Mag flashlight help

[Beerman]

Hi,

Bought a couple of Mag brand flashlights (2 aa battery sized-one's a LED) at the local flea market yesterday. Paid .50 for both!!!

Neither work, but figured they just need new batteries. Take them home and both of the ends that are supposed to unscrew are STUCK closed. Took a couple of pairs of channel locks to one (messing up the knurling in the process) and still couldn't get the end off.

Any ideas on how to free up the ends? I thought about soaking them in some sort of penetrating oil, but not sure what the best kind would be for something such as this.

On a related note, bought another 3 C cell Mag light and the old batteries are stuck inside. The previous owner tried drilling the one closest to the end out, with no luck. Any thoughts on how to free them up??

And yes, I AM too cheap to buy new lights. I only buy the ones at the flea market that cost a buck or two that I think might work or that I think I can fix.

TIA.

Beerman

 

[Filson]

The end caps should have a spot for a keyring. Get one in there to give you some more leverage. Slide screwdriver through the keyring if need be for further leverage.

I wouldn't soak it in anything... Good luck!

As for the batteries stuck inside the other, they must have swelled or something, it'll be a pain to get them out. If you can remove some of the breakables from the other end, I would, than replace the battery cap to protect the treads a bit, and beat it straight down on your workbench or whatever you may have to see if you can get them to slide down.

Outside of that, I really don't have any ideas lol.

 

[southalabama]

Sounds like battery may have corroded inside. I've had them stick but never to the point I couldn't open it.

Good luck getting them apart without further damage.

 

[chris142]

lifetime warranty.send them to maglight.if they are duracel batteries those are guaranteed not to leak. used to be anyway.

 

[Filson]

lifetime warranty.send them to maglight.if they are duracel batteries those are guaranteed not to leak. used to be anyway.

And the brighter mind wins the day.

 

[RedneckWelder]

You can waste your time trying to get them back into working condition or you can send them in and see what Maglite says.

 

[mmack66]

There's probably an o-ring in the end, so soaking might not work anyway.

 

[pendragon1998]

Mag no longer warranties flashlights damaged by batteries. You could email duracell...if that is even what is in them.

 

[G_P]

Batteries inside have started leaking and swelled up. Even if you get the end cap off you will then have to fight to get those batteries out and then the switch/light socket on the front end is going to be corroded to hell as well due to the leaky batteries.

If MAG wont warranty them (i doubt they will since its clearly neglect to leave batteries in them long enough to burst and leak) just toss them in the trash. Maybe save the heads and bulbs if they are in good shape.

 

[upndown]

Next time try opening them at the flea market! Why do you think they were only $0.50

 

[TJJP77]

Next time try opening them at the flea market! Why do you think they were only $0.50

This.

Maglites are cheap enough that they are hardly worth salvaging if the effort exceeds the value of your time. It's not like it's a Surefire or something along those lines. I'm a born fixer, but you have to realize when you've reached the point of diminishing returns.

I did manage to salvage a Maglite LED with some corrosion damage once, but I was able to get the rear cap off before I bought it. It took a lot of finessing to get the tailcap to make good electrical contact on a consistent basis. I ended up putting lithium batteries in it and keeping it in the car. If something happens to it - oh well.

 

[bonneyman]

Yep, have had that happen.
Use to leave my maglight in the work truck. Got so hot the batteries swelled and leaked, and that alkaline gel seized them into the aluminum tube. Finally was able to beat them out, but was never able to get the thing to reliably work again.
I've since gone to old Ray-O-Vac Sportsmans metal flashlights with LED bulbs, and use old school carbon zinc batteries. No longer have corrosive leakage problems, but insert empty toilet paper cardboard tubes inside the flashlight to catch anything should they leak.

 

[Outlawmws]

Bonneyman, switch to lithium batteries for those in the glove-box F. lights. LONG shelf life even installed and I've never had one leak. I've had lithium's go 20 years and not leak and still work when I needed them...

on the batteries leaking on the OP's mag lights. You can try soaking the end in vinegar, but I'd bet the barrels are gone once you get them open, if they will open without self destructing.

 

[The Ratchet Man]

For all the trouble it's going to be to get them open, if even possible, I'd write the .50¢ off as a "hot deal" on a lesson learned. Lessons rarely come that cheap these days.

FWIW, I had a 6 D cell mag light I let sit on the shelf to long. I managed to get the end cap off without destruction. Never could get the cells out the end. I cut the tube in half length ways with a dremel to open it and see the carnage. Even after it was open, I still had to pry the batteries out with a screwdriver.

 

[pburressiii]

lifetime warranty.send them to maglight.if they are duracel batteries those are guaranteed not to leak. used to be anyway.

X2


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[WildwoodChuck]

If you can get the tail caps off fill it with diet coke or diet pepsi (regular will work but it is sticky) let it sit for a few hours change out the pop a few times over a day or two then slam that bad boy down tail first on a piece of wood a few times then start the pop thing over they will come out.

The pop thing works on car batteries too.

