Do you know what chemical can clean an anodized aluminum Mag-Lite
flashlight when Duracell March 2013 alkaline batteries leaked.
The flashlight itself seems to be black anodized aluminum. The bottom
Duracell March 2013 D-cell battery leaked and started corroding the steel
spring in the bottom end cap. It left a gunky grayish white gritty goop on
the spring.
Likewise, the grayish gritty goop expanded the battery such that it was
stuck inside the 3-D-cell flashlight. After about 10 minutes of banging
upside down, I was able to extricate the three D-Cell Duracell batteries.
I generally use vinnegar to clean up scale in brass water faucets. Do you
know what chemical I can use on aluminum & steel flashlights to dissolve
the grayish gritty goop from a leaked alkaline battery?
What is that goop made up of anyway?
I have no idea what chemical will clean the flashlight (maybe others know
that) but I do know that you can get a free flashlight for the price of the
postage.
I realize that's not what you asked and that postage might cost more than
the flashlight is worth. But it's one answer that others might use.
See the Maglite flashlight FAQ.
http://www.maglite.com/faq_details.asp?faqProd=C
Q: I can’t remove the tailcap from my Mag® flashlight. I have even put
pliers on it and tried to twist it off, but it's absolutely frozen or
stuck. Is this problem covered by my warranty?
A: When you cannot remove the tailcap to change the batteries, it almost
certainly indicates that the batteries have leaked and sealed everything
inside the flashlight. Unfortunately, Mag does not warrant against battery
leakage, however, we do have agreements with Duracell, Eveready and
Ray-O-Vac. If one of these brands of batteries has leaked in your
flashlight, send the flashlight to us and we will repair or replace it at
no charge to you. We recommend that you ship the flashlight UPS or Postal
Insured for tracking purposes. Please send to; Mag Instrument, Inc., Attn;
Warranty Dept., 1721 E. Locust St., Ontario, Ca. 91761-7769. You pay the
freight to us and we pay it going back. Please also include a letter with
your name, address, phone number and description of the problem. Don’t
forget to indicate what brand of battery is inside if you know. Once we
verify it is Duracell, Eveready or Ray-O-Vac, we will send you a new
flashlight at no charge. Occasionally we open the flashlight and we find it
contains leaking batteries that are not Duracell, Eveready and Ray-O-Vac.
In cases of "off-brand" battery leakage, we can replace your flashlight for
a charge of -- $12.00 plus your state's sales tax for a ‘C’ or ‘D’
Mag-Lite® flashlight, or $8.00 plus tax for a Mini-Maglite® flashlight. If
you are not sure, send the flashlight to us, with the batteries inside, and
we will check to determine the brand. If we find that they are "off-brand"
batteries, we will contact you and arrange for payment before sending you
the replacement flashlight.
Q: I can’t get the batteries out of my flashlight. They're stuck inside.
How do I change them? Is this covered by my warranty?
A: When this happens, it almost certainly means that the batteries have
leaked and are stuck inside the barrel. Note: Batteries normally swell
before leaking causing them to get stuck inside the barrel. Mag Instrument
does not warrant against battery leakage, however, we do have agreements
with Duracell, Eveready and Ray-O-Vac that allow us to replace your
flashlight. If one of these brands of batteries is stuck (by leaking in
your flashlight), send the flashlight to us and we will repair or replace
the entire flashlight at no charge to you. We recommend that you ship the
flashlight UPS or Postal Insured for tracking purposes. Please send to; Mag
Instrument, Inc., Attn; Warranty Dept., 1721 E. Locust St., Ontario, Ca.
91761-7769. You pay the freight to us and we pay it going back. Please also
include a letter with your name, address, phone number and a description of
the problem. Don’t forget to indicate what brand of batteries is inside if
you know. We will check to verify that it is Duracell, Eveready and
Ray-O-Vac; and if it is, we will send you a new flashlight at no charge.
Occasionally we open the flashlight and we find it contains leaking
batteries that are not Duracell, Eveready and Ray-O-Vac. In cases of
"off-brand" battery leakage, we can replace your flashlight for a charge of
-- $12.00 plus your state's sales tax for a ‘C’ or ‘D’ Mag-Lite®
flashlight, or $8.00 plus tax for a Mini-Maglite® flashlight. If you are
not sure, send the flashlight to us, with the batteries inside, and we will
check to determine the brand. If we find that they are "off-brand"
batteries, we will contact you and arrange for payment before sending you
the replacement flashlight.
--- Posted via
On Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:58:09 -0700, Wilbur H. wrote:
I had already seen the Duracell so-called "guarantee":
http://www1.duracell.com/care_disposal/care.asp
All DURACELL Batteries are guaranteed against defects in material and
workmanship. Should any device be damaged by these batteries due to such
defect, Duracell will repair or replace it (at Duracell's option) if it is
sent with the batteries, postage prepaid to:
Duracell
Berkshire Corporate Park
Bethel, CT, 06801 U.S.A.
Att: Consumer Dept.
Phone: 1-800-551-2355, 6:00 am to 2:00 pm, Pacific Standard Time
However, it's just a $25 flashlight so I don't think the postage to send it
to Duracell will be worth the price of a new flashlight.
