Bought a new Hakko FR301 and heating element is out of alignment, needs advice.

[electronic_guy]

Hi,

I bought a new Hakko FR301 desoldering tool from Amazon. When I received it I noticed that the heating element is out of alignment where it meets the filter pipe. I have included a picture of it. Have you noticed this error in your Hakko FR301 ? I'm beginning to thing it's a cosmetic defect. But still thinking if I should return it and ask for new one. Perfectionism keeps nagging me   I checked the working of the unit and seems there is no problem in sucking, though I have no way to check if its efficient as it should be.

Please check your Hakko FR301 and let me know if there is this misalignment as it came. 

Thank you.

[wn1fju]

I looked at my FR301 and it looks exactly like yours - slightly out of alignment.  Never noticed that before!  Anyway, I stuck a screwdriver in there and gently moved it back to center.  As you have experienced, I never had any problem with the functionality of the desolderer.

Normally I would suspect Amazon as a lot of things bought from them are counterfeit or damaged seconds or returns.  But I bought my FR301 directly from an authorized dealer, so I guess it's not an Amazon "thing" in this case.

[electronic_guy]

@wn1fju Thank you for the clarification on this.
I've heard of those counterfeit problem on Amazon when I bought the FX888 from Amazon. It's risky, but they seem to have lower prices. may be that's how they have lower prices in the first place.