250 Lumen Cree R2 "Drop-in" for the M3

[donn_]

Ok...it was a little more work than a true drop-in, but if I can do it, anyone can.

A short time ago, I spent a little time cranking the stock bezel rings off two M3 heads (Z46). This involved a heat gun, strap wrench and one of RPM's removal tools. All in all, it was pretty easy, and I love RPM's Ti bezel rings on the M3.

A day later, I read how Sgt LED installed a D26-sized LED drop-in in his M3, and I decided to try it with a new Lumens Factory D36 Cree R2 drop-in.

Off came one of the Ti bezel rings, and everything in the head...including the stock reflector, the reflector collar, lens gasket and lens.

I put the shock-isolation foam strip back in place, started the drop-in into it from the front, and used the reflector collar to shove it down into place inside the foam.

Once the drop-in is secure, simply re-install the reflector collar

Then the lens gasket

the lens

and the bezel ring

Now you have a nice 250 lumen Cree R2 M3!

A couple of notes:

The spring set on the drop-in is a bit shorter than stock, so I used a 1/16" magnet spacer behind the cells to make contact.

In the removal of the stock bezel ring, I scratched the Pyrex lens. Surefire won't sell these lenses, so I had to find a substitute for the 37.5 x 3.25mm stock lens. Otto Frei's website sells a watch crystal in mineral glass, which is 37 x 3mm for $3.50 plus shipping. It works just fine!

There are other D36 Lumens Factory lamp assemblies which will work just as well, including an incan putting out 700 lumens.

 

[Eric242]

opNow that´s a nice mod - makes me think about getting a M3 again! I guess the tough part is the removal of the stock bezel without the RPM tool.

Eric

 

[rtt]

Thanks for the detailed steps on this mod with pictures. Great job! Makes me want to get another M3:naughty:.

 

[brighterisbetter]

Nice job on that one, now make sure to post your pics in the M3 mods and builds thread.

 

[yazkaz]

So where can I buy the RPM Ti bezel rings and removal tools?

 

[donn_]

Here:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=192432

It looks like all he has left is plain, non-crenelated copies.

 

[Sgt. LED]

:thumbsup:

 

[divine]

Nice work, Donn!

 

[Youfoundnemo]

sweet, and mark (lumensfactory) said that there was no reason to make IMR D36 dropins:shakehead if IMR D36 dropins were made Im pretty sure they would be in the 900-1000 lumen rangeoo:

 

[donn_]

He's probably right...so far. The only uses I can think of for them would be this head, and FM's 2 and 3x18500 D36 lights. They'd have to be fiddled with to run the current IMR cells. You could do 3x IMR 123s in the 2x18500, and 2x IMR 18650s in the 3x18500.

Overall, there aren't many of the FM lights out there, and not many people are doing the M3 head mod.

 

[donn_]

...900-1000 lumen rangeoo:

You could hit that level in a reflector/bi-pin D36, or a bi-pin tower for the M3.

HEY FM!!

 

[Eric242]

It´s done:

http://www.ea242.de/pic/lampen/surefire-*******-02.jpg

http://www.ea242.de/pic/*******2.jpg

Unfortunatelly my D36 dropin is waaay dimmer than my LF D26 drop-in.
I guess I´ll have to contact them since they should be about the same brightness. Both drop-ins are regulated R2, powered with 2x 3,6V rechargeables and the D26 is much brighter. I´ll have a comparsion beamshot up soon.

Eric

Edit:
http://www.ea242.de/pic/*******beam.jpg

 

[KDOG3]

Wait a minute, wait, wait wait! My head is spinning here. Isnt' the reflector PART of the head? As in one solid piece? How are you guys installing these modules through the front? More info please! I've always wanted an M3 but there wasn't an LED "tower" etc available. This is way cool. I just heard my wallet groan....

 

[donn_]

Kdog...when I opened the head, I took out the stock reflector assembly, and replaced it with the D36 drop-in. It has a much better reflector than the stock model. Once you open the head, and remove the shock resistance foam, the reflector assembly just drops right out.

 

[KDOG3]

SWEET. I was going to get an Optimus, but I may have to get one of these instead. Best place to get D36 drop in?

 

[donn_]

Eric..it looks to me like the hotspot in the D36 is just as bright as the D26, but smaller. That's what I'd expect from a larger reflector.

 

[donn_]

SWEET. I was going to get an Optimus, but I may have to get one of these instead. Best place to get D36 drop in?

Direct from Lumens Factory, or from Lighthound.

 

[KDOG3]

Cool. I wonder what the runtime would be off of 2x17500s? C'mon payday! LOL!

 

[Eric242]

Eric..it looks to me like the hotspot in the D36 is just as bright as the D26, but smaller. That's what I'd expect from a larger reflector.

Donn, that white wall beamshot is a little deceiving, here´s an outdoor shot I just took with my three Lumensfactory LED Drop-ins: a regular D26, a 3.7V D26 and the D36 OP. All cells fresh from the charger (1x17670 on the 3.7V D26, 2x RCR123 for the other two).

Eric

 

[donn_]

This beam shot makes it look like your D36 is defective.

I have one D36 OP, and it has a definitely smaller and brighter hot spot at short range, and a much longer throw. The tint makes a difference, as can be seen it this beam shot, but your D36 is definitely dimmer.