Inova Magic!

[Lighthouse one]

I recently bought an Inova on the Marketplace: Just because I don't have any- and I like the looks of this model.

It had a very poor quality beam, and was very weak. This is not the fault of the gentleman who sold me the light...I got a great deal.

So I thought...could I change the led? I've done this often. I decided to take the front end apart to see about an Led change. WoW-what a difficult job! I had to destroy everything inside to get it apart.

What could I do now. I had a nice shell. Wonder if this would fit?

By sheer luck....a drop in is the exact size to fit. It wasn't easy- but here it is!

The length inside is 3 123 batteries. I ordered a dummy 123 so I can use 2 123 primaries with my drop in. You could use a driver that handles 9 plus volts instead.

I now have my Inova...and it's a great light!

 

[jabe1]

I wonder if two 17500s would fit? Awesome job, I always have liked the look, just not the output.

 

[wyager]

How did you get it apart? I've had no luck. I even tried filling it with water and freezing it to get it apart.

 

[Lighthouse one]

The bezel is screwed on. Put the light in a strong vise with wood liners. I first heated the front in boiling water....but don't think it's needed. Protect the bezel...use your hands at first...if no luck- try wrapping the bezel- and carefully try pliars.

Once you get the bezel off---this is the hard part...the next part is just press fitted--very tight. I used a vice grips and forced the inside piece to turn and wiggle until it came out...took a while...definitely tore it up.
The glass drops out. now turn the light on its nose and get a big punch. I had to beat--hard to drive the led holder out...destroyed everything in the process.

I gave up trying to save any inside parts. I just didn't want to mess up the outside.

Now the bezel is just lightly glued on the front of the light...I had to file about 1/16th " off the drop in front end. THe drop in is just exopied into the light. The Inova is positive end towards the back. Had to reverse that- and use a magnet to overcome the recessed tailswitch.

 

[wyager]

On my X2, the reflector and stuff is totally inside the bezel, no way to grab on to it. Hence the ice. Also, I already destroyed the ano and stuff, so I'm not too concerned about damaging it further. Oh well, maybe it's staying that way. Makes a great hammer! :crackup:

 

[arewethereyetdad]

Oh, I wish I'd've known you were going to take it apart. I could have helped you with that. The way to do it is via the "freeze-pop" method. There is good info about that somewhere here on the forum.

 

[wyager]

Oh, I wish I'd've known you were going to take it apart. I could have helped you with that. The way to do it is via the "freeze-pop" method. There is good info about that somewhere here on the forum.

Yeah, no luck for me. All it did was get a bit of rust on the reflector. The light still works though! Tough as nails.

 

[Bullzeyebill]

Which model Inova is that? It looks like my two AA Inova. Also, what drop in did you use?

Moving this to Homemade and Modified Flashlight Discussion forum.

Bill

 

[Lighthouse one]

I believe this is the X03 model. This early model had a glass lens. Any drop in will work. I only wanted one just because I like the looks of this model...but decided to operate on it afterwards. Never tried freezing..only boiling water. Uses 2 123 cells.
My operation only applies to this larger head model....not the smaller slim models.

 

[chitoz28]

Nice mod, but what drop in did you use that fits? I've had mine open for a few years thinking to mod it, but haven't got around to it.

 

[Hill]

Took my inova bolt AA apart as well. Hard as hell to get the reflector out. Destroyed everything on the inside, but mod here turned out great.