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Author
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Topic: Replacing batteries for an Apollo-used flashlight
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Charlie16
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 08-29-2011 01:14 PM
   
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
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-29-2011 02:11 PM
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
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 08-29-2011 02:44 PM
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
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-29-2011 02:58 PM
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
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 08-29-2011 09:42 PM
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
Member Posts: 1234
From:
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 08-29-2011 10:16 PM
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
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 08-30-2011 01:00 AM
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
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 08-30-2011 04:33 AM
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
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 08-30-2011 05:21 AM
Luigi kindly sent me a photo of his flashlight to post. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-30-2011 07:47 AM
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
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posted 08-31-2011 03:48 AM
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
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posted 08-31-2011 03:53 AM
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
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 08-31-2011 11:58 AM
That's right can only be opened from above. I will try to take detailed photos for to see inside. |
Charlie16
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-01-2011 03:16 AM
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.   .jpg) .jpg) 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
Member Posts: 20
From: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Registered: Jul 2011
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posted 09-13-2011 08:56 PM
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
Member Posts: 779
From: Chandler, AZ USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 09-13-2011 11:41 PM
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
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 09-14-2011 02:01 AM
The letters are engraved: CNSThe flashlight was used by Deke Slyton the during the training for ASTP. |
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