Shall I try this stunt?

[alexgian]

After a frustrating experience with the Luxeon lottery on my L4 (two heads, two LEDs full of bubbles) I was thinking of replacing the LED with one of known binning.
Don has very kindly offered to do the surgery -Thanks Don!/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif- but I have somehow been tempted to do it myself (modding bug getting me?).
I have never done anything like this before, so the question is: should I try and if so could someone give me some practical advice on how to do it?
I know how to hold a soldering iron but I do not have access to machinery or special tools.
Thanks everybody!

 

[koala]

Special tools? What special tools?
I think all you need is a heater/blower and some strap wrench. Plus a-lot-of patient. If you are not comfortable with it then let someone else do it for you.

Vince.

 

[alexgian]

OK, I suppose the heat gun/blower is necessary to soften the glue that locks the threads, right?.
Now, the L4 head is made of three parts, do all of them have to be unscrewed? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Once I have opened it do I simply de solder the LED and replace it or is there something else I should know?
Thanks

 

[Badbeams3]

To do or not to do...??? Well, I don`t know how expensive your light is. Or how you might feel if you should make things worse...I can only tell you that "I" would rather practice any moding skills I might have on cheap lights so I could sleep at night after I destroy them. No shame in letting someone with expirance work on the higher priced ones.

Good luck either way!

 

[BlindedByTheLite]

i dunno..
i'd say no since it's an L4..

but that's the only reason..

i doubt you could mess it up so that Don wouldn't be able to bail you out.

 

[koala]

I've modded some lights I still do mistake sometimes.

Vince.

 

[alexgian]

Well, I decided to take the chance and went ahead./ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif
In all fairness is was quite easy /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif: I used a heat gun and I could loosen the ring without any tools. I was a bit afraid that the heat would damage the gasket (actually there were two gaskets) but nothing happened and it was in a pefect state. Removed the two screws and voila' ...
Now all I have to do is replace the LED which seems pretty staightforward.
I have to say that this made me appreciate how well these lights are made, very impressive.
BTW, does anybody know what kind of sealant should I use to seal back the threads?
Thanks

 

[kaseri]

I would say that you should use Loctite. Go with the Blue loctite which is med strength.

 

[koala]

If you're not afraid of water, then don't seal it because you will find yourself upgrading the LED with better binning from time to time. Save yourself some trouble. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Sharp]

Koala's right.
Once you get into modding, you won't stop. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[alexgian]

I am afraid I already have all the symptoms of a serious case of modditis... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[NightStorm]

....so use some silicone sealant in just a couple of threads instead of Loctite. It will seal out the environment and yet allow the unit to be disassemble more readily for future modifications. Just my two cents.

Dan

 

[alexgian]

Good suggestion! I know I won't leave this thing alone for too long /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif