Control ring maintenance?

[jonnyfgroove]

I'm really loving this V10a, but I'm wondering what will happen when the ring gets full of lint/dust from being carried in a pocket. Is there a way to clean and lube the ring somehow? Hats off to Sunwayman for making these superb lights.

[okwchin]

If you are prepared to take it apart, you can separate the 2 halves of the head and remove the control ring for cleaning and maintenance, however this is potentially a difficult process, and opening the light will likely void your warranty, as well as introduce many smaller issues that you will need to manage, such as;

1) Finding the right replacement grease - the original grease is SERIOUSLY thick to give you that nice friction when turning. I haven't found one thick enough yet...
2) How tight you twist the two parts together determines the slop of the ring. Breaking the thread lock unlocks the head halves, and you need to adjust the spacing of the parts yourself. Its a fine balance between being too tight, and being too lose and introducing slop (dust pathway).
3) unlocked heads are more difficult to open when changing batteries, because you need to grip the right part, otherwise you may be opening up the head instead of the battery compartment. For some lucky ones, this will not be a problem, for others this may be a significant problem. Likewise while tightening the battery compartment, you may end up tightening the head and locking up the control ring mechanically.
4) When removing the ring, be careful not to lose the small parts, which may include the magnet(s), and in the case of M series lights, a small spring and a small ball bearing.
5) Small but relevant chance of introducing dust into the reflector/window.

Overall, I have no regrets opening up the head for a MUCH needed emitter change to neutral tints, and I put up with the little issues as outlined above. For some its a non-issue, but for some lights, it may be a little more of a hassle (I have done this for all of my V10Rs). For me the biggest problem was finding a suitably thick grease, so I have since avoided removing the original grease on subsequent torches, and try to keep the torch clean during use, but sooner or later I know I will need to do something.

Some have stated that opening was as simple as twisting apart, some suggest hot/boiling water for a few minutes, and in my case, I have needed to use a significant degree of force.

If your game I've got a set of photos showing how I did mine, which should be a last resort situation if all else fails.

[jonnyfgroove]

Thanks for your reply. I don't want to take the light apart, it looks very difficult. Does anyone know what will happen when the ring gets dirty? I normally just drop my lights in a pocket with keys and change, etc.

ETA: Sunwayman replied to my email about this. They said I would have to send the light back to the dealer and then the dealer would have to send it to Sunwayman to clean and lube the control ring. I think I'm gonna sell this thing....

[Bigmac_79]

FYI, I've been EDC'ing my V10R for several months, no sign of grit or dust or anything clogging up the ring.

[Kaichu Dento]

...the original grease is SERIOUSLY thick to give you that nice friction when turning. I haven't found one thick enough yet...

For me the biggest problem was finding a suitably thick grease, so I have since avoided removing the original grease on subsequent torches, and try to keep the torch clean during use, but sooner or later I know I will need to do something.

Contact Bansuri about the grease he found for the V10R.

FYI, I've been EDC'ing my V10R for several months, no sign of grit or dust or anything clogging up the ring.

+1

No problems with any of my ring controlled lights, going all the way back to my Titan, and on up to my V10R Ti.

[jonnyfgroove]

Thanks for the replies. Maybe I'm missing something, but it seems the light should not be red loctited if there is a control ring that requires grease to function properly. IMO, this thing is just an expensive toy now that I know this. What if it gets dropped in mud or sand, etc?

[okwchin]

My take on this is that the control ring is not accessible because its designed to be sandwiched between 2 halves of the head, reducing the number of exposed join lines and overall making for a more compact design. Its red locktited because if a user was to open it up (accidentally?) then there would probably be more complaints due to the light falling apart on them if they don't understand whats going on.

My user V10R isn't abused, but I've had one since the first V10Rs were released, and its not really been a huge problem at all. I prefer to know what I have inside out before I go ahead and use it to its fullest extent, and the V10R is not one that bothers me too much. I do try to avoid significant dust and fluid exposures though

[DavidMB]

The tolerances are so high that there isn't much space for lint to get caught from a pocket or bag. I've been carrying it around for a while and don't have or foresee any problems.

[srvctec]

1) Finding the right replacement grease - the original grease is SERIOUSLY thick to give you that nice friction when turning. I haven't found one thick enough yet...

*snip*

For me the biggest problem was finding a suitably thick grease, so I have since avoided removing the original grease on subsequent torches, and try to keep the torch clean during use, but sooner or later I know I will need to do something.

