EK quantum torque micro 90 degree issues

Jamin280672 · 7 Sep 2023 at 19:17

Is it just me or has anyone else experienced and issues with these fittings ?

In total I've brought 4, and they're really not cheap, so far out of the 4, I've only had 1 that haven't failed in some way......yet !!!, whilst connecting the first one the Alan key joint snapped off and fell inside the fitting, leaving shards of metal to fall into my water block, I couldn't get the fitting back out and had to dremmel it in half to be able to remove it from my water block, I then had to strip my water block down to remove all the shards of metal that fell through which turned out to be the 4 little posts that connect the top Alan key to the bottom thread, I wasn't even doing it up that tight, just pinching it up.

The next 2 just leaked like a tap from the same place (the Alan key joint)

I'm using 1 now but closely monitoring it for leaks as I'm starting to rapidly lose trust in these fittings.

Dodgy EK fittings

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momo56 · 7 Sep 2023 at 20:20

Standard EK QC unfortunately.

Their RMA procedure is decent though so should get replacements.

Look into Barrow if you need micro 90s. About 18.5mm height.

Jamin280672 · 7 Sep 2023 at 21:06

momo56 said:
Look into Barrow if you need micro 90s. About 18.5mm height.

Thanks, just ordered a load along with a drain valve which I could do with.

Jamin280672 · 11 Sep 2023 at 18:37

Barrow fittings came today, and whilst removing the EK micro fitting, the same thing happened again, I won't ever be buying these again, in with the dremmel again.

Yet another one, that's 4 gone, don't waste your money

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momo56 · 11 Sep 2023 at 18:45

Jamin280672 said:
Barrow fittings came today, and whilst removing the EK micro fitting, the same thing happened again, I won't ever be buying these again, in with the dremmel again.

Yet another one, that's 4 gone, don't waste your money

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Nervous now, got 4 of these in my system. Let me know how the barrow ones are.

Parsley · 11 Sep 2023 at 19:06

The best low profile fittings I've used are Koolance "Swivelling Elbow" ones. They can be a bit fidgety with the two washers, but I've never had one fail.

NZL-LXG2

momo56 · 11 Sep 2023 at 19:17

Parsley said:
The best low profile fittings I've used are Koolance "Swivelling Elbow" ones. They can be a bit fidgety with the two washers, but I've never had one fail.

NZL-LXG2

Agreed those are solid . Got a couple myself, problem is they don't work with some 16/10 and 13/10 fittings.

Jamin280672 · 11 Sep 2023 at 19:51

momo56 said:
Agreed those are solid . Got a couple myself, problem is they don't work with some 16/10 and 13/10 fittings.

Ooops, I'm using 13/10 compression fittings with soft tubing.

The barrow ones are great, very small and solid, could do with a couple of rotary fittings for a couple of them though.

Jamin280672 · 11 Sep 2023 at 20:13

Parsley said:
The best low profile fittings I've used are Koolance "Swivelling Elbow" ones. They can be a bit fidgety with the two washers, but I've never had one fail.

NZL-LXG2

Thanks, they look like the dogs doo da's but not available in the UK, I can get them from the USA but postage is a rip.

Parsley · 12 Sep 2023 at 11:40

Jamin280672 said:
Thanks, they look like the dogs doo da's but not available in the UK, I can get them from the USA but postage is a rip.

Yeah, I had issues as well and couldn't get them initially, I ended up buying a few when some stock turned up somewhere. They're worth keeping an eye out for if you remember, I wouldn't have fit everything in my current build without two of them (fluked my way to things only just fitting).

Jay85 · 12 Sep 2023 at 13:27

Jamin280672 said:
Is it just me or has anyone else experienced and issues with these fittings ?

In total I've brought 4, and they're really not cheap, so far out of the 4, I've only had 1 that haven't failed in some way......yet !!!, whilst connecting the first one the Alan key joint snapped off and fell inside the fitting, leaving shards of metal to fall into my water block, I couldn't get the fitting back out and had to dremmel it in half to be able to remove it from my water block, I then had to strip my water block down to remove all the shards of metal that fell through which turned out to be the 4 little posts that connect the top Alan key to the bottom thread, I wasn't even doing it up that tight, just pinching it up.

