Fulton MX 991 U Switch Cleaning

[@Gepedrglass]

I was hesitant to try this at first because I didn't know how the switch was waterproofed. Until I watched a video of a guy drilling through the rivets and taking apart the switch. The whole thing is covered with a rubber panel. There would only be 4 holes for water to theoretically get in, but two of them are sealed by that rubber panel completely, and the other two are sealed by the rivets that keep the switch's housing attached to the body of the flashlight. NOTHING is getting in unless the rivets break off and the switch just falls off completely. If you were like me, and hesitant to do this, I can say that it's totally safe. Great video FFM, my switch feels a lot better now.

[@prettyspeeches]

This worked for me. Thank you!

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

It happens sometimes. It might flicker every now and then to. Flickering is normal for this light. As for the dimness, mine do that sometimes to. If you flip the switch repeatedly and shake or reinstall the batteries, it might work better. Sometimes that fixes the issue. Make sure all the contacts are clean to. Another good thing to do is put some oil in the switch. Just make sure the oil you use won't harm the plastic or rubber seals. I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

[@lapianistafeliz683]

I'm a Silent Hill fan, and wanted to have a flashlight like James. Mine wouldn't stay on the "On" position. The switch wouldn't keep the button held down. I was so bummed out and thought I got a dud. I took apart the switch and noticed copper plates. The one connecting to the switch was bent like a hook. I found that when the switch moves, it pushes that hook plate up so it can catch onto its flat neighboring plate underneath. I bent the flat plate up so it could be caught by the copper hook plate. It worked fine after that:) Apparently whenever mine was manufactured, the copper plates were not positioned right. Just another tip if your flashlight isn't working. Washing it off helped immensely with it!

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

I didn't see this light in Silent Hill Origins yet but maybe you are talking about a different one. I heard it has been in many movies.

[@lapianistafeliz683]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial It's in Silent Hill 2 and I think Silent Hill Homecoming. It's a handy little thing. It just gets misaligned when it gets dropped.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@lapianistafeliz683 It's really good for fishing at night.

[@lapianistafeliz683]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial also really handy when doing farm work before sunrise. It's impossible to carry bags of grain while holding a standard flashlight.

[@Rick-k7m]

So...I've got the same exact one as you. Even has the switch guard and the pocket clip. Problem: can't get the light to come on at all, in either mode, button pressed or not. Batteries are good, bulbs aren't blown...it's just not working. I cleaned out all the corrosion and figured it would be enough, but nothing. When toggling the switch, I see no movement at all on the inside, so if you're supposed to notice something then that's a dead giveaway. Idk tho. Kind of lost cuz it looks perfectly functional and the switch is crisp...button is stiff but idk if that's just me or if it actually is. Any advice would be appreciated. It's my mom's from when she was in the army, so I wanna get it working again for her (even tho I'm keepin it in my truck)

[@hermittao]

I have what appears to be an identical flashlight, from Tractor Supply. The weak point is the switch. I followed your advice and it worked. Thank You WD40 can damage some rubber & plastics. Lube made specifically for plumbing is a good alternative.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Glad it helped. Oil is another option but some plastics might have a reaction to it. It is always best to start with water.

[@Rick-k7m]

Silicone spray lube and or graphite spray lube are the two best to use when worried about potential damage other components, no? And I always recommend not using WD40 in switches and locks...it'll collect particulates over time and get grimy again. First hand experience: used WD40 on my trucks door lock cuz the key wouldn't turn. Worked perfectly...for another month. Then I had to change the lock cylinder entirely because of how bad it was. Coated in WD40 film with crap stuck all in it

[@railfangraham4182]

Is there anyway to make them brighter? Mines very dim (i know they’re old lol)

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Fulton does make LED bulbs for it. Many other manufacturers do to. They are standard bulbs.

[@randywade8159]

Thanks so much! Mine was very hard to switch on and this fixed it. Thanks again!

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Glad it helped!

[@jakmac6499]

I just bought this flashlight. When I use full time mode it use only part of their power, when I use full time mode and button at the same time it is brighter. Is it work correct?

[@johnbiker4869]

Hello, After leaving the batteries inside for a while. The batteries started leaking... So I have cleaned all the white dust from the switch and the bottom cover and everywhere else. I have put in some fresh new batteries but the light won`t come on!!. I have tried everything and the only way the light will come on is when I run a wire from the bottom of the bottom battery to the metal part that goes from the switch to the light bulb. Any idea??

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Maybe the spring in the tailcap isn't in right. The spring can also grind against the light if it isn't properly set. If that doesn't work, remove the spring and check for corrosion. A wire brush bit on a Dremel works well for removing corrosion.

[@MelissaJordan-mm3ff]

All the flashlight needs is some lubricant, i just put some olive oil on the switch and let it sit for 5 minutes wiped the oil off and it worked. And my switch did not move at all, not even with a stick. So i suggest you try it if his method does not work.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@MelissaJordan-mm3ff As long as the lubricant is safe for plastic. Mine was gritty all over when I got it so it needed a good clean. It has worked fine ever since. Another thing I noticed is that some of these lights arrive defective and each half of the body isn't aligned.

[@hyptrayd7352]

It's the same with the tl122 fraîche???

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Not sure about that one.

[@Steve-hb4my]

Instead of water, apply a liberal dose of WD-40 to the switch. Wipe up the excess, and almost instantaneously the switch works so easily. The difference is amazing!!

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

I might try a better lubricant sometime but I need to make sure it works with plastic.

[@glennethsenosarucam5837]

Wont WD40 do the trick sir?

