the pull chain comes through the sheet metal hole but it grabs the edge of the sheet metal and will not allow passage through the hole. this has been useless to me since i bought the house and i am just now getting around to fixing it. so there must be some kind of relief or grommet that goes in there to permit smooth passage of the chain from horizontal out of the light fixture to vertical through that hole. can anyone help me out?
what is this called and where can i get one?
- Thread starter Enigma
- Start date
Bighead38
Well-known member
Bighead38
Well-known member
Or just put shrink wrap on the chain
CHuDWah
Well-known member
Just hit your local hardware store - they have bins/drawers/whatever of various bits and pieces, including rubber grommets. Shouldn't be hard to find the right size to fit the hole - you should be able to buy just one for cheap.
I thought maybe it a specific part with a name. Maybe hard plastic that snaps in there and has a little funnel shape at the top. I dont see how a soft rubber grommet is going to . I mean it does get hot up there also, something to consider.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Good one, KISS method keep it simple sonny
BillK
Well-known member
That looks like someone has added it to the fixture ??? Either that or the switch itself is supposed to be mounted in the hole and held in place with a nut ? Something like this :
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner...l-Chain-Switch-Nickel-1-Pack-GSW-31/100126308
What does the top of the fixture look like ?? If you need an actual grommet go to Home Depot and look at the ceiling fan parts.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner...l-Chain-Switch-Nickel-1-Pack-GSW-31/100126308
What does the top of the fixture look like ?? If you need an actual grommet go to Home Depot and look at the ceiling fan parts.
These might be what you want:
https://www.grandbrass.com/category...ed_cord_bushings/bushings_and_strain_reliefs/
https://www.grandbrass.com/category...ed_cord_bushings/bushings_and_strain_reliefs/
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
when i pull it the light goes on. if i pull it again the light goes off.
bushmechanic
Well-known member
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You'll probably want to check Autozone or similar, as well as the hardware store, if you want to get it just right.
One of them will have nylon or bronze bushings; and at the auto parts store, just hit that rotating display full of various clips and stuff. You'll find something that will work right, I assure you.
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
This is what I think as well. The hole in the light fixture appears to be the right size for the pull chain type switch to go thru it, and secured with a nut.
Have you checked to see what the inside of the light fixture looks like? It may be that the nut fell off the pull chain switch years ago, and the switch just moved up inside the light fixture, leaving the pull chain to rub against the hole in the fixture.
I have never actually seen a store bought light fixture with just a hole in it and a pull chain sticking out. All the ones I have seen have had some type of pull chain switch mounted to the hole, with the chain coming down out of the switch.
Jim
Last edited:
PassnThru
Well-known member
Agreed - it appears to be a recessed fixture with a pull chain? Not that I've seen everything - but I've never seen that.
something has been jury rigged there.
jbwilkins
Well-known member
mark-NJ
Well-known member
Another vote for "change the fixture". Modified electrical devices are not something you want in your house.
house built in 79. i bought it in 2008. im positive the whole house is unmodified. there is another on just like it in the other closet. if anything something was forgot to be done.
i will take the piece off with the hole in it and take more pics above and beyond the ceiling
stand by for photos
BajaScout
Well-known member
Replace it with a string.
you sound like my dad. He would always come up with the most simplest solutions and they would work. Eventually it will fray but I wont be using it constantly. probably only 100 times per month. When it does fray its easy enough to replace the string. Of course a string is combustible also. Maybe ill put a LED bulb in there. Thanks Baja. Gonna try it.
MikeF2316
Well-known member
Get a nut and bolt to fit the hole. Drill a hole through the bolt to fit the chain. Chamfer the hole at both ends. Insert into hole. Bonus points for mounting the bolt in your drill press chuck and the drill bit in your drill press vise. Double bonus points for using a lathe.
Or, if you can find it, that hollow threaded rod used to mount lamp sockets, and a couple of the jam nuts.
Or, if you can find it, that hollow threaded rod used to mount lamp sockets, and a couple of the jam nuts.