i have fixed it ... tho' not realy an answer
i had an earlier version of the model so it was not too much rework . it would convert to sub D but would not smooth ... i fiddled for ages looking for 5 sides and triangles (the convert to sub is good this way as they blow apart if they not Quads- makes it easier to see them) none of the other sugested methods seemed to work. i finaly tryed the quadraglate tool again (i had allready tryed it many times buit this time it worked - i have full funtionality back ... i guess my question is was it a combination of me fixing the bits i found and maya fixing the bits it found that got me there in the end or something else I dont feel confident with the solution ... nice to be moving forward again tho'
"Climbing the walls of the 'Uncanny Valley"