Remove LED module from Mini Maglite LED 2-Cell OLD STYLE (Hack)

The photo's that follow show how to determine if you have an OLD STYLE Mini Maglite LED 2-Cell, and then how to remove the OLD STYLE LED module from the barrel. 

This is the Mini Maglite LED 2-Cell:

This is after dis-assembly:

The next photo is a close-up of the OLD STYLE LED module that is held to the barrel by a plastic ring.  If your LED looks EXACTLY like this one, you have an OLD STYLE module and you can remove it according to the following instructions.  If your LED does not look like this one, you have a new style LED module and you should use these instructions.

OLD STYLE module, barrel, and plastic ring:

Cut two pieces of metal that will release the module from the plastic ring and barrel.  I recommend cutting the pieces from a 0.020 inch thick feeler gage.  Use sheet metal cutters.  The pieces should be rectangular and less than 0.1 inch for the narrow side.

There are two slots in the plastic ring that is holding the module in the barrel.  Jam one of the metal pieces in each slot.  You can gently push the pieces in with pliers until they bottom out.

 

Stand the barrel up on a flat surface, and press the LED on the top of the module straight down with the eraser of a pencil.  If the metal pieces were put in correctly, the LED module will separate from the plastic ring that holds it to the barrel:

This photo shows the LED module separated from the barrel and the plastic ring.  You can see one of the clips on the module that secure it to the plastic ring.  The metal pieces push in the clips to release the module from the plastic ring.

Comments

[maglite LED]

Very nice trick. Mini maglites can be operated in anyways we want. They are easy and handy to use.