HELP! -- Recent DD deal Trustfire Z5 air-pressure zoom problem

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Couple weeks ago there was a BLF thread for a great deal on a Dino Direct 2 x 18650 Trustfire Z5. Got mine today. Seals are so tight that air pressure is making the zoom darn near immovable. If anyone else got this light, they probably will have the same problem.

Looks like a good light. Screw-in alum pill (i think). BRIGHT. Nice beam. Nice zoom. Seems to be a glass lense even. But haven’t done a lot of investigation into the light yet because of a very irritating problem.

Tried to solve it for about 30 minutes. Before I do something drastic like drill a hole in the tail clicky, I decided to ask BLF and sees what theys haves to say. I’m sure there is some silly trick that I don’t know how to do. This airtight zoom issue has to happen frequently.

The problem: The light is so airtight that the zoom doesn’t zoom! Tail cap off = breaks airtight seal; zooms fine. Tailcap on = airtight seal and no zoom. Well, it does zoom if you pull and twist and rock the zoom housing sorta offcenter. But that workaround is just that: a workaround and not the real answer here.

O ring acts like a gasket (as it should) but the tolerances are so good that if you try to zoom, it goes to that position and then the created vacuum pulls the zoom lense back into its starting position.

Changed the o ring. Various sizes. Nope. Lubed it. Nope. Made the problem a little better maybe.

Smaller o ring: When you get the o ring small enough to not be airtight, the zoom is too loose. Unscrew the tail cap enough to let air in = problem solved. But without a tailcap, there is no circuit and the flashlight becomes a candle holder or other knick knack. Removed tailcap o ring = still too airtight.

So what is the solution for this? It has to be a simple one.

Seems like a great light BTW …. If I can just get it to work properly so I can test it.

Thanks for any help you can give.

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I ordered the same light and I have the same problem. Definitely air tight!!
I decided that it would be my dedicated “rain proof ,flood light”….I definitely have too many lights :frowning:

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You can perform tracheotomy on it, with a drill. :smiley:

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>>>>>>You can perform tracheotomy on it, with a drill.

I think that’s the only answer. Never had a zoomie like this before and this thing is X**&%%^&**& airtight! I mean you gotta put some muscle behind it to zoom, and when you let go —- BOINGGGGG!!! —- it just pops back to the starting point.

After fiddling with it much too long, I found a trick. First I used a lightly smaller o ring and lubed it. That helps somewhat.

Then I sorta tilt the head off center a bit while I zoom. That breaks the air seal and it zooms fine, but it’s kinda bogus to have to do that.

Like you say, a tiny pinhole would fix it. I’m thinking in the clicky cover. But maybe there’s a better place.

I’m hoping someone with more zoom experience will have a fix. I know at least a few BLFers bought the z5 during its recent DD deal. They’ll be facing the same issue.

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The simplest way to fix something like this on zoomies is to remove the tail o-ring. You lose waterproofing but it’s pretty obvious that’s counter to this kind of design in the first place.

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I received few of them, some of them have that problem, and on one zooming is too loose. I think I will ad one o ring to make it less loose.
And head is also loose on that one, I dont know how to fix it.

Similar as on some SIpik SK68 clones, movable part (head) is sometimes, on some models, little lose, and i think there is noi “fix” for that. I mean , Im n ot talking about too easy sliding, but it can be moved left-right

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You can dissemble the head by first removing the retaining ring on top w/ the lens, unscrew the battery tube, and then the head will come out the “bottom”. The rubber ring there is what forms the seal. Removing the tail ring is however the better way to fix the “sealed too well” problem since changing the head ring size effects head tension.

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>>>>>The simplest way to fix something like this on zoomies is to remove the tail o-ring.

I wish it helped. Already tried it.

I have had zoomers that were kinda tight to zoom, but this is BEYOND tight. This thing is more airtight than a submarine. Probably the reason they were on sale.

I mean you can move the head on this WITH EFFORT, but as soon as you let go, the air pressure bounces it back to the starting point. It’s actually a testament to amazingly tight tolerances, just to the wrong effect unfortunately.

No tail cap = zooms PERFECTLY.

I guess I’ll drill a tiny tiny hole somewhere, but where is the question.

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The reason removing the tail ring should fix it is that the spring effect is caused by the seal formed w/ head and tail ring. You’ve probably screwed the tail in too tight or greased up the threads to seal the bottom even without the o-ring. Without either of the latter, some air should move between the tail threads to free up the movement.

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>>>>>The reason removing the tail ring should fix it is that the spring
>>>>>>effect is caused by the seal formed w/ head and tail ring.
>>>>>>You’ve probably screwed the tail in too tight or greased up the threads to seal the bottom even without the o-ring.

No grease unfortunately, but MANY threads, more than usual. I’ve backed off on screwing it in all the way, but still no go.

>>>>>>Without either of the latter, some air should move between the tail threads to free up the movement.

Wish it did. I tried again screwing it on as loosely as possible. Still too much of a vacuum when only screwing it on three threads.

Well, at least if someone wants to see an example of tight tolerances, this is the light to see. :wink:

Thanks for all your trouble-shooting tips. I have about 15 zoomers. Couple are really tight, but none build up a vacuum like this. It really is extraordinary! Like a science experiment on vacuum and air pressure.