I just want to clean it up.
Googling, I find this forum says to use isopropyl alcohol to clean the
flashlight after batteries leaked:
http://tinyurl.com/5so7t4g
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?48325-maglite-with-stuck-corroded-alkaline-batteries
However, this forum says hydrogen peroxide is what we're supposed to use:
http://tinyurl.com/6jtwtbj
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?235983-Fenix-TK40-Corrosion-with-Duracell-Batteries
Yet, this site says "baking soda" is what to use:
http://tinyurl.com/yk33gtw
http://gofishingforum.net/maglite-flashlights/maglite-flashlight-battery-leak-and-corrosion-t96.html
And this site says to use vinnegar:
http://tinyurl.com/5sfeuh4
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?190134-Corroded-battery-in-3D-Maglite
This one even suggests "Coke Classic" (i.e., phosphoric acid):
http://tinyurl.com/6jmgpvq
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?133-How-to-salvage-Maglite-with-corroded-batteries
It seems strange that these (very different) chemicals are suggested:
- alcohol
- hydrogen peroxide
- baking soda
- vinnegar
- phosphoric acid
Does anyone actually 'know' what chemicals will dissolve the grayish gritty
goopy crud from a leaked alkaline battery?
You may have paid $25 but you can get a new barrek for $9 plus shipping &
tax at
http://www.zbattery.com/Mag-3d-Barrel-With-Switch-d-In-Serial-No -
The tailcap & spring assembly is $6.40
http://www.zbattery.com/Maglite-D-Cell-Barrel-O-Ring-Seal-W-D-In-Serial-No -
This might help.
How to Clean Alkaline Battery Corrosion?
http://www.corrosionist.com/clean_alkaline_battery_corrosion.htm
It seems the culprit is Potassium Hydroxide (KOH), also known as caustic
potash. The solution, says that web site, is vinnegar.
--- Posted via
Just for the heck of it, I'd entertained the idea of getting my D-cell
leaked-battery maglite open one day. I'd already put a ton of force on it with
a pipe wrench (while not crushing it) but that didn't work.
I wonder if vinegar would penetrate? If I did eventually get it open, would I
be able to get the batteries out by drilling or whatever?
If you can remove the end cap, simply drill a hole into the bottom of the
battery and use a screw extractor to try to 'spin' it out.
Worse case, you can successively drill the center of the batter until it
falls apart.
Even so, any decent (aluminum) flashlight is ruined when batteries corrode
so you're best bet is to call the battery and/or flashlight manufacturer
customer service number to get a free replacement.
--- Posted via
Well, the key is *alkaline.* you want to neutralize the alkalai so a
weak acid would seem to be the most appropriate chemical to use. I'm
thinking phosphoric acid is probably your best bet as it is also good
at removing corrosion, although I don't honestly know what is the
safest for the anodized black finish.
nate
When that happened with my 35-year-old Maglite 5C, I couldn't get the
last 2 batteries out. I wrote to Mag and got directions for removing
the switch assembly so I could press them out, but that didn't work. I
sent it to Mag and they replaced it with a 4C model (they don't make a
5C anymore <sob> ) They said they had an agreement with the major
battery makers to replace the lights and bill Duracell, Reyovac,
Eveready, etc. If you use off-brand batteries, even alkalines, you
might be out of luck (I know you said Duracell)
-Bob
My ML 5C went south after about 2 yrs. The switch failed. I jes
tossed the damn thing. Got a Rayovac that's 3 yrs old, cost < $10, ,
made of plastic, and uses either lantern battery or 4 D cells and
still works flawlessly. Of course, I can't hit a pop fly or do a
Rodney King with it, but I can put a Kryton bulb in it and blind an
intruder while I whip out my stun gun.
nb
You don't clean it, you call the 800 number on the Duracell batteries
and then follow their instructions to sent the flashlight to them where
they will examine it and repair or replace it.
Do yourself a big favor and throw that piece of overprices junk in the
trash and buy a good plastic flashlight. Also, quit buying Duracells.
They're crap.
nb
Look for 'tactical' flashlights in the gun and police web stores.
Streamlite is a good, well known brand. I don't think they are
'plastic', but more of a composite material (not sacrificing strength,
but decreases weight).
Get one with multiple functions, like a
key-chain/Kubotan/stun-gun/stun-flash for example.
If you plan to carry it all the time, that is.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for batteries. A great
flashlight is a luxury item that you can expect to pay upwards of $150
for.
The F switch plastic flashlights are not reliable.
What good is a non reliable flashlight.
The corrosion of the battery is not the fault of the metal maglight with a
push-button switch.
As for cleaning, I don't think there is any way to remove the caustic
hydroxide once it contacts metal. Sorry.
Had that happen on a 4 C cell Mag. Luckily I had a soft bronze wire brush
just oversized of the bore. Used spray silicone and brushed the inside
out. Brushed the spring and bottom cap and sprayed with silicon. Works
fine now. I don't use Duracell batteries now. They are known to leak
especially when the get low.
yeah, just use a bottle brush and lots of clear water. then spray it
with something to keep future corrosion at bay. Spray silicone is a
good idea.
nate
--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel
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