The next 2 just leaked like a tap from the same place (the Alan key joint)

I'm using 1 now but closely monitoring it for leaks as I'm starting to rapidly lose trust in these fittings.

Dodgy EK fittings

Discover the magic of the internet at Imgur, a community powered entertainment destination. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more from users like gooseUK8.

imgur.com

I've got a few of these and using 2 on my main rig right now in satin silver and tbh have been great. Gave me the wiggle room i needed in a previous build.

Thats bad to see the hex part shear like that! It defo shouldn't be that brittle thats for sure.

None of mine have leaked (yet), 2 of them i have been using for 3 years now.

SpudMaster · 12 Sep 2023 at 15:08

EK may be the cool kids when it comes to watercooling but unfortunately for them and those who buy them their QC is terrible. They used to make nice parts once but now its just over priced and underperforming rubbish

Jamin280672 · 12 Sep 2023 at 17:40

SpudMaster said:
EK may be the cool kids when it comes to watercooling but unfortunately for them and those who buy them their QC is terrible. They used to make nice parts once but now its just over priced and underperforming rubbish

Yeah....im starting to see that myself now, these Barrow fittings seem pretty good, very solid, and thanks to @Parsley ive managed to source a couple of those Koolance "Swivelling Elbow" fittings which i'll stick on my water block at the weekend.

Jay85 · 12 Sep 2023 at 18:13

SpudMaster said:
EK may be the cool kids when it comes to watercooling but unfortunately for them and those who buy them their QC is terrible. They used to make nice parts once but now its just over priced and underperforming rubbish

I try to avoid EK whenever i can tbh, most of my watercooling gear isn't even EK anymore, been let down too many times. 10 years ago they were something else, really good and unique with a high level of care. Now it just seems they're more interested in churning out products regardless of the level of quality.

Vidar · 12 Sep 2023 at 20:42

Honestly can't say I've had any problems with any of the EK stuff I've had, and I use them almost exclusively now. The one issue with a cracked port on a distro was likely my fault and they replaced it out of warranty for me without issue. Their 4090 fe block is a pain to install and they really need better thermal pads but other than cost it's my only gripe with them.

SpudMaster · 12 Sep 2023 at 22:14

Vidar said:
Honestly can't say I've had any problems with any of the EK stuff I've had, and I use them almost exclusively now. The one issue with a cracked port on a distro was likely my fault and they replaced it out of warranty for me without issue. Their 4090 fe block is a pain to install and they really need better thermal pads but other than cost it's my only gripe with them.

You may have been lucky with their products but you can't deny they are overpriced. Their 4090 waterblock is something daft like £300+ when other brands offer blocks for half the price

Vidar · 13 Sep 2023 at 00:14

SpudMaster said:
You may have been lucky with their products but you can't deny they are overpriced. Their 4090 waterblock is something daft like £300+ when other brands offer blocks for half the price

You're absolutely right about them being overpriced, unfortunately for me I got stuck with their seriously ******* annoying Matrix 7 ecosystem. I wanted the newer front distro, and with things being out of stock and me waiting months for parts a lot of my gear was passed the return date so it was either lose a ton of cash trying to sell stuff or plough ahead. I was fortunate enough at the time to have the cash to go forward with it.

What I will say is, if I ever do another water cooled rig in the future it won't be with EK stuff.

Fatpizza · 2 Oct 2023 at 09:05

The new Bitspower compact 90 degree fittings are pretty good, and comparable in height to the EK ones.

srekal34 · 2 Oct 2023 at 12:13

I will never buy any fitting from EK again. Had multiple "normal" 45/90 swivel fittings and all of them leaked eventually. Meanwhile Barrow for half the price is solid and never leaked. Correct that, I will never buy anything from EK ever again. Their quality went downhill over the last few years. Their 4090 block is literally the worst on the market, worse than Barrow even.

Parsley · 2 Oct 2023 at 14:05

Jamin280672 said:
Yeah....im starting to see that myself now, these Barrow fittings seem pretty good, very solid, and thanks to @Parsley ive managed to source a couple of those Koolance "Swivelling Elbow" fittings which i'll stick on my water block at the weekend.

Those fittings work out for you?

EK quantum torque micro 90 degree issues

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