You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Have a 2 or 3 D cell maglight which has sat in a cupboard unused for best part of a decade. Was bored and stumbled across it to find that (predictably) the batteries are seized inside it. How to get them out? Tried soaking in a load of wd40 for a week or so but made zero difference.
Started with the regular youtube searching and tried the "drill a pilot hole in the battery, coach bolt through a block of wood then into the battery and tighten till it pulls it out" method. Failed. Ended up with the bolt just spinning in the battery. Original coachbolt was m6 so tried again with an m10. Same result.
Not having a bigger coachbolt I then tied an old brake cable round the end of the bolt and reinserted. Although the threads spin it still holds firm in the battery. Attach the other end of the brake cable to a concrete fence post and try and pull the battery out using shock/force. Failed. Eventually the bolt pulls out the battery. Still threads in reasonably securely but obviously not worth trying that again.
What next?
Am thinking about getting some araldite squirting it into the hole in the battery, inserting the bolt again and waiting for it to set before resorting to the shock/force method again. Any thoughts?
Buy a new LED torch, maglites are utter shite.
Buy a new LED torch, maglites are utter shite.
True. But like I said, I'm bored.
Figured that if I could get the things out I could get the led conversation for it which might make it comparable to modern stuff.
I take it they are alkaline batteries?
What about some acid? Vinegar or similar to break down the blue/green gungy stuff?
Could be worth a try. I feel like the araldite is an end game kind of thing so options for before that are good.
Could be worth a try.
Just be aware I have no idea of what other nasties that might create. Proceed at your own risk.
IANAC
Just be aware I have no idea of what other nasties that might create. Proceed at your own risk.
IANAC
Bit late now....
I might move it outside...
Just hack away at the batteries and remove them piecemeal, realise you've completely ruined the torch so end up recycling the whole mess responsibley. Its what I'd do 😁
I tried most of the above, in the same situation. Eventually gave up and binned it.
Just seems like such a waste not to try and get it working again. Does seem a bit fruitless but where there's a will...
Figured that if I could get the things out I could get the led conversation for it which might make it comparable to modern stuff.
I have a 3x D-cell Maglite with the LED conversion. It's considerably better than stock but in no way "comparable to modern stuff." The bigger Maglites' primary feature is that it's "only a torch" after you've just brained someone with it.
Tried shoving a wall plug in (whatever size fits the hole) then a coach bolt?
https://www.hunker.com/12423892/how-to-get-corroded-batteries-out-of-a-flashlight/blockquote >
If you follow this advice, be prepared for mass exodus of stuff at step 2. Do it in a bucket / over a drain and wear gloves.
Lol
I did just this, I basically just took both ends off the torch, wedged it in something, and whacked a drift down it with a course grade hammer. The problem wasn't so much the battery, it was the corrosion in the torch tube. I binned it in the end as it'd have taken more work than it was worth to clean it up enough to get a new battery in.
And yeah, my 3 cell maglite is totally still owned because it's "just a torch your honour"
It's a pretty common issue with maglites. If you google specifically for maglites, you'll find plenty of instructions/videos. Basically, both ends off, switch out, bit of old broom handle down tube, knock out batteries.
There are also a fair number of upgrades if you are even slightly handy. I modded one into a 1000+lumen jobbie. Because they have so much room for batteries, you can have a high powered flashlight that doesn't drain them in a couple of hours.
Buy a new LED torch, maglites are utter shite.
Indeed. Got mine back in the day when everyone said they were the thing to get, and they did the job, but cheap £10 LED lights I've had are far better, and only power off AAA batteries.
Have wondered about retrofitting an LED to an old maglite, but with something other than those crappy D batteries. Then again, still stupidly bulky torch really compared to small LED torches I've got.
Just leave it full of old battery and use for clubbing burglars?
(Then buy a good used one, then convert it to LED, just to scratch the itch 🙂)
Malvern Riders video is what I have already tried.
It's currently sitting half full of vinegar and baking powder but has no sign of loosening up yet.
Have tried figuring out how to open up both ends to try the broomstick through the backdoor method but can't figure out how to remove the circlip to remove the switch assembly. The normal way to get this out is through the currently blocked battery bit.
Point of this isn't really cos I need a good torch - I have plenty already -but because it's annoying me!
What Cougar sez, basically. I’ve got one that the batteries leaked inside and it took some time to clean out, and I bought an LED conversion for it. Which was crap.
I’ve got flashlights that use an AAA cell that give better light, in fact I’ve got a titanium penlight that uses two, that truly shames the Maglite.
It’s only real use is as a blunt object for beating intruders senseless.
( note to self - read entire OP before responding)
apologies for rushed response. My guess is the white vinegar will work in time. Someone gave me a Maglite Mini not long ago. I actually prefer the dim amber flow for close-light when camping but it’s greedy on batteries. On the flipside my LED reading light was so blueish and glaring that it was treated to a layer of packing tape on the lens. Much better tamed 👍🏼
Depends which version maglite you have.
Pry out the rubber covering the button Undo the set screw (old = Allen key, new is torx) Hen follow the appropriate steps
"If you have a really old maglight, where the switch is held in with a screw in ring, you're lucky. Look at the bulb end, if there is a fairly wide brass ring with a pair if holes on either side you just unscrew it. I've found some small needle nose pliers work well to stick in the holes and give a good handle to unscrew it. But almost any 2 straight sticks with small enough tips held in an X pattern will work. Then just pull out the switch. Now you have a tube open at both ends and you can pound away until the corroded batteries come out.
Most MagD lights have switches held in with a retaining ring at the bulb end. If you can't push the switch towards the tail end just a bit, it's nearly impossible to get the retaining ring out since it sets in a groove in the body and there's a recess in the top or the switch that will prevent you from getting the ring out. But if you can get some room between the top of the switch and the retaing ring, just pry out the end of the ring and lift up on it to get the ring out of the groove in the body. Once you pull out the retaining ring, the swich can be pulled out the bulb end of the body. Again, pound out the batteries.
If you can't get the switch out, it's more difficult but not impossible. And you've got a some chance of destroying the switch in the process, depending how stuck the batteries are. You'll need to use a piece of PVC tubing to drive the batteries and the switch out the tail end of the body. The PVC size needs to be just right, I think I used 3/4" last time I did it. The inside diameter needs to fit around the center bulb post and the little brass screw on the side of it. The outside diameter needs to fit past the inside of the retaining ring. You put the PVC around the bulb post and use it to hammer on the top of the switch. There are some plastic vertical stiffeners that will probably break in the process, but don't worry about them because the switch works fine without them. The switch body itself is pretty sturdy so you'll be able to use it to put a decent amount of force on the batteries. Once you get the batteries unstuck, use care as you drive them out the tail. Try not to force the switch out past the tail threads by force. You can catch the ground screw or nut on the threads and damage the threads and the switch. If possible, gently pull it out by hand."
Also, if the are alkaline/ni-cad or nimh batteries use vinegar or lemon juice and water. If they are the cheap lead acid ones, use baking soda. Using both together just neutralises each other.