Dissembling malkoff md2 head ring

I'd like to remove the p60. I have snap ring pliers to go in the slots but its not budgeing do I have to depress that pin thing too?

There is nothing to depress, it just needs to be turned to screw it out of the head. If it's in a turn-key MD2 it may require a good grip and some muscle as it might have a little thread locker on the threads.

No, just twist.

I've had some that were very tight, requiring me to hold the in the vice with suitable protection.

Malkoff also sell a special tool to fit the rings.

EDIT:

880arm said:

There is nothing to depress, it just needs to be turned to screw it out of the head. If it's in a turn-key MD2 it may require a good grip and some muscle as it might have a little thread locker on the threads.

Click to expand...

There is no thread locker.

Norm

Norm said:

No, just twist.

There is no thread locker.

Norm

Click to expand...

Thanks Norm. Now I feel like a wimp for not being able to get one of my hi/lo rings out!

I guess my grip isn't as strong as it once was :sigh:

I have emailed Gene regarding how to remove the Hi Lo ring. Gene said all the Hi Lo ring now has thread lock and required to use the special tool they sold to turn it open. I had one MD2 head that had some blemishes and i asked one of the dealer to send me a replacement head. He could not open the hi lo ring and in fact he damaged 2 heads coating while he was trying to open the head. I emailed Gene afterward and he said they are now with thread lock.

cubebike said:

I have emailed Gene regarding how to remove the Hi Lo ring. Gene said all the Hi Lo ring now has thread lock and required to use the special tool they sold to turn it open.

Click to expand...

That's a backward step in a light that is supposed to be modular, why would it need thread locker?

Norm

That's disappointing if the thread now have threadlocker.

I can speculate here. I only recently got the Malkoff tool. Before that I just used some pliers.
I found my high lo ring tended to come lose.
After this happened a few times I used more force when tightening and it stayed secure.

I can see how the amount of force required could be considered high enough for threadlocker to be used as alternative.
I assume not as permanent threadlocker as surefire uses..

I bought the Malkoff tool recently, too. I couldn't get enough forch with pliers. I didn't realize the problem was thread lock. I just thought I needed more spinach in my diet. The tool works well, but it is disappointing if they now use thread locker.

A hair dryer to heat the head can help in loosening the thread locker.

I actually had both nubs on the special tool shear off trying to remove the h/l ring from a light I bought a year ago. I eventually got it off using the pliers on a Gerber multi-tool and a pair of vice grips, but not without badly marring the head (I wrapped a dish towel around the head twice first but the grips still marred the head).

I now buy everything separately. It may cost a bit more but it's well worth it to have the lego option. I now get it in there pretty good with the replacement special too I bought as it stays tight but can be removed.

This is how I got mine done:

I have also had luck with the tips of the pliers in my (SOG) multi-tool. It stinks there is thread locker in there now, but I can understand if it is being sold to a non-flashaholic crowd.

Ok guys just got mine out it took a vice with leather glove in it and snap ring pliers ( they looked like they were gonna bend) I don't see any loctite but it feels alittle sticky

Does anybody know how tight to put it back in does it strip easily?

american said:

Does anybody know how tight to put it back in does it strip easily?

Click to expand...

I don't think you have to worry about stripping the threads. The bigger danger, if you are not using the official tool, is to have your pliers slip causing you to scratch or make gouges in the brass ring.

If you play around with it, changing drop-ins or doing the same one once in a while, you can get a good feel on how tight to tighten it. Kind of like screwing a nozzle on a garden hose - you can feel when it's snugged in, so no need to add brute force.

I'm not completely surprised for Gene to begin using LocTite. I always tighten mine down pretty tightly, with a screwdriver or similar object through the tool for additional leverage, and they eventually work themselves loose enough to be easily removed without a screwdriver.

I plan to up the torque on all of them during my next serious swap session.

Grizz

I use snap ring pliers like these



I never had a problem with a ring coming lose.

Norm

We don't use any thread locker. We did use some for about month over a year ago. Stopped over a year ago due to complaints.

Gene

Gene43 said:

We don't use any thread locker. We did use some for about month over a year ago. Stopped over a year ago due to complaints.

Gene

Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply Gene. Glad I was correct in what I said in post #3 :thumbsup:

Norm