Wireman
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2006
- Messages
- 149
The story goes like this:
I use my E2L for what seems like half the work day, I always have it in my hand or mouth (ewww). I don't think it's possible to find a better light for $95, it's the best money I ever spent. However, I've dropped it from anywhere between waist level and 12 feet high while working on ladders, platforms, or lifts. It probably hit the concrete slab 25 times, the bezel surely showed scars from this.
After so many falls there was a period when the light only worked intermittently, I would have to loosen the head then retighten it in order to get it to turn on. I took it apart and cleaned everything and put a new layer of grease on the threads, it worked solid after that so I figured maybe it was the lack of grease that was causing the problem.
A month later the light took another hit to the ground (only this time in a drunken rage), after this it didn't work at all. I finally found the problem, the center contact in the head had pushed up, breaking the plastic around it. This was apparently from the batteries hitting it during a fall, since it always hits the ground head first. Apparently my idea about the grease causing the problem was wrong, that must have been when the contact was working it's way loose, which is why it would work after I turned the head.
So I call Surefire, I explain that the contact is broke because I dropped it so many times, I was told to send it in. I asked how much it would cost, he said it would be free but I would be without it for at least 3 weeks. I explained that the problem was caused by my abuse, that the bezel had scratches and damage from falling, he said it was ok and to just sent it in.
Instead of 3 weeks, I got a package from Surefire a week and a half later. Inside of the box was a sealed bag with an E2L inside of it. The body was still mine, but it was much cleaner and the threads were cleaned and relubed. The KL1 head was new, brand spankin new. How's that for a warranty? Use your light hard, do what you gotta do, if it breaks for any reason get it fixed or replaced. Now you can't always count on them replacing a light that you abused, I wouldn't expect it. However Surefire definitely showed their true colors, a level of service that you see less and less of everyday.
Now on to the main question, the contact. When I took the head off my newly replaced light the first thing I noticed was the contact looked bigger and slightly different in design than the contact that broke in my old head. So now I am left wondering if Surefire could have changed the design due to other contacts breaking?
I bought my E2L a month after it came out. If anyone has an E2L (or new generation KL1) from around back then, can you compare your contact to the picture below of the new contact? Is it the same? Or is the picture below slightly different?
I use my E2L for what seems like half the work day, I always have it in my hand or mouth (ewww). I don't think it's possible to find a better light for $95, it's the best money I ever spent. However, I've dropped it from anywhere between waist level and 12 feet high while working on ladders, platforms, or lifts. It probably hit the concrete slab 25 times, the bezel surely showed scars from this.
After so many falls there was a period when the light only worked intermittently, I would have to loosen the head then retighten it in order to get it to turn on. I took it apart and cleaned everything and put a new layer of grease on the threads, it worked solid after that so I figured maybe it was the lack of grease that was causing the problem.
A month later the light took another hit to the ground (only this time in a drunken rage), after this it didn't work at all. I finally found the problem, the center contact in the head had pushed up, breaking the plastic around it. This was apparently from the batteries hitting it during a fall, since it always hits the ground head first. Apparently my idea about the grease causing the problem was wrong, that must have been when the contact was working it's way loose, which is why it would work after I turned the head.
So I call Surefire, I explain that the contact is broke because I dropped it so many times, I was told to send it in. I asked how much it would cost, he said it would be free but I would be without it for at least 3 weeks. I explained that the problem was caused by my abuse, that the bezel had scratches and damage from falling, he said it was ok and to just sent it in.
Instead of 3 weeks, I got a package from Surefire a week and a half later. Inside of the box was a sealed bag with an E2L inside of it. The body was still mine, but it was much cleaner and the threads were cleaned and relubed. The KL1 head was new, brand spankin new. How's that for a warranty? Use your light hard, do what you gotta do, if it breaks for any reason get it fixed or replaced. Now you can't always count on them replacing a light that you abused, I wouldn't expect it. However Surefire definitely showed their true colors, a level of service that you see less and less of everyday.
Now on to the main question, the contact. When I took the head off my newly replaced light the first thing I noticed was the contact looked bigger and slightly different in design than the contact that broke in my old head. So now I am left wondering if Surefire could have changed the design due to other contacts breaking?
I bought my E2L a month after it came out. If anyone has an E2L (or new generation KL1) from around back then, can you compare your contact to the picture below of the new contact? Is it the same? Or is the picture below slightly different?
