| Maglite repair - Seized end cap |
Projects
| Seized end cap I had owned the black Maglight for many years and used it occasionally. Then one time when I tried to remove the end cap I found it seized, frozen really well. I was not happy about the prospects of having to trash my only 4 cell Maglight. I left the flashlight on the floor next to my workbench for several months while I thought about how to solve the problem. Eventually, during a fit of cleaning I decided it was time to fix it or break it for good. I ended up putting two pipe wrenches on the flashlight, one on the end cap and the other right next to it. I was concerned the one on the tube (not the end cap) would bend the tube and the flashlight would be wrecked. Once the end cap started to move, I moved it back and forth just a little bit at a time. Eventually the end cap was removed. I put new batteries in and it worked like a champ. The pipe wrench does damage the aluminum. I took a hand file and cleaned up most of the damage and then used sandpaper to smooth it out. I started with a nice looking flashlight that didn't work and I ended with a beat up looking flashlight that did work, seamed like a good trade to me. I later came across the small Maglight in the same condition and used the same process. I assume Never-seize on the treads in the first place would have prevented the whole issue. |
