Sticky bulb bases

[hugoroundhouse]

Does anyone have a suggestion on a way to make changing light bulbs easier? (Yes, yes, I know... first, the light bulb has to want to be changed.) Seriously, I just got a American Flyer traffic signal that has an "eyelid" over the bulbs that makes it very difficult to get hold of the bulb, plus the bulb itself was very hard to turn. I ended up breaking the old bulb getting it out, and one new one trying to get. I finally got the new one in, but scratched the red coating.[:(!] I'm reluctant to put any kind of lubricant on the bulb base, but I need something to keep the bulb from getting so tightly bound to the socket. These are the small globe, 18 volt, threaded variety. Any ideas?

Jim E.

[brianel027]

Jim, I've put a little bit of lubricant on the threading of bulbs for over a decade with no trouble. I also used either a wadded up piece of masking tape or duct tape to "grab" those light bulbs that are hard to reach with your fingers. I've had no trouble either with damaging the coating of colored bulbs doing this.

One of my concerns when kitbashing or making my own operating items is light bulb access. All my low-end engines have actual headlights and I have designed them for easy bulb replacement. Kind of a drag when you can initially get the bulb in there, but later when needed you can't get it out.

[lionelsoni]

An O-ring glued to the end of a dowel?

[ChiefEagles]

die-electrical grease. use it on all my bulbs [automotive, house, trains, boats and etc]. Available at automotive centers. A little on the threads goes a long ways. Prevents corrosion and sticking.

[lionelsoni]

What Frank is talking about is dielectric, or insulating, silicone grease, which is particularly useful in very high-temperature applications like automobile engines and lasts pretty much forever. Forget about cleaning it out of clothing. You could also use heat-sink compound if you have it. It is just silicone grease impregnated with metal oxides, which make it thermally conductive. Ordinary grease would work too, but would probably dry up before even fifty years had passed.

[Dr.Fu-Manchu]

The Doctor is in! I asked my Lionel repair man(who fixes what I can't) about changing bulbs in tight spaces, like the Lionel block signal. He said to take the item or bulb in question to the hardware store and find a piece of plastic tubing to fit. That way, you don't break bulbs installing or removing them. You may end up with several sizes of tubing, but that's like the screwdrivers in your toolbox.
Till My Next Missive, I Remain The Humble Yet Strangly Evil Doctor !!![}:)]

[hugoroundhouse]

Thanks for the help. I've seen the dielectric grease at Homer's. I'll pick up some of that and some plastic tubing. Actually, the idea of an o-ring bonded to a dowel sounds like solid, practical solution as well. I'm sure I'll have ample opportunity to try all the tricks!!
Amazing how many solutions several minds thinking about a common problem can come up with, but I would assume that guys used to working with 50-year-old-plus equipment are used to creative problem-solving. (Come to think of it, not all of my 50-year-old-plus body's equipment works as well as it used to!! [(-D] )

Jim E.

[lionelsoni]

Shrink tubing might be a good way to get a tight fit. You could shrink it to fit the replacement lamp, then use it to take out the burned-out one.

[fwright]

Another very good lubricant for bulb sockets is the tuner/contact cleaner sold (over-priced) at Radio Shack. I use it in my 110 volt sockets and trailer wiring as well, where I occasionally encounter corrosion issues.

Fred Wright