Secret for Mini Maglite Owners!

*I believe this is for the non-LED models only, someone with the LED model can either confirm or deny this for me*

Well, one of the threads on here asked what we have for survival gear in our 4runners. I went through all my stuff and remembered the bulb in my Mini Maglite is burnt out. It's been that way for months, I just never got around to getting a new bulb. So, I went on Maglite's website, so that I could look for the part number. I found the exploded diagram of the Mini Maglite, and found something that looked like a bulb, but I couldn't tell. I looked at the part name below, and sure enough, it was. So here's how to get at it:
It is inside the tailcap:


This is what you need to be looking at once you remove the tailcap:


Next, you have to pull the spring out. It pulls straight out, doesn't need to be twisted out or anything. *NOTE: when putting the spring back into the tailcap, be sure to seat it in nicely, or else the light may not work. This spring completes the circuit.*


Here is the bulb inside the little red housing:


And it works again!

 

Holy crap! Never knew that. Now to see if anyone has discovered this with the LED. Sub'd to find out

 

Now remember to order a new one to put back in the spare spot so you have it next time you need it, otherwise the whole idea of having a spot for a spare is pointless.

 

You never knew that? Lol, the fullsize ones have that as well..

 

My LED light doesn't have a spare. LEDs are not supposed to burn out.

 

I need to check my 2D LED one in my truck sometime!

 

you have to take the whole top assembly off and then you can pull out the LED bulb. LED maglites come with an extra regular bulb to replace it if you want.

 

i never knew that... thanks for showing that!

 

I discovered this a couple years ago, just because I can't ever stop dissasembling random shit.

 

The first LED maglites that came out in the D cell sizes have an LED assembly that can be removed and replaced with a standard bulb. The standard bulb is included in the tailcap. The later LED maglites have an LED that does not come out. I believe that includes the mini mags as well.

There are few aftermarket LED conversions for the mini mags that significantly up the runtime on a pair of batteries. Usually can be found at ACE hardware or Walmart. Worth looking into, usually talking about 5-12 dollars. That's half the cost of a factory built mini mag LED and totally worth it if you already have a minimag.

 

The MiniMag LED model also has an SOS Morse code flash and strobe function as well...

Keep one in the wheelhouse on the boat. Spent hours messing around with that thing!

 

I have been using these for years and the crap bulb always burns out....I actually had one within arms reach when I read this and decided to look. What do you know!!! an extra bulb. The cool thing is I usually just toss them in a box when I think the bulbs are gone, so when I go home I will have to check the box for the new bulbs.


Thanks a lot OP that was a cool find, I can't believe I never knew about it before

 

I find it interesting how quite a few people had no idea about the extra bulb.

Pretty much my first instinct as soon as I buy something is to disassemble it. Which yes, it has bitten me in the ass on a few occasions.

 

This thead done took off like a rocket! Didn't think I'd get many replies! I posted the same thing on T4R.org, 2 replies in the same amount of time haha. Thanks to the LED owners, and thanks to the full sized guys as well(no homo).

 

Yep. I can't tell you how many mini mag lights I've taken apart and put back together with different colored parts from other mini mags. I love to take crap apart to see how things work.