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Welcome back agenthex! :)

the tight seal has been discussed in _the_ original Z5 review (link), quickly read over, still no solution. Some of the sipik68s "solved" this problem by substituting the rubber O-ring with a metal C-ring, but this not only destroys the water seal, but also creates the metal-grating sound with every zoom. if you don't care about waterproofing, if there is an o-ring around the lens, maybe you can snip that o-ring, and leave the broken ring there to hold the lens. I'd advise against it though. Look at it this way, most people prefer their zoomies fixed either in the Flood or Zoom position, so this "bug" is actually a "feature", allowing you to temporarily change the zoom, let go of it, and it snaps back into position. :)

Simplest solution without any cutting would be to just "twist and zoom" to allow air in.

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No prob Ubehebe. I have the light and the ring removal worked for me. Seems your is even higher quality than mine. :slight_smile:

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Hello AAx3.

If the problem persist even after removing the tail ring I think a possible simple solution is to cut a notch (or hole) into the side of the rubber tailcap so air goes through that way. However the tail on mine seems pressed in and not trivial to unscrew. If that’s too hard to take apart a more “destructive” fix would be to dremel slight notches into the tail threads to easy the pressure (basically 1 light “cut” perpendicular to the threads).

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>>>>>>If that’s too hard to take apart a more “destructive” fix would
>>>>>>be to dremel slight notches into the tail threads to easy the pressure
>>>>>>(basically 1 light “cut” perpendicular to the threads).

Now THAT is a good idea! I knew someone would come up with it!!! I’ll paly with it some more and see if there is a better place for a hole or cut.

>>>>>Some of the sipik68s “solved” this problem by substituting the rubber O-ring with a metal C-ring,

I had a metal zoom ring left over from my keygos m12 when i replaced it with a silicone ring … so I tried it and it did work, but it had that unpleasant feeling of metal scraping against metal.

The best way would be to notch the zoom o ring, but of course that would cause it to rip and break.

>>>>>I ordered the same light and I have the same problem. Definitely air tight!!

Try like I do. Just put a little more pressure on one side while zooming out or in. That breaks the seal and the zoom will zoom freely.

That’s what I’ll do until I figure where to cut or drill.

>>>>>>>>Look at it this way, most people prefer their zoomies fixed either in the Flood or Zoom position,

Hahahahhahahah!! You’re right! Trustfire should market it as having the “remarkable SUPER memory zoom” at no added charge! It always returns to the same position. WAIT THERE’S MORE! It’s also a great hand exerciser! They’ll fly off the shelves!

Thanks to everyone for their help and humor.

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I have two Z5’s. 1 Generic with no labeling. This one had NO resistance in the Zoom head. The Zoom head would slip and slide with any movement of the flashlight. I discovered that there was NO “O” ring on the MAIN head (the one that the Zoom head slides back and forth on). I installed the proper size “O” ring on the Main head, and Wa Laa, this flashlight now had the same Vacuum problem as my other, Labeled Z5.

Another problem I noticed that was caused by the vacuum problem was; Sometimes, when I slid the Zoom head Back to the full zoom position, the flashlight would switch to the next Mode and/or turn completely OFF !!!. Weird, Huh !!! Well that problem is now gone.

Before I tell you what fixed the vacuum problem, let me tell you, it was just Dumb Luck that guided me to the solution. So, I will skip all of Dumb things I tried first, and tell you what finally did the trick.

First disassemble the flashlight ie.: unscrew the Lens Ring from the Zoom head; unscrew the Battery Tube from the Main head. Separate the Zoom head from the Main head. Inside the Bottom Half of the Zoom head is the area/surface were the Zoom head and the Main head make contact when you slide them back and forth. Using a Medium Grit SAND PAPER, sand this area until you have removed enough material so that the two heads Slide with NO Resistance. Be sure to check the Resistance from time to time as you are sanding, you don’t want to remove to much of the surface. You will know when you have removed enough of the surface when you can slide the two back together with No Resistance. Once you have reached this point, smooth out the sanded surface with some Very Fine sand paper. Just smooth it out a little, don’t over do it. Clean the area with some alcohol. After you have finished this step, do the following:

On the main head you will find an “O” ring. Remove this “O” ring and CUT IT - ONCE - so it will be a “C” ring instead of an “O” ring. Now clean the groove, that the “O” ring was in, with some alcohol. Now, Apply GREASE (I used Plummer’s Grease) to the “O” Ring groove. Place the newly cut “C” Ring into the groove and Rub a Little more Grease on the “C” Ring to help keep it in place. Now, Apply a VERY LIGHT Layer of grease to the sanded area on the Main Head.

Now it’s time to reassemble the flashlight. First, I suggest you screw the Battery Tube into the Main head; this will make the assembly of the Zoom head and Main head a little easier. Now when you slide the Zoom head back onto the Main head you will feel it STOP when it contacts the “C” ring. Just give it Tap or two and the will continue to slide together.

Now, when you slide the Zoom head back and forth you will feel some resistance. It should be enough resistance so that, if you slide the Zoom head all the way out (to the Spot Focus position) and Stand the flashlight upright on the Lens end, there will be enough resistance to keep the Zoom head in the position you zoomed it to.

I applied this fix to both of my Z5’s and they are working fine now. No more Vacuum problems. No more problems with the flashlight switching Modes and/or turning Off when I push the Zoom head all the way back to the Full Flood position.

I think the Gap created by cutting the “O” ring cured the Vacuum problem. Also, I think the tight tolerances between the Zoom & Main head will keep the “C” ring in place just fine as long as there is a little Grease keeping everything lubed.

This fix worked for me. I hope it works for you (all).

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Welcome to the madness, kepot3!