Repairing Guides

how to repair a maglite flashlight

by Deion Kunze Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Corroded Maglite

  1. Rap the Flashlight. I rapped the flashlight sharply on a protective surface. One battery moved and slowly came out, but one was very stuck.
  2. Drill and Add a Screw. I needed a way to pull the stuck battery. ...
  3. Scrape Away the Corrosion. A thin blade on a pocket knife can be helpful for scraping away corrosion inside the flashlight. ...
  4. Close, But No Cigar. After removing as much corrosion as possible, the flashlight would light if the end cap was just a little loose.
  5. Finally, a Solution

Full Answer

How to remove leaking batteries from a Maglite?

Hold the mini Maglite by the front end with your left hand. Grab the edge of the stuck battery with the jaws of the needle-nosed pliers. Pull the stuck battery out of the battery compartment. Dispose of the stuck battery properly. Go inside. Put the mini Maglite on the newspaper. Wrap the steel wool around the blade of the flathead screwdriver.

How to clean your Maglite?

Tips to Remember When Cleaning Magnalite Pans

  • Wash your magnalite pan with warm water and dish soap after every use
  • Follow the sanitization step involving the bleach mixture once a week
  • Always wear gloves when working with bleach
  • Never use a scratch pad or a pointed tool on the surface of the pan because it can damage the pan’s coating

More items...

How do you get a battery unstuck from a flashlight?

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How to upgrade a Maglite?

  • The flashlight has an emotional value.
  • You just want to use it for emergencies! (This is great because the ‘drop-ins’ that increase battery life are cheap)
  • You don’t care about extreme brightness.
  • You want to create a ‘one of a kind’ light you modded yourself (including some filework/CNC)

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Can Maglite flashlights be repaired?

Mag or an authorized Mag Warranty Service Center will, free of charge, repair or, at its option, replace a defective flashlight or component.

Why did my Maglite stop working?

Examine the bulb for corrosion or debris that may be interfering with the bulb's operation. If it is clean, look for damage to the bulb or receptacle. If the receptacle is damaged, you will most likely have to replace the flashlight. If not, install a new bulb.

How do I fix my LED Maglite?

1:264:25Mag-Lit Switch Kit, Repair. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep number one head off I went ahead and took the back up just pop this rubber piece like so andMoreStep number one head off I went ahead and took the back up just pop this rubber piece like so and pull it right out. Take your allen wrench. With the star bit insert it in pop it out.

How do you take apart a Maglite?

9:2313:35MAGLITE - Disassemble & Remove that Stuck Battery the Proper WayYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you've pulled the rubber cap off now for that you just need a two millimeter hex wrench and itMoreOnce you've pulled the rubber cap off now for that you just need a two millimeter hex wrench and it slides all the way down the bottom. And you just need to loosen it off i'll show you.

How do you fix a flashlight that won't turn on?

If your flashlight has a dim or weak light or simply won't turn on, it could be the battery. Check the battery in the flashlight to make sure that it still has charge in it. You might just have to replace or charge the battery. If the batteries have charge then inspect the batteries carefully for any leaks.

Do Maglite bulbs burn out?

The mini mags are almost indestructible, batteries are easily found, but when the bulb burns out, you're out of luck... especially if you are outdoors hunting, fishing, or camping at night when you REALLY need it. Many of you may not know that a spare bulb can be kept under the butt cap underneath the spring.

How do you take apart a LED Maglite?

5:337:13How To Disassemble An LED Mag-Lite - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt will fit right in the hole here and you gotta push down until it locks in place. And then you canMoreIt will fit right in the hole here and you gotta push down until it locks in place. And then you can just unscrew counterclockwise and it comes right undone. Then you're gonna push down the button.

How do you take apart an LED flashlight?

How to Disassemble LED FlashlightsPut the newspaper down on a work surface. ... Hold the back end of the LED flashlight with one hand. ... Put the back half of the LED flashlight down on the newspaper. ... Pull the LED assembly carefully from out of the front half of the LED flashlight. ... Heat up the soldering iron.More items...

What model Maglite do I have?

The only way to differentiate between the models is to look down the business end of the light through the clear plastic packaging. With the D-cell lights, the serial number also indicates the type of LED inside. If the serial number begins with DLXXXXXXXXX, it is either Cree XP-E or Luxeon Rebel.

How do I remove a Maglite switch assembly?

2:117:31How to remove the switch from a MAG-LITE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you unscrew it you can feel it unscrew it a little bit and then you can see when you unscrew itMoreAnd you unscrew it you can feel it unscrew it a little bit and then you can see when you unscrew it did you can move this back and forth.

How do you remove corroded batteries from a Maglite?

It can take a few tries to break through the corrosion. If the batteries remain stuck, use a stiff wire brush to clean away the corrosive materials. Adding electrical grease or white vinegar while scrubbing helps clean and lubricate the area. After cleaning, use the pliers to pull the batteries from the Maglite.

How do you clean corroded Maglite?

Mild corrosion can be removed with vinegar (a mild acid) and a nylon tooth brush. Heavy areas where metal is heavily pitted, use vinegar to neutralize the alkaline residue and move on with life.

How to turn off a flashlight?

Twist it about 1/3 of a turn counterclockwise to turn the flashlight "off.". Twist it clockwise until tight to turn the flashlight "on.". Although the end cap uses metal threads, they are coated with a dielectric and do not conduct electricity.

