Surefires & Mis-shaped Beam Patterns

I've recently noticed that my G2Z, Z3, and A2 have all developed beam patterns that are strangely MagLite-like.

The G2Z is the least effected - it simply has a few circular lines at the edge of the spill in one quarter of the beam.

The Z3 and the A2 have large, irregular bagel-shaped darkened areas around the spot followed by a few rings of alternating brighter light around the periphery of the spill. The darkened area around the hot spot covers about 30-40% of the spill area.

I've cleaned both sides of the bezels (A2 outside only) with a quality lens cleaner, so I know there's nothing on the bezels. I can't see any damage to the lenses, bezels, or lamps.

The only thing that comes to mind is that I recently cleaned the o-rings and put some silicone grease on them. When I replaced the bezels, I tightened them hand tight, not as tight as possible, but close. I wonder if I warped the reflectors, or possibly pushed the bulbs slightly forward and out of focus. I've got spare P60/P90 I can try in my G2Z & Z3, but the A2 worries me.

Hopefully a bulb change will fix the G2Z and Z3, but I suspect the A2 may have to go back to SF for repair.

Anyone else seen this? I sure would appreciate any ideas you may have, or suggestions on how to fix it.

you probably did not get the bulbs in focus, on my e2e i was messin around with the bulb/reflector distances and noticed that if the bulb is even a mm or two off it affects the beam immensely hope that this will help!

If you have the new bulbs with frosted tips, then you'll probably get the dark "oval" arround the hotspot...

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kongfuchicken said:
If you have the new bulbs with frosted tips, then you'll probably get the dark "oval" arround the hotspot...

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Hmmmm...not for the G2Z/Z3, but the A2 does have a frosted tip. Not only that, but I just noticed that the tip is off-center a bit, maybe 1/64" or so.

Why on earth would they frost the tips if it causes a dark oval?

Anyway, thanks for the info guys.

Anyone else?

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codeman said:

Why on earth would they frost the tips if it causes a dark oval?


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it blocks the light directly in front of the bulb; if there were no reflector, you'd see a "hole" in the light but since the reflector is here to make a hotspot, you'll see part of the dark hole arround the hotspot...
I think the frosted tip is supposed to remove the image of the filament in the beam but blocks most of the light coming out there.
I have old and new P61s and N1 LAs and the frosted ones have the dark surroundings.

That makes sense, though I prefer the old style.

Still, I have no idea what's going on with my G2Z/Z3 - neither has a frosted-tip bulb. I'd suspect the bulb in both of these, except that I know neither bulb was doing this a month ago. That's why I'm wondering if I did something to cause it. I never handle actual bulbs, nor try to adjust them, so I'm at a loss.

I rarely use the A2's incandescent, so I probably just didn't notice it before.

Codeman:
I too have noticed my p60 lamp has these same circular lines you mentioned. I noticed it after the third set of batteries in my M2. The p61 doesn't have this artifact.
I closely examined the lens and reflector and am convinced it is something with the filament. It almost looks like a wrinkle or something.
I was also wondering about this but didnt think too much about it untill i seen your post. I've been using the p61 lately, but I'm gona put the p60 back in and use it as my daily work light and see what happens.

Mine is immaculate..Hmm