Got a Ray o Vac Sportsman working

[ScuffedLight]

Picked up two vintage lights at a antique store, and got the time to tinker with one. I soaked it in degreaser, treated the switch with some deoxit and threw in a led. Put fresh grease on the threads too.

The switch does next to nothing. You only get power when you press the button. The light stays on and doesn't flicker, though. For some reason when it's off the light is getting a little bit of power, I have no clue what's causing that. If anyone has any idea I'd like to hear it.

 

[aznsx]

Picked up two vintage lights at a antique store, and got the time to tinker with one. I soaked it in degreaser, treated the switch with some deoxit and threw in a led. Put fresh grease on the threads too.

The switch does next to nothing. You only get power when you press the button. The light stays on and doesn't flicker, though. For some reason when it's off the light is getting a little bit of power, I have no clue what's causing that. If anyone has any idea I'd like to hear it.

Love those lights you got!! I hope to find some similar for myself when I get time.

My first questions are obvious ones: Do both lights have the same issue(s) or only one? Did it (they) work at all before you began rehabing / restoring them?

Sounds like you're saying with (at least) one of them it works with 'momentary-on' press, but not in 'maintained / continuous-on' mode. Is that the case? I also sounds like you've identified some 'standby power drain' when the light is off(?).

Regarding the possible 'standby drain', by coincidence I've already been doing some investigating to identify possible causes for this in some very old flashlights, as it's been mentioned here before. Unfortunately I don't have such an old, side-switch pushbutton / slider switch to look at, and am going to look for some photos. One thing I have determined is that it's likely such switch assemblies probably use either 'fish paper' or 'phenolic' material for insulation where needed. It seems they both are very porous materials, and can soak up / retain moisture / liquids for some time. It's also possible that some of the substances used in such 'restorations' (although not DeOxit such as D100) may in fact be somewhat conductive (as is moisture from the air). This could result in some of this insulating material no longer being a good insulator, and could be providing a high resistance short circuit. I'm wondering if such moisture affecting / compromising the electrical properties of the 'insulation' material, whether accumulated over time (including from the air), or as a result of some cleaning solution might be the cause of such 'leakage current' in some older lights; particularly after restoration using various liquids / solvents in the process.

Just food for thought - not an actual diagnosis, but it's something I've already been wondering about prior to your post. In any case, great find!!

 

[ScuffedLight]

My first questions are obvious ones: Do both lights have the same issue(s) or only one? Did it (they) work at all before you began rehabing / restoring them?

It's just the one light, the bigger one is missing parts - can't even test it right now. I did not test the working light before the rehab either.

I have done my own research since starting this thread, and I had read the same regarding the insulation. I probably ruined it with soaking the flashlight body in degreaser. Funny thing is, today there's seemingly no standby drain. The slide switch still doesn't work, though. I have decided that I want to disassemble the switch to see if I repair it somehow.

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!