OT Removing Batteries ffrom Torches

[virden]

I have a couple of torches where the batteries have leaked and become stuck in the tube. By their design I cannot force the batteries out by pushing down from the top. Any suggestions?

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

Is it possible to drill into the base of the cells and screw a fat woodscrew in to pull them out ? Not sure if this is a good plan though ? edit ... just looked at a battery on my desk .... 'do not mutilate', so maybe not a good idea !!

 

If the acid has leaked, it has possibly damaged the workings/casing ?

 

Maybe time to bin them ?

 

 

Edited by - Stationary M25 Traveller on 10 Dec 2010 10:46:09

[myothercarsa2cv]

If it's a Maglite:

 

a) Post it to Maglite. If the battery is a reputable brand (Duracell, Energizer etc) then if they can't remove the battery, they will usually replace it. All you pay is the postage.

 

b) If you don't want the hassle of posting (after reading this it won't seem like hassle), it is possible to remove the switch mechanism by using a tiny allen key through the switch - you need to pop off the rubber seal. Bash the torch base on a lump of wood, and hopefully you can get the batteries to shift half an inch out. You can then (hopefully) extract the circlip that stops the switch coming out the top (this is HARD). Slide out the switch mechanism, and starting driving out the batteries with force. As much as possible. You may need a press.

 

Maglites are a particular problem because they're made out of unforgiving steel tube - it doesn't shift when the battery swells, so it well and truly sticks.

 

Obviously if it's not a Maglite, then ignore the above. And don't ask me how I know all this

 

John

_________________________

 

myothercarsa2cv

Bugsy: '82 2cv6 😬

Talloulah '08 1.6K Classic

[MartinWoodham]

if the batteries have leaked the torch is probably fubarred anyway. if it's metal bodied try warming the casing under hot water, the expansion might help.

 

better still use it as an excuse to buy yourself a nice new torch 😬

 

Martin

supersported ex-Roadsports B

[tbird]

I have been successful in the past by holding maglite by head and rapidly swinging torch downward IYSWIM, please do this somewhere with no people and a lot of space if the batteries come out they come out at some speed and can do serious damage to almost anything they hit (especialy windows),

 

Tim

 

CSR 200 Aztec and Black

[Bricol]

Maglite cases are aluminium - and expand rather well under hot water, sometimes loosening the grip the furry battery has on the case. Hot water will also assist inside in loosening the battery. I still had to remove the switch from a D-cell one to get one battery out. Hot water to flush out, and then a good wirebrushing with a rotary brush to remove all traces of corrosion.

 

And then bought some pretty coloured Nascar branded D-cell ones from a mall in Fort Worth for a few quid - so I never actually reassembled it

 

Bri

[Baz Hemsley]

Vinegar will help to nutraulise the acid.

[Paul Deslandes]

Dry battery electrolytes are usually alkaline, therefore the use of vinegar (acetic acid) would help neutralise the corrosion. If you did want to neutralise acid, e.g. sulphuric acid from a car battery, you need an alkaline substance such as sodium bicarbonate. Adding vinegar to acidic corrosion will only make things worse or, at least, not any better.

 

 

[virden]

Thanks guys, they are Magilites, I shall try all suggestions.

[Roger Ford]

Or just bin 'em and get something four times as powerful and a tenth of the size with an LED at the front.

[Golf Juliet Tango]

As Roger says.

I got a Maglite look alike from Tesco with a really nice quality LED for less than £10. (actually I bought 2).

 

_{Democratic dissent is not disloyalty, it is a positive civic duty.}

[jonboylaw]

I did a search for a replacement torch, what ever you do, do not go to www.fleshlite.com

Trust me, you would never find anything in the dark with one of those things...

 

 

Jonathan

=========================

My Flickr Gallery

 

92 Supersprint, Ford LSD LA, RK AX Crossflow. Stealth model (Matt Black and Ali), rebuild completed.

 

[tbird]

*redface* *redface*

 

CSR 200 Aztec and Black

[Frying Pan]

Or just bin 'em and get something four times as powerful and a tenth of the size with an LED at the front.

Like this - it's brilliant (no pun intended)

 

---

See some pictures of the build here. 19,000 miles completed!

[Roger Ford]

Or rather cheaper, my favourite cheapy at the moment here. From Hong Kong, though, so may not make it in time for Chrimbo.

 

For higher quality, you can't go wrong with Fenix though they don't come cheap at UK prices.

[2slo]

How about: use needle nose pliers to bend a couple of mm of the end of a wire coat hanger. Insert sideways to end of 1st cell, rotate and pull.

 

Mark

[Mort]

Superglue something that you can thread a cord through to the bottom of the battery, then whack the body of the Maglite (after having removed the reflector head) whilst pulling on the cord.

 

I'm another fan of LED torches. I bought an LED Lenser P7 from this guy,whom I thoroughly recommend, and have found it to far superior to a 3 x D cell Maglite - much brighter, longer battery life, two power settings and it fits in the palm of you hand. It also comes with a handy belt holster.

 

The P14 is also well worth a look. I'll be getting one some time soon.

 

Take a look at the demos on the website under the second link. Very impressive!

 

Nick

 

It's life Jim, but not as WE know it!