gadget_lover
Flashaholic
I like the streamlight, TL3-LED. It's bright (around 90 lumens per streamlight), compact and looks good. It uses a relector that provides great spill.
What I hate about it is the twist type lock out tail cap (LOTC) with momentary tactical style push button. I have to remember to turn the cap, and the ridge that protects the button makes it hard on my thumb. It actually starts to ache.
What I did about it was to transplant the switch from the tailcap of a Garrity 2AA flashlight (also sold as Ozark Trails) to the tailcap of the TL3-LED. the only extra part that was needed was a washer to act as a spacer. I had a spare spring hanging around, so I used it instead of the stock one.
I started by removing the tailcap from a Garrity, then pulling the rubber boot off the switch. It was the new style tailcap with the spare bulb in the spring, but that did not matter. A momemnt's tug with a pair of needle nose pliers removed the black plastic ring from button end of the tailcap. Pushing on the spring then pushes the switch out. It looks like the center part below.
The tabs have been bent down (towards the spring) and the spring has been replaced with one that I had laying around. I could have used 1/2 of the original spring, but this was handy.
The boot is already installed in the TL3-LED's tailcap in the picture above. There is a ridge at the top of the threaded section that fits the groove in the boot like it was made for it. The washer will press against this, making a water tight seal.
The next picture shows the washer in place. It fit perfectly over the first step in the plastic housing and was just a scootch bigger than the diameter of the plastic. The size was not critical, but it worked out well in this case.
This is the tail cap with the switch installed. The battery tube (body of the light) will fit between the threads of the cap and the white plastic body of the switch. The end of the battery tube will contact the metal tabs seen at 3 and 6 o'clock, completing the circuit.
I now like the TL3-LED much more. The lockout is still available by unscrewing the tailcap 1 turn, and the momentary mode is there (though it's backwards). I'll have to work on a hi/low mod for it too.
the..the...the.... that's all folks.
Daniel
What I hate about it is the twist type lock out tail cap (LOTC) with momentary tactical style push button. I have to remember to turn the cap, and the ridge that protects the button makes it hard on my thumb. It actually starts to ache.
What I did about it was to transplant the switch from the tailcap of a Garrity 2AA flashlight (also sold as Ozark Trails) to the tailcap of the TL3-LED. the only extra part that was needed was a washer to act as a spacer. I had a spare spring hanging around, so I used it instead of the stock one.
I started by removing the tailcap from a Garrity, then pulling the rubber boot off the switch. It was the new style tailcap with the spare bulb in the spring, but that did not matter. A momemnt's tug with a pair of needle nose pliers removed the black plastic ring from button end of the tailcap. Pushing on the spring then pushes the switch out. It looks like the center part below.
The tabs have been bent down (towards the spring) and the spring has been replaced with one that I had laying around. I could have used 1/2 of the original spring, but this was handy.
The boot is already installed in the TL3-LED's tailcap in the picture above. There is a ridge at the top of the threaded section that fits the groove in the boot like it was made for it. The washer will press against this, making a water tight seal.
The next picture shows the washer in place. It fit perfectly over the first step in the plastic housing and was just a scootch bigger than the diameter of the plastic. The size was not critical, but it worked out well in this case.
This is the tail cap with the switch installed. The battery tube (body of the light) will fit between the threads of the cap and the white plastic body of the switch. The end of the battery tube will contact the metal tabs seen at 3 and 6 o'clock, completing the circuit.
I now like the TL3-LED much more. The lockout is still available by unscrewing the tailcap 1 turn, and the momentary mode is there (though it's backwards). I'll have to work on a hi/low mod for it too.
the..the...the.... that's all folks.
Daniel