I'm wondering if this grease would work. GUNK Plumber's Silicone Grease I've never seen a thicker grease in my life and I've used MANY different types of grease over the years in my job. I wouldn't be surprised if SWM used a grease very similar to this because of it's properties. I have a V10R and am not sure if I want to take it apart for the other reasons you mentioned having issues with post-taking-apart. I have no qualms taking it apart, just don't want to have to deal with any issues once it's back together. The ring on mine turns too easily-so I'm here trying to find a solution.

[cubebike]

http://www.teamxray.com/teamxray/pro...30%20000%20cSt

I have seen this type of silicone base grease/oil in extreme thickness. This brand Xray is radio control (RC) hobbies brand. Not too sure it will suit the use of flashlight

[jonnyfgroove]

The issue is that the control ring should be "user serviceable", IMO. However, it is very difficult to get the light apart, and you void the warranty if you do take it apart.

[Obsessed]

I'm wondering if this grease would work. GUNK Plumber's Silicone Grease I've never seen a thicker grease in my life and I've used MANY different types of grease over the years in my job. I wouldn't be surprised if SWM used a grease very similar to this because of it's properties. I have a V10R and am not sure if I want to take it apart for the other reasons you mentioned having issues with post-taking-apart. I have no qualms taking it apart, just don't want to have to deal with any issues once it's back together. The ring on mine turns too easily-so I'm here trying to find a solution.

That wouldn't thick enough. GUNK is rated at only 440 wt, which, while thick, is still extremely runny (relatively speaking, of course).

http://www.teamxray.com/teamxray/pro...30 000 cSt

I have seen this type of silicone base grease/oil in extreme thickness. This brand Xray is radio control (RC) hobbies brand. Not too sure it will suit the use of flashlight

This is definitely on the right track, but X-Ray still doesn't make the extra thick stuff. I'm into R/C myself, and OFNA makes some CRAZY thick stuff...it's one step below Play-Doh. They sell some that is 120,000, and I know I've seen 150,000 weight in the past. Here is a link to the 120,000 stuff: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNXJ1&P=7.

[derfyled]

The issue is that the control ring should be "user serviceable"

100% agree

And even if there is almost no gap so no real chance of dirt getting in there, I would be very worried if it falls in mud or dust and even more in sand. Even worse, and I did experiment, water does remove a lot of the white grease they use. I've put my V10R in a bucket of room temperature water and after 10 minutes, I took it out and saw the grease melted around the ring. The ring has never been the same after it (less precise, lost its set level easily if carried in the pocket, etc...). So, it's like waterproof but afraid of the water...

That's why I got rid of it... The light is great, the UI is wonderful, the built quality is top-notch but I can't rely on a light that can't be maintained other way than sending it on the other side of the planet.

[willydigger]

Does anyone have pics to show how to take the light apart?

[climberkid]

I'm going I need to get some of that grease. There is so little on my control ring now, I can blow on it to change the brightness. Going to have to figure out a way to break it apart, so far I haven't had any luck.
I don't want to sell it either, I like the light too much. (High-CRI edition)

[AnAppleSnail]

You gentlemen must play in horrible mud. I have not even had mud TOUCH O-rings on my lights that I drop in thick, nasty North Carolina mud. Piedmont and swamp muck. Neither penetrates between barrel sections of (say) a FourSevens Quark. It's a pain to clean the gnurling out, but if the O-rings don't even encounter it, it seems like the control ring would be safer than you're expecting.

...Has anyone dropped a few of these in blasting medium to find out what happens?

[tobrien]

i had a sand V10R and its ring was too loose for me out of the box so it's not just people with used lights

[martindb]

I bought a Sunwayman V11r with a control ring, with the belief that it is control magnetically, but as it's water/dust resistant to IP8x, you could just give it a quick dunk in the bath to get rid of any pocket lint etc.

[Jimmy_Olsen]

Has anyone found a worthy replacement for the stock grease meanwhile? After taking a bath with the laundry the control ring on my V10R spins almost from gravity..

[Luxclark]

Does Sunwayman have any recommendations for maintenance of the ring in their instructions? Or is it silent.

And I assume the only instructions on damage are to send them to Sunwayman for repair.

[maxlightcp]

I have an MR11, and so far so good. I appreciate the info on how to remove the control ring. I was thinking about a couple of more models with the control ring (V series) and thought that was probably the weak point.

Regards -

[troutpool]

Has anyone found a worthy replacement for the stock grease meanwhile?

I would be interested in knowing this too.