Has anyone had any experience in stopping one of the LED reading lights losing it's ability to stay pointing where it's supposed to? Ours is pretty useless as it just won't stay in the one position.
I figure I'll have to drill completely thru the joint located where my digit finger is in the 1st pix - then fit a stainless bolt and wingnut...maybe a friction washer or two.
However there are lots of smarter people on this forum that may just have had this problem before and know a very easy fix and be happy to pass it on.
Thanks
Denis
-- Edited by hako on Wednesday 9th of October 2013 09:03:29 PM
I think a bolt and wingnut is not the answer as the friction area is between the outer and inner flanges only, and thay will probably fail (look brittle to me) if any pressure is put on them.
One alternative may be to drill out pivot joint and "pack" between the inner and outer flanges with something like a manila folder/neoprene type washer jammed in place and then a bolt and nut inserted, but NOT overtightened.
Others may have done a repair,, so lets hope other suggestions.
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Why is it so? Professor Julius Sumner Miller, a profound influence on my life, who explained science to us on TV in the 60's.
Drill small holes through both outer flanges equispaced around the circumference.
Drill a single hole through the inner flanges.
Reassemble the two sets of flanges, rotate the lamp to the desired position, and feed a cotter pin through all 4 flanges to lock the lamp in place.
A less elegant solution might be to drill a single hole through all 4 flanges in the assembled state, or drill a hole on one side and use a self-tapping screw to secure the inner and outer flanges.
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 10th of October 2013 10:30:08 AM
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 10th of October 2013 10:40:43 AM
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"No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full."
Thanks for the replies - I think Neil may be on the money as his idea is cost free, simple and invisible. I knew this forum would be able to provide an answer.
Thanks Dorian but that idea locks the lamp in one place. When in use, the lamp may be moved half a dozen times in a matter of hours as one changes their pillow position whilst reading as the beam from the LED's is pretty narrow. I'm also a bit worried the plastic will be brittle with age. Also the method of fixing must pass the boss...my wife Joy who ALWAYS has the final say and being an ardent sewer reckon cotton is the go.
Final update - cotton worked for a few weeks then the plastic hinge started to splay so decided to drill straight through the hinge and put a nut and bolt on it. Soldered a washer to the bolt head so it can be gripped better and at the nut end I've used a star washer. Seems OK so far.....bad original design I reckon.