Where is the contact point on a Maglite switch?

There is a corresponding contact point directly across the opening for the switch, which is below the spring under the bulb socket.

How does a flashlight reflector work?

The bulb socket is spring loaded and can move up and down. Part of the reflector rides on the brass follower. As the head of the flashlight is turned, the angle at which the reflector is cut allows the bulb socket to move so the beam of light can be focused from wide angle to a narrow spot.

Can you cover a flashlight with hot glue?

Later, when the flashlight has been fully assembled, the switch hole can be covered over with hot glue to keep the flashlight waterproof. In order to avoid using massive amounts of hot glue, fill most of the cavity with wadded small pieces of paper, and fill the last 1/4 inch or so with hot glue. Ask Question.

Step 1: Rap the Flashlight

I rapped the flashlight sharply on a protective surface. One battery moved and slowly came out, but one was very stuck. I did try a thin oil, like WD-40, but it did not loosen the stuck battery.

Step 2: Drill and Add a Screw

I needed a way to pull the stuck battery. I drilled into its center as best I could and inserted a sheet metal screw. The battery was already very dead. I was not concerned about generating heat from a short. First, I tried using a pair of slip joint pliers to pull the battery with my bare hands. It still did not move.

Step 3: Scrape Away the Corrosion

A thin blade on a pocket knife can be helpful for scraping away corrosion inside the flashlight. But, it may also be necessary to fold a strip of sandpaper over a wooden dowel rod about the size of the battery diameter and work the sandpaper back and forth to remove corrosion.

Step 4: Close, But No Cigar

After removing as much corrosion as possible, the flashlight would light if the end cap was just a little loose. The flashlight was not dependable. Sometimes it did not light at all. Sometimes it lit, but only faintly.

Step 5: Finally, a Solution

It seemed as if the metal tabs on the end cap did not really make good contact with the inside of the flashlight barrel. I have some brass sheet only a couple of thousandths of an inch thick. I cut a strip about 3/16" wide and about 7/8" long with a scissors. I slipped it into the spring on the end cap, and let the ends cover the metal tabs.

What is a maglite flashlight?

MAGLITE® flashlights, however, are carefully engineered to keep voltage and current within rated specifications when used with batteries of the correct voltage; and means including good, efficient heat-sinking are built in to keep operating temperature within rated bounds.

What does it mean when a flashlight is leaking?

Visual signs of battery leakage and crusty deposits (corrosion) inside your flashlight are a sign of leakage and damage, and if the flashlight is non-functional, this corrosion damage is likely the cause. It sometimes happens that batteries become stuck inside the barrel and are hard to remove.

Why does my flashlight have a tailcap?

When this happens (and there is no evidence of barrel crushing or denting), the cause likely is that a battery leaked and produced corrosion that involved the tailcap threads , seizing of the tailcap onto the flashlight’s barrel. In any of these situations, the likely cause is alkaline battery leak damage .

Why does a 4 cell flashlight burn out?

For instance, if you have a 4-Cell Mag-Lite® flashlight and you put a 2-Cell or 3-Cell lamp inside, it will burn out very rapidly because the 4-Cell flashlight runs at a higher voltage than the lamp of a 2 or 3-Cell flashlight was designed to handle.

What does the flashlight's light output mean?

So while a flashlight’s Light Output – its “lumen rating” – tells you nothing at all about how good or bad a job the flashlight does at forming a useful beam of light, the flashlight’s “Beam Distance” rating is all about its ability to form light into a useful beam and send it in a useful direction.

Why are flashlights good optics?

High-quality optics help a flashlight to direct light in a useful way without excessive power consumption – something that the “brute force” approach of maximizing lumen output cannot do. Optics and Run Time. High-quality optics can also play a role in slowing battery consumption and prolonging Run Time.

How long does it take for an LED to work?

Much of the literature states that in a typical installation, an LED should perform for 50,000 to 100,000 hours before its light output falls to 50% of its initial output.

What size Allen wrench do I need for a mag?

For all but the newest Mags you need a 5/64" (or 2mm) allen wrench. The newest mags use a star wrench, I think it's T7 size but I'm not sure. If you have a really old maglight, where the switch is held in with a screw in ring, you're lucky.

Can you still contact Maglite?

That's okay, you should still contact Maglite. At the time I had discarded the leaking batteries too. Noone will ever ask you to ship leaky batteries through the mail - that's got to be a violation of some kind.

What is a maglite flashlight?

MAGLITE® flashlights, however, are carefully engineered to keep voltage and current within rated specifications when used with batteries of the correct voltage; and means including good, efficient heat-sinking are built in to keep operating temperature within rated bounds.

Why are flashlights good optics?

High-quality optics help a flashlight to direct light in a useful way without excessive power consumption – something that the “brute force” approach of maximizing lumen output cannot do. Optics and Run Time. High-quality optics can also play a role in slowing battery consumption and prolonging Run Time.

What does it mean when a flashlight is dead?

When we say that an incandescent lamp is “dead,” what we actually mean is that its filament has suddenly and catastrophically failed.

How long does it take for an LED to work?

Much of the literature states that in a typical installation, an LED should perform for 50,000 to 100,000 hours before its light output falls to 50% of its initial output.

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