HTv4; 45 ring

I’ve been running the HTv2 for a long time. Both the V2 with its 45 ring and standard tube, plus the short tube (which I cut down myself), fit perfectly. No problems at all. The V4 works well too—the 45 ring pairs nicely with the nub tube without any tightness complaints, although that nub is surprisingly tiny. However, the nano tube feels rather constricted around my scrotum. The way it angles downward seems to leave insufficient clearance between the ring and the tube itself. Has anyone else noticed this? I’m leaning toward ordering a 50 ring to fix it, but I wanted to get some opinions first. It’s strange that the V2 45 fits well while my single V4 option feels tight with one of its tubes. Cheers, Nem

That's a common issue in the HT lineup: nothing is really adjustable. If your gaps are off—whether too small or large—you're stuck with them. This is partly why MsM sent me back to S/S devices, since you can usually tweak most things there using just a vice and mallet. I also had some failure issues with my HT units that made me think they suit 'trial' users better than long-term wearers. It's unfortunate because the price tag is high, and cheaper alternatives vary widely in shape and quality, making it hard to predict fit. MsM’s ld

Time for an update. I got the 50 ring and it helps somewhat, though the shape isn't quite right since it's wider than it is tall. The gap difference between the 45 and 50 rings is about .125". It’s not huge, but noticeable enough to matter. The 50 works for now; even if imperfect, I’m wearing it for a few days to see how it holds up. This lets me experiment with the old 45 ring instead. If I can bend its rear section back by about .375", I should get enough room and save the part. Here is exactly what I did: * Soaked the 45 ring in boiling water (just poured hot water into a bowl) * Removed it using chopsticks ** The heat made the metal very pliable. It felt so soft I almost thought I could crush it easily. * Clamped it to a cold tube with a lock mechanism. * Wedged some scrap wood at the base of the ring, between the tube and ring body. The wedge served two purposes: 1 - Pushed the ring backward. (Success) 2 - Warped / opened up the dovetail connection where the tube meets the ring. (Not ideal) I managed to fix that dovetail warping by holding it shut with pliers while adjusting. * With everything in position and the pliers securing the joint, I dropped the whole assembly into a nearby ice bath to set the new shape. The pliers left a small mark on the keyhole area, but hot water and a flathead screwdriver sorted that out too. Total time: roughly 45 minutes. This seems to have completely solved my issue. The modified 45 ring feels snug yet comfortable with the improved clearance between tube and ring. I'll keep the 50 ring in reserve just in case, but after wearing it for a few hours today, it looks like a winner. Thanks, Nem