Miso Beno
01-12-2010, 01:28 AM
NOTE: This is just how I fixed my Surefire G2. 230Grain, and the author cannot be held responsible if you totally screw your light up and/or burn your house down. Besides, none of us really have money so whats the point? Also, this COMPLETELY INFORMATIONAL POST probably voids any warranty your light may have. (Like you'd have gotten Surefire to honor it.)
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20846.jpg
About a year ago my Surefire G2 started running very badly. I just assumed my bulb was the culprit so I hopped in my Tactical Toyota and paid the folks at the local tacticool shop a visit to pick up a replacement. On returning home I found that though the new bulb was brighter, the light was still doing the funky chicken. I decided to take a closer look at my light and noticed that the interface between the pressure switch and the metal sleeve looked like the garbage.
Being the thrifty person I am I didn't want to go out and just REPLACE my light when it could be easily fixed so I grabbed a little metal polish, a green abrasive pad, and a small mountain of cotton swabs. With a little elbow grease I had my light working again. It's a super easy fix and if it doesn't work; well your light was busted anyways, right? (I have had the worst luck with Surefire customer support. I mean the worst.)
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20847.jpg
The whole process is very simple thanks to the simplicity of the Surefire G2's operating principles and construction. To start, break the light into its base components. Find the metal portion of the tail cap and find the shoulder that touches the metal sleeve of the body. Before cleaning anything inspect your tail cap's spring and wipe it off with a cotton swab. Make sure its making good contact with the rest of the tail cap as well.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20848.jpg
Look at the portion that touches the metal sleeve. Chances are it looks pretty gross so you'll want to wipe out any accumulated flashlight smegma. If theres deposits or a hazy oxide crust grab your abrasive pad and give it a few passes. Mind the O-Ring on the tail cap, you don't want to damage that. Now take a cotton swab and wipe up any residue left by the pad.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20849.jpg
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20850.jpg
This next step should be as much as you need to clean on your light unless it has seen some very nasty environments. Just clean the top of the metal sleeve like you cleaned the tail cap's shoulder, and reassemble your light. If it works fine, then you're done. If not pull it apart again and take a look under the flashlight head.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20851.jpg
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20852.jpg
Start by cleaning the base of the bulb where it meets up with the sleeve, and wipe out the inside of the sleeve with a cotton swab. Now reassemble the light and test for function. Should that fail to fix the problem you'll want to polish the contacts with a little bit of metal cleaner. Follow the instructions on your metal cleaner's bottle and be sure to remove all residue from the light. Then reassemble and test for function.
By this point your light should be functioning. If it's still giving you trouble you may want to look into a replacement emitter.
These are the steps I followed when I had to fix my Surefire G2 and many of the techniques translate over to other flashlights. Just know that on clicky cap flashlights I would like to dissuade you from attempting to repair the clicky portion. The whole procedure is very simple and shouldn't take anyone with hands longer than 15 minutes to perform. Beats the heck out of buying a whole new light.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20853.jpg
Related Post: CREE R2 Drop In 1 Mode LED Surefire G2 Upgrade (http://230grain.com/showthread.php?t=67013)
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20846.jpg
About a year ago my Surefire G2 started running very badly. I just assumed my bulb was the culprit so I hopped in my Tactical Toyota and paid the folks at the local tacticool shop a visit to pick up a replacement. On returning home I found that though the new bulb was brighter, the light was still doing the funky chicken. I decided to take a closer look at my light and noticed that the interface between the pressure switch and the metal sleeve looked like the garbage.
Being the thrifty person I am I didn't want to go out and just REPLACE my light when it could be easily fixed so I grabbed a little metal polish, a green abrasive pad, and a small mountain of cotton swabs. With a little elbow grease I had my light working again. It's a super easy fix and if it doesn't work; well your light was busted anyways, right? (I have had the worst luck with Surefire customer support. I mean the worst.)
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20847.jpg
The whole process is very simple thanks to the simplicity of the Surefire G2's operating principles and construction. To start, break the light into its base components. Find the metal portion of the tail cap and find the shoulder that touches the metal sleeve of the body. Before cleaning anything inspect your tail cap's spring and wipe it off with a cotton swab. Make sure its making good contact with the rest of the tail cap as well.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20848.jpg
Look at the portion that touches the metal sleeve. Chances are it looks pretty gross so you'll want to wipe out any accumulated flashlight smegma. If theres deposits or a hazy oxide crust grab your abrasive pad and give it a few passes. Mind the O-Ring on the tail cap, you don't want to damage that. Now take a cotton swab and wipe up any residue left by the pad.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20849.jpg
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20850.jpg
This next step should be as much as you need to clean on your light unless it has seen some very nasty environments. Just clean the top of the metal sleeve like you cleaned the tail cap's shoulder, and reassemble your light. If it works fine, then you're done. If not pull it apart again and take a look under the flashlight head.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20851.jpg
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20852.jpg
Start by cleaning the base of the bulb where it meets up with the sleeve, and wipe out the inside of the sleeve with a cotton swab. Now reassemble the light and test for function. Should that fail to fix the problem you'll want to polish the contacts with a little bit of metal cleaner. Follow the instructions on your metal cleaner's bottle and be sure to remove all residue from the light. Then reassemble and test for function.
By this point your light should be functioning. If it's still giving you trouble you may want to look into a replacement emitter.
These are the steps I followed when I had to fix my Surefire G2 and many of the techniques translate over to other flashlights. Just know that on clicky cap flashlights I would like to dissuade you from attempting to repair the clicky portion. The whole procedure is very simple and shouldn't take anyone with hands longer than 15 minutes to perform. Beats the heck out of buying a whole new light.
http://ruserio.us/images/1/fixyog2%20%20853.jpg
Related Post: CREE R2 Drop In 1 Mode LED Surefire G2 Upgrade (http://230grain.com/showthread.php?t=67013)