzle plates". It appears to me the foam is not dense enough and during the few months it was in use the gasket slid over and blocked a large portion of the inlet directly above the jets!
My system: Modified DDC-12 pump - TDX - DDMaze4 low profile Acetal GPU - BIE 2 - modified Angel Eye Res - back to pump. Using Fluid XP and 1/2" ID tubing.

This really stinks because now I don't feel comfortable using this block. Has anyone else ran into this problem?

[acileli]

How about replacing the neoprene gasket with a suitably sized rubber o-ring?

[BillA]

a stick-on 'seal'
have realistic expectations
sure it was not initially that way ?

[jaydee]

Just to verify what was said I took my TDX apart and sure enough. They "stick" the neoprene onto the jet. Not sure why they would do something like. I never liked the neoprene approach they used and like it less with that stick on crap. Not to many glues that won't eventually come apart in water let alone antifreeze or any other additive.

It would not have been hard at all to get rid of the that neoprene with a solid jet and still make them changeable. In fact they are doing way to much mill work on the block. But I am no engineer.

[acileli]

I neglected to mention in my first post that I've encountered the same problem, in fact its happened 2 or 3 times over the last year or so. I noticed the gasket issue while investigating a problem I was having with gradual temp increases. I don't know for sure if it was the problem, but a disintegrated gasket sloshing around the TDX couldn't have helped.

Switching from intel to amd cpu's in the next few days, so I'll have a chance to pop off the TDX cover and try a small o-ring above the nozzle instead, but i'm thinking that'll start to shift over time as well.

Meanwhile, I emailed DD and asked them about it. Still waiting for a reply.

[Etacovda]

Originally Posted by jaydee

Just to verify what was said I took my TDX apart and sure enough. They "stick" the neoprene onto the jet. Not sure why they would do something like. I never liked the neoprene approach they used and like it less with that stick on crap. Not to many glues that won't eventually come apart in water let alone antifreeze or any other additive.

It would not have been hard at all to get rid of the that neoprene with a solid jet and still make them changeable. In fact they are doing way to much mill work on the block. But I am no engineer.

Doesnt take an engineer to realise that they're way, way overdoing the machining time on those blocks.

[bigben2k]

Originally Posted by acileli

...Meanwhile, I emailed DD and asked them about it. Still waiting for a reply.

Please let us know the result of your inquiry.

[acileli]

No problem.

[RedViper]

I had the same issue with the neoprene gasket falling apart. After explaining the issue to Dave at DD, and suggesting a hard-rubber replacement, the conversation abruptly ended with no further traffic from DD. The fact that the TDX with a brass top is built well, except for the concept behind the gasket, is pretty sad. So, to make myself "feel" better I bought a Storm for my next refit.

[acileli]

we must be in parallel universes cuz I did exactly the same.

Contacted DD several weeks ago about it and the only reply was "we'll get back to you later" . I lost patience, picked up a Storm for my new X2 and they're currently getting along quite nicely.

I guess DD's r&d dept. is too busy working on the next design to field questions about a 6 month old block.

[RedViper]

I respect DD, but an issue like this should have been resolved without much trouble. I'll hold on to my TDX just in case though.

[Hansfragger]

Hello everybody. Just an update-DD never responded to the TDX design flaw problem. I guess were just all on our own. I am also going to make the switch to AMD- I will use a Storm or Apogee.

[Marci]

Righty - just spoke to Dan @ DangerDen, who say's they changed the density of the insert pad so this is no longer a issue. If you e-mail Dan directly (dano@dangerden.com) he'll get replacement inserts out to those who require them.

[Brians256]

Did he say why he didn't respond earlier? I've never had a problem communicating with DD, but I've only emailed them twice, and that's just not a representative sample.

[Marci]

Dunno... he apologised that it had been overlooked... was dan e-mailed directly previously, or was general technical contact used...?

(PS: I'll be editing dan's e-mail addy out of the post shortly to save it from gettin' picked up by spambots)

[Hansfragger]

Marci-Thank you for stepping in and bringing this to Dan's attention. I never knew we could directly E-mail him. Looks like he is the man to get things done! I just received a PM from Dan requesting my address so he can ship me the new replacement pads.

[gmat]

Originally Posted by Brians256

Did he say why he didn't respond earlier? I've never had a problem communicating with DD, but I've only emailed them twice, and that's just not a representative sample.

I had no problems communicating with them either, even asking some general sales question. Dan answered all emails. I hope it's still the case :P

[Brians256]

The only thing I can think of is that they are incredibly busy. I know that they used to have a day job too at a local machine shop, which meant that they were using "spare" time to run DD. I think that they are just stretched thin, but they do care.

[gmat]

Doesn't Dan run the thing full time now ? DD has been a major player in the industry for some time now, and they're still running strong (with good European market penetration, for an US watercooling company..)

[Hansfragger]

Originally Posted by Hansfragger

Marci-Thank you for stepping in and bringing this to Dan's attention. I never knew we could directly E-mail him. Looks like he is the man to get things done! I just received a PM from Dan requesting my address so he can ship me the new replacement pads.

I forgot to elaborate on the replacement pads. Dan told me they quit using the soft foam pads because of the type of problems I and others were having. The replacement pads he is sending me are a new style to correct the problem.

[acileli]

Replacement pads on the way here as well.

[Brians256]

Originally Posted by gmat

Doesn't Dan run the thing full time now ? DD has been a major player in the industry for some time now, and they're still running strong (with good European market penetration, for an US watercooling company..)

Good question. I'd hope so, but don't know for sure.

[Marci]

Dan, Jeremy, Debbi and Terri are all there fulltime... anyone else - not a clue! They're the only ones I ever deal with...

[NeoReaper]

i was wondering if the polytop version of the tdx is susceptible to this problem or is it only the copper top that has this prob

[Hansfragger]

Unless the polytop is made thicker at the point where the gasket is compressed, and even then the original gaskets are just too pliable. I received my new pads, and although I haven't had a chance to install them, I was curious as to how much more rigid the foam was. Not very scientific, but I squeezed an unused original version and an unused new version. The original version is soft and squishy. The new version's feel like hard rubber! Thanks to Dan and DD for taking care of us!