Who here mods Nitecore lights ?

I have a p12 old version that only works in low mode, anyone want to hack it drop a triple nichia in it or maybe replace the driver etc ? I’d hate to see this light just sitting not being used when there is potential use out of this light. Sorry but VINH is way too $$$$$ for some repairs and he will not touch a non or half working light.

Subscribing in case someone else has modded this light. I’ve got a newer P12 I bought on sale purely for output comparison with my Convoy S2+ triple XP-L builds. Head on mine seems thoroughly glued. If nothing else, I’d like to get the LED board out and dedome/reflow onto a noctigon. And possibly switch the reflector out for a TIR. Not super relevant to your situation since there seems to be something wrong with yours, but I hadn’t planned on messing with the driver - just with the LED. But yeah… the bezel on mine is glued pretty solidly. Not sure how to get the driver out without destroying it.

I've read before that Nitecore lights have a bad rep for being unfriendly for modding. Forgot where I read about it though, but it was most likely from CPF.

I modded my 2-AA MT2C light with a different emitter, and modded my P25 with a different emitter & noctigon are the only two Nitecore lights i modded so far.

I’m just up in Santa Rosa if you want me to take a look. I don’t do this to make money so just pay the shipping and it’s yours again when finished. Pm me.

After scratching a lot of expensive lights I have found the best way to open nitecore crown cap style lights, without using heat or strap wrenches

Here’s what I did to get a de-domed MT-G2 into my nitecore MH2C

Step 1 : Paper tape is the key

Step 2 : wrap both the head and the body (mh2c has a secondary screw on cap for the usb port, has been removed), wrap ALOT of tape, at least 5 to 6 layers if you don’t want to scratch your beloved light

Step 3 : Use a big piler (you can try opening it by hands if you want, I did it that way, the paper tape provides enough friction and padding) and simply use brute force to twist it open, the tape protects against scratches

Profit!!

OL did a few EA mods that involved heating the head to soften the whateverredstufftheyused.

Probably still more work than its worth though :stare:

It is a PITA to teardown. I am surprise the thin paper tape of much help. I have to put so much strength on my wrenches that literally tear through my 4mm rubber padding.

Maybe some model is easier than another... I do not know.

Yeah, I tried rubber too, but the thing about sticky paper tape is that each layer “sticks” on itself and hence, does not slip, rubber on the other hand tends to slip against the smooth metal and tools

I used hot glue on a thrunite light that was glued unbelievably well. I put 1 bead all the way around the lens side of head and then another fat bead on the switch side. a couple of vise grips and then plenty of torq. not a scratch. this glue would be in place of the sticky tape mentioned above. and then the hot glue peels off with no problem afterward.

I use 3M indoor stairway grip tape. It’s incredibly grippy and quite thick, yet will peal off a flashlight without damaging it. Make sure to get the indoor stair grip tape (grey rubber), not the outdoor grip tape (black with crushed glass).

Cut a strip of the tape wrap it around the bezel. Another strip around the body. If necessary apply pliers to the tape. So far this has worked to break the threadlocker on every light I’ve tried it with except one.

The only light I have where this method failed is the DQG18650 mini-clicky. They must’ve used a terrific amount of threadlocker in that sucker. My pliers tore right through the tape and the head still didn’t budge. I suspect I’ll need a blowtorch to disassemble the thing.

Maybe I’ll try the hot-glue technique and see if it works better on this light over the grip tape method.

just make sure your hot glue bead is wide enough and about a 1/4 inch thick or better. I tried several things on my light but it was on their so good that nothing would allow me to budge it w/o scratching it. I just happened to notice a hot glue gun on my work bench and then it dawned on me,and so I thought I might as well try it. the 1/4 inch of hot glue or so was plenty to give me enough cushion for the iron tight vise grips. let me know how it goes.

Some flashlights are glued, some are just very very tight screwed.
When the latter is the case: try Gorilla Tape.
A few layers of it make it safe to use a grip vice. Not a scratch!

And when you are ready, and you remove the tape,
the sticky layer takes away all the dirt (as a bonus).

Sorry to bring up this old thread, but you’re the only person I have found to have modded the MT2C. I also have one that I would like to replace the emitter and perhaps the driver as well (I hate the stock driver).

How did you disassemble the head to get to the emitter?

Thank you!