I recently got 2 of these but to insert a bayonet bulb is tough. The spring doesn’t allow me to to lower the bulb enough to twist the it into the socket. Others I have work fine. These 2 need help. Any ideas?? Thanks
First, make sure they are bayonet receptacles, switches made before 1950 were screw base 1447 bulbs. Bayonets should be 1445’s to keep the heat down.
Sometimes a little rust can impede the downward travel of the bulb seat & spring - use a light penetrating oil to loosen it up (like WD-40 - it evaporates eventually) and try to rock the bulb into place, or use needle nose pliers to get the base & spring moving without the bulb first. Look to the bayonet base side and see how much more travel you need to get the bulb low enough to twist clockwise into position.
Rob
If you carefully compare modern bulbs with bulbs that were made in the postwar era (e.g., with brass bases), you’ll find their dimensions and proportions are often slightly different; I’ve found that the little round prongs that latch into the socket are a bit higher up the bases, and the bases themselve are a bit longer, meaning that the very tip of the bottom contact has to go down further into the socket, and it’s often difficult or impossible to jam it down far enough.
One solution that usually works for me is to file down the bottom contact. Any sort of fine file will work – the contacts are made of soft metal that’s easy to file. I keep trying it and just keep filing until it goes in. This has usually worked.
Another possibility is to hunt around for bulbs that are better proportioned. I often buy a few bulbs here and there just to have around – they don’t cost much, and they keep well, even for years!
Also, some sockets are more picky than others, so just trading an old brass-based bulb from something else may work, and that socket might take the “problem” bulb. I’ve modified the wiring on my 042s to allow for fixed voltage to the lamps, and I run them at a few volts less than the rated voltage, which greatly extends their life. I’m still using many old bulbs in various items.
trainbrain,
I’ve encountered the same problem, and all of the above suggestions are of possible use. In desperation, I have actually cut down the spring a turn or so, generally after first trying to shorten the center contact of the bulb by filing/sanding it down a little.
But even if you finally get the lengths right, it can still be daunting to try to push or screw some bulbs in place, or to remove them.
Try this: take the bulb to an auto parts store or one of the “big box” stores like H-D or Lowe’s. Locate the display of small hoses. (In an auto parts store ask for fuel lines, etc.) Try different sizes until you find one that you can almost push on over the globe, but not quite. Buy about three inches of the stuff that you find works best. You will be able to feel it when you have found tubing that is supple, correctly sized for a good grip, but still sturdy enough to withstand a certain amount of torque without collapsing.
Use it as a tool to insert and remove the bulbs. I have a couple of sizes to accomodate different size bulbs. If they enable you to avoid a disaster, your fingers will thank you for it. The piece of mind it provides even in more-or-less normal circumstances is well worth the price. (I don’t even like to think about glass shards in my finger tips.)
Often I put an ultra-thin coating on the threads of bulbs that I expect not to have to replace for a long time. It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of grease – I certainly don’t spring for costly “conductive” grease in this application.