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  Replacing batteries for an Apollo-used flashlight

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Author Topic:   Replacing batteries for an Apollo-used flashlight
Charlie16
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Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010

posted 08-29-2011 01:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a flashlight used by Deke Slayton during training for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. I would like to get it working again.

Does anyone know what batteries were used in? Those present do not go out because as calcified, I can replace them? Thank you for your help!

David Carey
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posted 08-29-2011 02:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Carey   Click Here to Email David Carey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Chances are good what you are seeing is corrosion from leaking battery acids Luigi. These can be difficult to ever clean up and often, if the battery has gone bad in this way, the electrodes/contacts/switches have suffered corrosion as well.

If you can remove the corroded battery (save it in a bag for the record) and clean out the barrel, it should slow the decay within the flashlight. Functionality may be a challenge to restore if other corrosion has set it. I don't know what batteries were used, sorry.

Charlie16
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From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010

posted 08-29-2011 02:44 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the reply. How can I remove the batteries? Is there any product?

Certainly the original battery will be retained the bulb is intact.

David Carey
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posted 08-29-2011 02:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David Carey   Click Here to Email David Carey     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Very hard to say without seeing it.

If it is a corroded battery and the corrosion has made the battery stick to the sleeve of the flashlight, threading a screw into one end of the battery (to allow you to pull it out) may help.

In general, given the artifact and my lack of actually seeing what you have, you might want to have someone look at it first hand and provide some help - I don't want to give you any advice that puts the item at risk!

(Feel free to send or post a picture or two if you think it would help.)

Charlie16
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From: Italy
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posted 08-29-2011 09:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the help, I received many messages. I think the solution is to drill to extract the battery, I hope not to spoil too much because I keep them with the flashlight.

328KF
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posted 08-29-2011 10:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 328KF   Click Here to Email 328KF     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would be EXTREMELY careful undertaking such an operation, and maybe seek the help of a professional restoration expert before doing it.

Depending on the extent of the corrosion, and I've seen these flashlights in really bad shape, your significant investment could end up a pile of pieces and dust. That brass body interacting with the leaking acid from the batts may likely crumble as you try to extract the cells.

As it is, the item is as valuable as any on display in museums, and I doubt any of those are operational. It's your item and your decision, but caution is easier to deal with than regret.

spaced out
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posted 08-30-2011 01:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I agree that attempting to extract the cells if they have leaked inside may risk damaging the barrel but leaving compromised cells inside would be a disaster in the long term as the battery acid will continue to seep out and eat into the insides of the flash light. In general batteries should never be left stored inside an artifact long term.

It might be worth trying to contact an institution like the Kansas Cosmosphere to ask their expert advice.

Charlie16
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From: Italy
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posted 08-30-2011 04:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In fact, the thickness of the brass is just, I never want to lose too important.

I do not see corrosion inside, maybe the batteries have not lost liquid. It would be nice to get it to work again, but even so it's beautiful.

You do not know how many years I waited to have one...

(I just built the suit of Charlie Duke for a museum and will be great to put a real flashlight.)

garymilgrom
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Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 08-30-2011 05:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Luigi kindly sent me a photo of his flashlight to post.

FLASHLIGHT1

SpaceAholic
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From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 08-30-2011 07:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAholic   Click Here to Email SpaceAholic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Charlie16:
Those present do not go out because as calcified, I can replace them? Thank you for your help!

Calcification suggests a process different then corrosion (or maybe its just a translation issue). Can you post an image of the interior condition so we can have a look?

If the battery compartment can be accessed at both ends (i.e. concurrent removal of the tail cap and light head), then I'd machine a wood dowel to just smaller then the internal diameter of the shaft and attempt to gently tap the cells out.

The bulb filament may no longer support operation. If it still does, its only a matter of time after being reenergized that it will fail so if you want to preserve the artifact with its intact original bulb suggest not attempting to actually power up the flashlight with new batteries.

freshspot
unregistered
posted 08-31-2011 03:48 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have an unflown example of the same penlight. Since mine was unflown, the batteries were not of historical importance so I did not care about saving them.

The way you turn it on (and also the way to remove batteries) is to twist the top (larger) brass part. Mine was stuck. So I used a pair of pliers and gently twisted a bit harder than I could with bare hands and it worked like a charm.

The batteries were a little funky inside and stuck so I slid a thin piece of metal in, wiggled a bit, and the batteries came out easily.

I popped in two standard AA batteries and it fired right up with the original bulb. It is fun to have it working. I imagine my example was used in training but I have no idea.

Dave Scott (not the astronaut)
Apollo Artifacts

freshspot
unregistered
posted 08-31-2011 03:53 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
If the battery compartment can be accessed at both ends...
Scott, there is only one end on these penlights. Tail end is not able to be opened as it is one solid brass element.

Charlie16
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From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010

posted 08-31-2011 11:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's right can only be opened from above. I will try to take detailed photos for to see inside.

Charlie16
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Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010

posted 09-01-2011 03:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Battery details before:

After a little bit of work I managed to get her out (the first battery a Mercury battery 1.35 volts) before the first battery was a metal disk (perhaps for contact).

The second battery seems more difficult to remove.

I will keep you updated and thanks for the support! Maybe I can get it to work like all those years ago.

As you can see I also polished the flashlight. I used an old method lemon with salt, rub it up and wipes. It seems to be a good job!

Schoner
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Posts: 20
From: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Registered: Jul 2011

posted 09-13-2011 08:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Schoner   Click Here to Email Schoner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That battery can be extracted by filing the tube with WD-40 or a mix of lemon juice. There is also a lemon type "goop" remover that might work as well. There should be a spring on the bottom that once it is loose will allow the battery to pop out.

If not. Get a very long wood screw or a tool that has a wood screw starter rather than a screwdriver tip. Get a small drill and drill through the top cap. Screw in the long wood screw or tool that has a wood screw tip. Turn it in till it twists the battery loose. Then it should pop out.

I did this with a standard MAG light that had frozen batteries and this technique worked.

The bulb in the photo is a standard type bulb that is still in production today. You could save the original and replace it with a new one.

Once you get the batteries out, there shouldn ot be any reason that this pen light will not work again.

randyc
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Posts: 779
From: Chandler, AZ USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 09-13-2011 11:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for randyc   Click Here to Email randyc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Luigi, what are the letters written on the barrel?

It looks like the letters are 'LMS'.

If those are the letters then this flashlight was once used in a Lunar Module Simulator, either at KSC or Houston.

It would make sense that after the Apollo lunar landing program ended components such as this flashlight would be reused for training for later missions such as ASTP.

Charlie16
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Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010

posted 09-14-2011 02:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Charlie16   Click Here to Email Charlie16     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The letters are engraved: CNS

The flashlight was used by Deke Slyton the during the training for ASTP.

All times are CT (US)

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