AA Leaked and Fused Tailcap... help?

[Pila_Power]

Hi CPFers,

I got married a year or so ago and got my groomboys a nice minimag with sammich upgrade etc running on some generic brand of AA's.

I think I told em to not leave the batts in when in long term storage but maybe not... in any case, one light (belongs to my Best Man of all people) has leaky batteries which have fused the kroll switch in place.

The back of the kroll could easily get mangled (plastic) if I were to force things much more than I already have.

Is there a safe solution (liquid) I can dunk the light in or at least get the kroll switch loose enough to remove the batteries for cleaning?

I searched the search function with no answers, hence this thread.

Thanks for any help you guys (and gals)!!

Tim.

 

[VidPro]

you did not mention the battery TYPE that is stuck.
if its alkaline or carbon, then the substance is a "base" and a "acid" will undo the effects of the base. BUT , and a big huge BUT, even vinagar will turn every uncoated metalic surface into a mess,and make the light ugly and cause even more issues.

there aint much you can do, its ruined, torture it out as best as you can, and after removing the battery flush everything with lots and lots of water, and wash your hands by flushing with water.
then clean any metal surfaces by light sanding, wire brushes, light steel wool or something appropriate, bottle brushes.
use gloves where appropriate, and getting this stuff on your clothes can leave spots, and even holes, at all aspects of working with this stuff, recognise that a caustic material is existing.

WD-40 has an ability to work with oxided metals, it might be usefull, but then again remember your adding an oil to a caustic material, and use approprite precuations. any other "penatrating" oil can have the same effect of releacing oxided threads.

chances are Good EVEN if they are off brand batteries, that the maker of the battery will extract , and repair the light that was damaged by its battereis. the battery IS at fault. and all the big makers certannly will repair or replace a light for you. your best chance for compenasation is to discover the maker and ask them.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Would DeOxit do anything for this problem? I have a light that happened to also.

 

[Pila_Power]

Thanks vidpro, I'm unsure of what batts are in there.

It's a modded TWOJ pill 2 x AA with modded custom reflector and purple minimag.

At a guess, I'd say they were Duracell batts but yeah - impossible to tell right now.

I'll try to bust off the kroll cos I want the pill out before I try to get it replaced.

Man this sucks bad due to the sentimental factor.

 

[greenLED]

PP - I remember those lights!

Krolls are relatively easy to replace, go at it and get it out before the corrosion gets any worse. It shouldn't be too tightly wedged in place because the threads are made out of plastic. I'm guessing (hoping) what's locked in place is just the spring.

Good luck.

 

[hank]

Happened to me too, and the Kroll was absolutely _stuffed_ with corrosion. This was the standard Kroll, not the very nice gold-plated-spring type that Arc used a while back.

I had to take it off with a pipe wrench (strap type) on the flashlight and Vise-Grip pliers on the plastic part of the Kroll (after I'd pulled off the rubber cap and scattered corrosion all over the place --- word to the wise, eh?)

Whatever the stock Kroll springs are made of they count as 'sacrificial' metal in a corrosion situation. That's probably a good idea.

But, gack.

Had to get the corroded end of the light sawed off and the rest rethreaded as a 1xAA miniminim@ host.

 

[Pila_Power]

Yowser Hank - I better go get my surgical gloves and mask on eh?

Yes greenie, this is one of those lights

I'm hoping the damage isn't too bad.