 

[metaldad]

I'd bet they're duracells.
i have had multiple mag failures due to duracells, within the past 2 years
A) throw them out (you wont be able to reliably repair them)
B) return them to duracell (if that's what's in there)

 

[RCStocker]

I'd bet they're duracells.
i have had multiple mag failures due to duracells, within the past 2 years
A) throw them out (you wont be able to reliably repair them)
B) return them to duracell (if that's what's in there)

You are dead wrong about Duracell batteries. Not only do they last longer than other brands I never have problems with them. I use them on my sail boat that is in the Pacific ocean. I use them by the case and have never had one the leak in any size. Many times it is the item that cause the batteries to leak. If you put a little oil on the threads when you screw the ends on it will keep them from rusting or sticking.

If there is room for a key ring in the end put a nail in it and you will get it off. It might take some effort. If it really stuck shut you would be better of spending money on new flash lights and taking care of them. LOL

 

[Outlawmws]

You are dead wrong about Duracell batteries - 1 . Not only do they last longer than other brands I never have problems with them. I use them on my sail boat that is in the Pacific ocean. I use them by the case and have never had one the leak in any size. Many times it is the item that cause the batteries to leak. 2 If you put a little oil on the threads when you screw the ends on it will keep them from rusting or sticking.

If there is room for a key ring in the end put a nail in it and you will get it off. It might take some effort. If it really stuck shut you would be better of spending money on new flash lights and taking care of them. 3. LOL

1. In this case YOU are dead wrong about Duracell batteries; While they DO make good batteries, they also also way too often develop leaks. I've sent enough stuff to Duracell for leakage replacement to know I'm on solid ground here.

2. Secondly there is NO WAY for "the item" to cause the leak. Period.

3. If you had actually taken the time to read and comprehend the original post, you would know the OP bought them in this condition, so why are you blaming him?

 

[tweedlestan]

Duracell and Energizer leak like crazy.

 

[Outlawmws]

On the Maglite "warranty" it is defects only Warranty, so you are SOL there:

IF you can get at least one battery out, or even partly out, AND it is a Duracel (or Eveready) you can send the whole mess to the battery co. for repair/replacement. I'd make a bet you don't get a Maglite from them though, I'd guess a Duracell product...

 

[bareass172]

Just throwing this in the pot... Hopefully people reading this are honorable and responsible with the info. Most of the big battery names will replace your equipment if it is their batteries that cause the damage. Duracell is a little more troublesome about it in that they require proof (obviously a reasonable request) but Energizer only asked me the cost of the item in question over the phone and then mailed me a check to cover replacement of the light AND batteries. I dealt with Duracell on a bad mini mag for my dad, and I dealt with Energizer on a bad Stanley tripod light of mine.

I thought I read here recently that Mag publicly states they won't warranty damage due to Duracell batteries?

I'd walk away, as previously mentioned, for $.50. I'm not original owner on either the light or the batteries, so it seems to be kinda shady IMO.

 

[LumpyMusic]

New MiniMags are $6 at WallyWorld. It would likely cost that much to send the dead one to MagLite for warranty evaluation.

Grip, squeeze, dremel, grind, hacksaw the tailcap off the one that is seized. If that then allows you to salvage the internal threads on the barrel, get a new endcap, the kind with a switch.

If all the experiments don't allow salvage, cut the barrel down, rethread the thing and make a single AA extension for a 2AA light.

Or 86 it as a flashlight. Use it as an aluminum, knurled tube - tool handle, small cheater bar etc.

JB or TIG a small chuck in the end for a pin vice, hand drill.

JB or TIG a drill chuck key into the end for a high leverage key.

Industrial strength spare battery storage tube.

Waterproof match, firestarter, survival stuff holder.

Carry a couple dozen 7/64 drill bits.

Indestructable dental floss holder.

Emergency sewing kit.

Cigar holder.

Kubaton.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Wakefield]

If you forget and leave a flashlight in a summer hot car the batteries will probably leak very quickly! Plastic flashlights handle leaks better?
Pipe wrench might be able to remove the end cap and it might then be possible to insert a drill or something into the stuck batteries or skewer them. Although more likely with the D call models.
Inside aluminum might be all ate up and dissolved.

 

[Bigplum]

I had a mag D cell with stuck leaky batteries , I tried everything , soaking heating drilling to no avail , the batteries and torch had become one, I ended up using it as a drift for knocking out a wheel bearing , the batteries were still stuck fast after a beating

 

[Outlawmws]

Just throwing this in the pot... Hopefully people reading this are honorable and responsible with the info. Most of the big battery names will replace your equipment if it is their batteries that cause the damage. Duracell is a little more troublesome about it in that they require proof (obviously a reasonable request) but Energizer only asked me the cost of the item in question over the phone and then mailed me a check to cover replacement of the light AND batteries. I dealt with Duracell on a bad mini mag for my dad, and I dealt with Energizer on a bad Stanley tripod light of mine.

I thought I read here recently that Mag publicly states they won't warranty damage due to Duracell batteries?

I'd walk away, as previously mentioned, for $.50. I'm not original owner on either the light or the batteries, so it seems to be kinda shady IMO.

Check the post just above...

 

[rick carpenter]

Beerman, check at candlepowerforums.com, they'll give you more info than you can handle. I grew up in Riverside Forest in St. Andrews... a looooong while back tho!

 

[bareass172]

Check the post just above...

I saw the post, but I meant specifically Duracell batteries - not just batteries in general. I swear I read it here somewhere!