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Posted: 6/13/2014 9:18:27 AM EDT
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I recently got an M951 that was not working. Owner didnt want to deal with Surefire again. The original owner had returned it and was supposedly fixed by Surefire only to have the same problem again. I contacted Surefire and they had me do this test:
Hello,
Thank you for contacting SureFire. With two new batteries inserted in the flashlight, leave the tail cap off and using a paper clip touch the negative terminal of the rear battery and the flashlight body tube. If that makes the light work, put the tailcap on and do a full function check. If it does not make the light work, your flashlight needs a new bulb. Normal output: http://www.surefire.com/catalog/product/view/id/265/s/p60lamp/category/61/ High output: http://www.surefire.com/catalog/product/view/id/266/s/p61lamp/category/61/ LED conversion: http://www.surefire.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=kx4 Thank you, Steven Schwier Technical Support SUREFIRE, LLC 17680 Newhope St., Suite B I Fountain Valley, CA 92708 I U.S.A. T 800-828-8809 F 714-545-9537 I ordered a pack of Surefire batteries installed them and performed the test. The light turned on and worked fine with the paperclip, so I do not think the issue is the bulb as it seems they are trying to imply. I was also able to turn the light on once by depressing the button to turn it on. I have since tried to turn it on by pressing the button, and it will not turn on. Paperclip still works! The bulb is a PG-3, and I am using Surefire 123A batteries. Any ideas as to what this could be? Hopefully they take it back for another look. |
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If you can get the light to work with a paperclip to the housing but not with the tailcap installed the problem is in the tailcap. Do you have any other tailcaps you can try? Does it work with the tapeswitch? I bought a used surplus M951 and it would intermittently work with the pushbutton and not at all with the tapeswitch. I put a new tailcap on it and I've never had a problem since. Dang tailcap cost more than the two surplus lights I bought! |
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What bulb is in it? Did you mean a P60? Never heard of a PG-3
Quoted:
I recently got an M951 that was not working. Owner didnt want to deal with Surefire again. The original owner had returned it and was supposedly fixed by Surefire only to have the same problem again. I contacted Surefire and they had me do this test: Hello,
Thank you for contacting SureFire. With two new batteries inserted in the flashlight, leave the tail cap off and using a paper clip touch the negative terminal of the rear battery and the flashlight body tube. If that makes the light work, put the tailcap on and do a full function check. If it does not make the light work, your flashlight needs a new bulb. Normal output: http://www.surefire.com/catalog/product/view/id/265/s/p60lamp/category/61/ High output: http://www.surefire.com/catalog/product/view/id/266/s/p61lamp/category/61/ LED conversion: http://www.surefire.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=kx4 Thank you, Steven Schwier Technical Support SUREFIRE, LLC 17680 Newhope St., Suite B I Fountain Valley, CA 92708 I U.S.A. T 800-828-8809 F 714-545-9537 I ordered a pack of Surefire batteries installed them and performed the test. The light turned on and worked fine with the paperclip, so I do not think the issue is the bulb as it seems they are trying to imply. I was also able to turn the light on once by depressing the button to turn it on. I have since tried to turn it on by pressing the button, and it will not turn on. Paperclip still works! The bulb is a PG-3,and I am using Surefire 123A batteries. Any ideas as to what this could be? Hopefully they take it back for another look. |
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That does not look like the bulbs in my G2, G3 and M952 lights. Here's a quick photo of the P60 and P90 SF bulbs. The P60 is new in the wrap from a SF M952 Kit O1. It is the same lamp used in the M951.
