WTB:  Retaining clip for Maglite C cell switch   (Found one)

Zener · 2018-04-25T21:10:55.000Z

For a 2C cell incan with a lettered serial number.

Not the screw in threaded retaining ring, but the clip style that snaps into a groove, and the switch rides up against it.

Seems to be a hard part to find, and Mag doesn’t sell it. I’m hoping that maybe one of you modders has one left over in the junk drawer from a C cell light you may have stripped out to rebuild.

Thanks, Zen

Tom_Tom · 2018-04-25T21:19:57.000Z

Is this the switch you are after ?

http://www.brewstersbatteries.co.uk/catalog/maglitecreplacementswitchassembly-p-773.html

Sorry, UK supplier so postage would probably rule it out.

Zener · 2018-04-25T22:51:07.000Z

Yes that’s the switch, but what I need most is the snap ring that holds the switch from sliding forward. The switches are pretty easy to find, but they don’t come with the metal snap ring.

I’m even wondering how hard it will be to install when I do find one.

DavidEF · 2018-04-26T00:33:38.000Z

Zener:

Yes that’s the switch, but what I need most is the snap ring that holds the switch from sliding forward. The switches are pretty easy to find, but they don’t come with the metal snap ring.

I’m even wondering how hard it will be to install when I do find one.

Any good hardware store oughta have snap rings. You just need to know what size, and remember that you need one that goes inside a tube, not outside.

EDIT: Here’s an example at Lowe’s (not even a ‘good’ hardware store. Lol!) I don’t know if this one is the right size, but you can prolly take it from here, right?

Zener · 2018-04-26T01:12:55.000Z

Thanks David. Yes, we have a good hardware store, and a bearing supplier about a half hour away, and I considered that I may have to go that route.

I also wondered if Mag purposely made it an odd size that is exclusive to them. The groove seems fairly narrow, and that’s where I’m wondering if a standard snap ring may not go in.

It would be nice to find the real thing, but if not, I’m sure I’ll figure out something.

DavidEF · 2018-04-26T02:37:52.000Z

Zener:

Thanks David. Yes, we have a good hardware store, and a bearing supplier about a half hour away, and I considered that I may have to go that route.

I also wondered if Mag purposely made it an odd size that is exclusive to them. The groove seems fairly narrow, and that’s where I’m wondering if a standard snap ring may not go in.

It would be nice to find the real thing, but if not, I’m sure I’ll figure out something.

I have a couple of 2C Mags. If I think about it in the morning, maybe I’ll try to get one open and see what size the ring is.

DavidEF · 2018-04-26T12:24:34.000Z

Google is wonky with image embedding. Let me know if these two pics don’t show up.

Zener · 2018-04-26T17:15:28.000Z

Thanks DavidEF for taking the time to do that! Yes the pics show up fine. If fact, I zoomed them in and took a photo with my phone to take to the store, so I may end up finding one today.

DavidEF · 2018-04-26T19:47:50.000Z

Well, for future reference, I use Google to host my images, and I have to put them in Google+ in order to use them here. So, you could trace it back and open the pictures on your phone directly if you want, at full resolution.

Zener · 2018-04-27T00:04:12.000Z

Well I got one at the hardware store … and a few extras for next time.

In case anyone needs one, it’s a 1” internal retaining ring, similar to the one in the Lowes link above. It pops right into the groove.

Thanks for the suggestions.

DavidEF · 2018-04-27T00:54:40.000Z

Great news! So, you’re saying you’ve already re-assembled your light and the hardware store ring fits nicely and didn’t have any interference issues with the switch assembly?

Zener · 2018-04-27T01:32:42.000Z

No, I don’t have the new switch yet. There’s a chance that the round ends on the ring may interfere with the switch.

As far as fitting into the tube and groove, it’s good.

DavidEF · 2018-04-27T02:42:49.000Z

Cool! Maybe, if the rings interfere, you could clip them off at an angle, like Maglite’s clips are made.

Zener · 2018-04-28T00:47:20.000Z

I used a dremel and took some off of the inner edge of the ring. Then I robbed a switch out of a similar 2C, just to get it working, so I still have to get a replacement switch for that one, but it’s good to know this type of ring can be made to work.

Pretty nice old blue/purple 2C brought back to life.

DavidEF · 2018-04-28T02:34:20.000Z

Good to know the “generic” hardware-store clips will work in a Maglite, and a proprietary size clip is not needed! :partying_face: