What is the best method for removing the NovaTac retaining ring?

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LLCoolBeans

LLCoolBeans

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Apr 18, 2008
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Location
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I'm trying to do an emitter swap, but I'm having difficulty removing the retaining ring.

Is there thread locker on those threads? Should I use heat?

My serial number is in the 13k range, if that makes any difference.

Short of actually machining a spanner wrench for the job, has anyone come up with any creative ideas for wrenching on the ring?

Thanks
 
Can't get that sucker out. Made a little tool, used a heat gun. Used quite a bit of force, bent my little tool, burnt my finger, but no dice. What the heck? I thought these were practically falling out on some people.

It does not want to budge and I'm fresh out of ideas. Please help.
 
Bummer! I know that the HDS I had came off just placing on the back side of a mouse pad and turning, it sounds like they used some hard core loctite or something....arrrgggh!
 
You're referring to the ring inside the body behind the head which holds in the module correct? Hmmm, I took mine out using a pair of snap-ring pliers with little difficulty. Wish I had better advice for you.:rolleyes:
 
Well, I think the point may be moot as I believe I have cooked the driver.

Reassembled light after it cooled down, no worky. Dang. Here's the weird thing. After I reassembled it and then disassembled it again retaining ring came right out. Screwed retaining ring back in assembled and disassembled light again. retaining ring is stuck again, can't get it out.

Is there a way to test if the driver is dead? Maybe it's just the emitter that's dead.

So much for that little project. Live and learn.
 
I would not be surprised if there is some thread lock on there. IIRC there were issues regarding retaining rings that loosened after battery changes when the Novatac first came out. Loosening the retaing ring was also a suggestion in helping to remove the bezel. I had a hell of a time getting the bezel off of mine and when I did there was red residue on the threads which I assumed was red loctite. I tried a lot of different methods but I eventually had to damage the stock bezel ring with vicegrip pliers to get it off because nothing I did allowed enough purchase on the ring or torque for turning. I did use heat as well. Hopefully there isn't red loctite on the retaining ring. Good luck.
 
brighterisbetter said:
You're referring to the ring inside the body behind the head which holds in the module correct? Hmmm, I took mine out using a pair of snap-ring pliers with little difficulty. Wish I had better advice for you.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Doh!:stupid: Is the ring like the HDS in that you have to turn it counter-clockwise to remove it? If so, that is why it is impossible.
 
Nitroz said:
Doh!:stupid: Is the ring like the HDS in that you have to turn it counter-clockwise to remove it? If so, that is why it is impossible.
Click to expand...

It's a regular old right hand thread, I was turning the right way.

Tested the emitter, emitter still emits just fine. Driver appears to be dead. Dang! The one really irreplacable part as far as I know. Dang!

Driver board and heat sink appear to be potted together, so I can't look at the components to see if anything looks fried. If any solder flowed, I'm not seeing any. I don't think I got it anywhere near hot enough to melt solder though. I got it hot, hot enough to hurt a finger, but not hot enough to actually burn a finger.
 
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Tried cleaning all the contacts and using a fresh battery. Nothing.
 
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You know, the thing that really ticks me off about this is not that I destroyed the driver, there are bound to be a few casualties and failures when learning a new hobby, I was prepared for that. And lord knows I've got plenty of lights so I'm no where near lightless. Its that I've got all these really cool high-CRI SSC emitters sitting around that I've been dying to try out and now I have nothing to try them with. They're just sitting there on my parts tray, staring at me, mocking me.

:mad:
 
LLCoolBeans said:
You know, the thing that really ticks me off about this is not that I destroyed the driver, there are bound to be a few casualties and failures when learning a new hobby, I was prepared for that. And lord knows I've got plenty of lights so I'm no where near lightless. Its that I've got all these really cool high-CRI SSC emitters sitting around that I've been dying to try out and now I have nothing to try them with. They're just sitting there on my parts tray, staring at me, mocking me.

:mad:
Click to expand...

You could sell them! :)
 
Sgt. LED said:
You could sell them! :)
Click to expand...

I think not. I've got other projects in the works as well, just don't have any way to use them NOW. I'll probably take me a couple of weeks or more to get everything I need for the next project.

If you need some Sarg, they are readily availible from mouser and ship from within the US.

Here's the links:
3000k
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvbrKVFTEWTlqOZlvE//ZRzYgFLQCpH/co=

4000k
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=sGAEpiMZZMvbrKVFTEWTlqOZlvE//ZRzCkdlGTKsMqY=
 
I used a thin center punch to get my ring loose. Tapped alternately between the two slots till it broke loose.
 
A little late, I know, but I followed another tip to directly apply heat to the lock ring with my soldering iron tip. It took a lot of heat, but the overall head did not get as hot that way, and I did get it out. You did have the bezel ring loose first when trying to do this, right? That relieves the force on the back of the lock ring.
 
Hondo said:
A little late, I know, but I followed another tip to directly apply heat to the lock ring with my soldering iron tip. It took a lot of heat, but the overall head did not get as hot that way, and I did get it out. You did have the bezel ring loose first when trying to do this, right? That relieves the force on the back of the lock ring.
Click to expand...

Yea, it was completely stripped down, bezel ring and reflector were removed.
 
Little off topic here, so I apologize for hijacking my own thread.

Just realized that the Surfire P60L drop-in uses a SSC emitter. Wooo Hooo. Let's see if I can destroy something else. Here goes nothing.

EDIT: Well, that was easy. P60L is up and running.
 
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