A2 broken on arrival?

[buickid]

So I got my A2 Aviator today, bought it on clearance from a reputable online retailer. Package was open, which is fine by me, seeing as I got such a good price on it. Light looks mint, but when I go to turn it on, the first stage of the switch only lights two of the three LEDs! On top of that, when the dimple in the tailcap is aligned with the dimple on the body, the 1st stage (LED) lights when the tailcap is pressed against the body (meaning theres play in the threads and the dimple wasn't drilled in the right spot, or something). If I back it out one turn, then the 2nd stage doesn't light when the switch is fully depressed. This normally wouldn't bother me except I can see the LEDs turning on when I sit down with the A2 in my pocket. I think I'll give Surefire a call tomorrow and see what they say.

 

[csshih]

let us know how they treat you!

 

[buickid]

Will do! My previous experiences with SF support have been exceedingly positive

 

[Robin24k]

If the package has been opened, this should be something you need to contact the retailer about. I would definately get an exchange.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Seems like the dealer should be contacted first regarding the open package.

Bill

 

[computernut]

I have had a couple of two-stage tailcaps that would turn on if you wiggled them while the witness marks were lined up and SF sent me new tailcaps. The 3rd LED not turning on sounds like a more serious problem.

 

[elgarak]

Considering how rough the threads are on the Surefire 2-stage tailcap, I have always treated the witness marks as very rough guides. Never paid much attention if they would line up, but would use them to assure that I have turned that many turns. In short, I personally would consider your problem there as negligible. I would not even call them just for that alone. YMMV.

The 3rd LED not lighting up is the more serious problem, and Surefire should replace it. I'm halfway expecting them to send you a full new head. Though it's relatively easy to just get the LED ring out, but I doubt that Surefire would make you do that by yourself.

BTW: I have found that all threaded connections do turn when I keep the stuff in my front pants pocket. The movement and friction in there is enough to turn lights off the lock-out (I carry an L1 in my front left pocket, together with my wallet, which has the same tailcap as the A2), or even loosen completely. Not funny to find a CR123A zipping around with exposed contacts. I noticed this often enough to not carry two cell lights like that, due to increased short circuiting probability. Even both my Gladii get pushed off the lock-out by moving around in a bag.

 

[buickid]

Hmm, I guess I'll call the retailer on Monday and see where to go from there! It was their last one in stock though.

 

[JNewell]

The apparent dud LED is a big problem, but if the retailer doesn't stand behind it SureFire almost certainly will.

The witness mark "issue" is, I hate to say it, probably a total non-issue. The lights listed in my sig are actually only a subset of the SFs I own. I think that, out of the whole pile, only a single light has witness marks that actually line up as you'd expect.

 

[chef4850]

I am actually glad that this was brought up about the witness marks.

I also noticed this with all my Sf lights. Not an issue with me but always wondered about this as none of mine (37 in all) do not line up.

Chef

 

[buickid]

Ahh okay, the witness marks just concerned me a little because all the 6Ps and E2s I've owned have had marks that line up. I guess I'm just lucky! I tried using my Fluke in the diode setting to test the LEDs, and indeed, the LED itself is dead, not just a broken connection somewhere. I'll be calling tomorrow and keeping you guys updated Good chance to see if they'll fix my FM35 with a broken latch while I'm at it!

 

[UnderTheWeepingMoon]

I wouldn't worry about the witness marks.

From what I've read, at some stage SureFire updated the internals of the tailcap with thicker, stronger leaf springs to address a failure problem. The witness marks were positioned to work with the older internals but were never revised for the newer internals.

 

[buickid]

Got it, will do

 

[Wetterman]

Aren't the marks supposed to show the lock-out position only? Not the positions where the first stage and second stage are connected.

 

[buickid]

On all my 6Ps and E2s, when the witness marks line up, the button can be pressed to turn on the light, every single time without fail. Exactly one turn out from there with the marks lining up again, its locked out. I just figured that was the way it was meant to be. With this A2, marks lined up, the tailcap has enough play that the tailcap body can be pressed and the LEDs turn on. One turn out from there, the LEDs still turn on when the switch is depressed, but cant be pushed far enough to activate the bulb. One more turn and its fully locked out, but only half a turn from coming off.