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu34/donws2/IMG_1167_zps8581e638.jpg |
| Well I got the light back from Surefire today after sending them the back piece and it still doesn't work. Paper clip trick makes it light up still though. I'm at a loss. Gonna buy a new Surefire lamp and see if maybe that is the problem but I doubt it since the lamp I have now works. |
| If the paper clip thing across the back worked, then the issue is in the switch somewhere. My guess is that you are not getting good contact between the light body and the switch. You could try to scuff sand the end of the threads on the body and maybe that might help. I am assuming you have the tail cap that has the pressure switch port and the on/off clicky switch? It could be that the spring is not attached right or something. But out side of gutting the switch I am at a loss as well. If you want there are others out there that might be able to help. Lots of folks on CPF that could probably trouble shoot it for you. Heck I would take a look at it if you want and see what I can come up with. I have 3 of these lights and if need be I could swap you a tailcap if that is the problem. No reason for this to be this much of a pain in the butt. |
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TacticalGearWorld is good to deal with. I purchased several drop-in LEDs from them. On my M952, I had to remove the large spring. Then I grabbed the small spring to elongate it, making sure to hold the soldered end of the spring with needle nose pliers so it doesn't get pulled off the board. Some bulbs (where the large spring is attached) required a few wraps of aluminum foil for solid contact. You might try it. |
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Quoted:
If the paper clip thing across the back worked, then the issue is in the switch somewhere. My guess is that you are not getting good contact between the light body and the switch. You could try to scuff sand the end of the threads on the body and maybe that might help. I am assuming you have the tail cap that has the pressure switch port and the on/off clicky switch? It could be that the spring is not attached right or something. But out side of gutting the switch I am at a loss as well. If you want there are others out there that might be able to help. Lots of folks on CPF that could probably trouble shoot it for you. Heck I would take a look at it if you want and see what I can come up with. I have 3 of these lights and if need be I could swap you a tailcap if that is the problem. No reason for this to be this much of a pain in the butt. Thanks man! I believe all the internals of the tailcap are brand new as I sent that in to them and it now looks brand new in there. Maybe I will try tightening it real tight once I get the new bulb in from Surefire. |
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Quoted:
Thanks man! I believe all the internals of the tailcap are brand new as I sent that in to them and it now looks brand new in there. Maybe I will try tightening it real tight once I get the new bulb in from Surefire. Quoted:
Quoted:
If the paper clip thing across the back worked, then the issue is in the switch somewhere. My guess is that you are not getting good contact between the light body and the switch. You could try to scuff sand the end of the threads on the body and maybe that might help. I am assuming you have the tail cap that has the pressure switch port and the on/off clicky switch? It could be that the spring is not attached right or something. But out side of gutting the switch I am at a loss as well. If you want there are others out there that might be able to help. Lots of folks on CPF that could probably trouble shoot it for you. Heck I would take a look at it if you want and see what I can come up with. I have 3 of these lights and if need be I could swap you a tailcap if that is the problem. No reason for this to be this much of a pain in the butt. Thanks man! I believe all the internals of the tailcap are brand new as I sent that in to them and it now looks brand new in there. Maybe I will try tightening it real tight once I get the new bulb in from Surefire. you shouldn't need to tighten it really tights. all of mine will turn on with 1-2 full revolutions to go. But its worth a shot. I would also try scuffing the end face of the tube with some 220grit then 600grit sandpaper and see if it helps. You never know. |
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I had a feeling it was that bulb. I've never seen one like that. I wonder where it came from... Glad you got it up and running. You won't be disappointed with the Malkoff, they are great drop-ins. They are a having a 15% off sale right now, so it's a good time to buy.
Quoted:
That looks like an aftermarket bulb of some kind. I'd be willing to bet that is your issue. Surefire parts tend to be pretty reliable. Aftermarket Chinese stuff, not so much. |
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I posted before I reviewed the entire thread. Now that I've seen the pic of the bulb you posted, that is most definitely not the right bulb for your M951. It is either an aftermarket bulb, or a bulb that was designed for another type of light altogether.
Glad you got it worked out, and glad it wasn't a problem with the light itself. |
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Quoted:
I had a feeling it was that bulb. I've never seen one like that. I wonder where it came from... Glad you got it up and running. You won't be disappointed with the Malkoff, they are great drop-ins. They are a having a 15% off sale right now, so it's a good time to buy. Quoted:
I had a feeling it was that bulb. I've never seen one like that. I wonder where it came from... Glad you got it up and running. You won't be disappointed with the Malkoff, they are great drop-ins. They are a having a 15% off sale right now, so it's a good time to buy. Quoted:
That looks like an aftermarket bulb of some kind. I'd be willing to bet that is your issue. Surefire parts tend to be pretty reliable. Aftermarket Chinese stuff, not so much. Are those drop in or do I have to do modifications? I would rather leave the light as is in case I need to warranty it again. |
| They are pretty easy to put in, no permanent mods. I've found that you need to remove the small black plastic insert inside the light body, near the head. I press a small socket over the fingers of the insert to squeeze them together, and then it falls right out. Then you can re-use it later if needed. You also might have to stretch the spring on the Malkoff a little to get a good connection. These steps are only needed on lights with a shock-isolated bezel in my experience. On a regular light, like a 6P, it's a true drop-in with no other steps. |
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