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

It might but some lubricants harm certain plastics which is why I didn't do it. I recommend starting with water because it often fixes it and won't harm an IPX7 rated light.

[@Headshot-rn3it]

Hi I’m wondering if you could help me fix mine, it was my dads when he was serving and the metal piece in the top broke off and I don’t know how to put it back or find replacement

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

What metal piece and how did it break?

[@ContraIsBased]

i recently bought one used but it wasnt working,the bulb and everything seems to be ok,do you know what might be the problem?

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Make sure that the spring is set correctly (this can be tricky) and all the metal contacts are clean. Replace the bulb just to make sure it isn't the problem. Sometimes a break in the filament is too small to see. Is the switch jammed?

[@ContraIsBased]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial no,everything is fine,apparently it was just the spring,i just shaked it and it worked,i did it like 2 minutes after i commented,actually lol,thanks for the help anyway

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@ContraIsBased Glad it worked out.👍

[@bigmoneyzz4901]

Can you explain your comment on the cleanliness of the factory and what other products have you gotten from them that leads you to make that assumption?

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

I have several of these lights from Fulton and almost every one of them has a lot of grime on the switch and inside the switch. It is a common problem that other people have with their lights as well. A lot of these lights are also misaligned from the factory. That is why the threads and body of a lot of these lights don't line up correctly. Some even have messed up reflectors. They still function, they just need a bit of cleaning most of the time to improve reliability. The U.S. military has since replaced this light with the military version of the Streamlight Sidewinder. They use other lights for weapon mounting. I never said the old one is bad, they just need a bit of cleaning when you get them.

[@bigmoneyzz4901]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial the parts that are assembled to make this flashlight as you can see are made of brass and the finish that is a government spec requirement is a black oxide finish which is done outside of the assembly plant. We still sell thousands of these to the military (only the Marines switched to very expensive Sidewinder) but don't get the complaints that you are saying about the switch from any of the other branches that we supply to. What you are doing is actually taking all the black oxide off of the switch which is entirely up to you. Thank you for your feedback. Was just taken aback by your comment of the facility being the "dirtiest factory on the planet" but do agree that it is a good light and unlike others on the market, still MADE IN THE USA. Look forward to upcoming videos!

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@bigmoneyzz4901 I didn't mean for it to sound that way. Perhaps I should remake the video. As for the finish, I have never tried removing it because brass can corrode. The light in this video is the oldest MX-991/U in my collection which is why it is a bit worn. It is also my most reliable MX-991/U. Maybe the military has a different supply. Many people have problems with the switch jamming which is why I made this video. It might not be 90% of them but it is a known problem with a simple fix. I like starting with water instead of chemical lubricants that might harm or discolor the light.

[@20alphabet]

@@bigmoneyzz4901 Lol, if a brand new product malfunctions due to dirt, filth, or debris, the creator of the video has valid complaint. Btw, Made in the USA doesn't equate to Made by Americans.

[@Rokaize]

@@20alphabet what else could that possibly mean

[@emmanuelmoreno4803]

I had mine stored for a couple of years without cells and for whatever reason it won't turn on. I even got the conversion kit and washed the switch, I soaked it in white vinegar and cleaned the copper contact points and nothing. Anyone got any idea why it's not working?

[@sethm8432]

Have you tried bending the little pin on the spring so that it makes contact with the metal ring on the bottom? I had an old Fulton that was super finicky due to the pin being bent and slightly corroded.

[@emmanuelmoreno4803]

I appreciate you for taking the time to answer. I actually solved it by soaking the reflector's back side with white vinegar and sanding it very gently on the back, it immediately shun a light. NOTE: DO NOT SUBMERGE THE WHOLE REFLECTOR IN VINEGAR, OTHERWISE THE CHROMIUM PART MIGHT GET DAMAGED IF ANYTHING JUST LET THE COPPER PART SOAK.@@sethm8432

[@anthonymuela9055]

I bought a fulton from a surplus store and everytime I turn it on, after 15-25 seconds, the light starts to dim and then eventually just goes away. I've tried flipping the switch a lot, taking the batteries in and out, shaking it, and replacing the bulb. Any idea on how to fix this?

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

It is probably just low batteries. Mine does it to when the batteries are low.

[@rusty_gold_garage7138]

Have you ever tried to replace your switch or take it apart to clean it? I know it has those two small brass rivets that hold the cover on. I am trying to restore my dads back to working order. It sat for a long time with batteries in it and it corroded everything. I put a new reflector in it and cleaned everything i could. It works fine when i bypass the switch.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

I've never tried opening it. Rivets are annoying because they make servicing very hard. The switch wasn't the greatest either so they should have used screws. It isn't a bad light but it has a few small flaws.

[@axelgarciaalvarez4364]

My fulton only works when i press the button signals, any idea of how to repair this? :c

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Is the switch all the way up? It is a three position switch. It has constant on (switch is all the way up), momentary on (switch is in the middle position and the button is used to momentarily turn the light on), and off (switch is all the way on the bottom). Make sure the switch is all the way up. If it still doesn't work, please contact me again. Hope this helps!

[@axelgarciaalvarez4364]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial thanks for the repply it's all the way up in the third position, when get the flashlight it works fine but now It doesn't and only have pass some weeks 😅

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@axelgarciaalvarez4364 Are all the terminals clean? Check to make sure the bulb, reflector, and terminals are all clean. Check all the metal contacts in the light. If they are all clean and the batteries are good and it still doesn't work, check to see if the spring is set correctly. If you still don't have any luck, it might be defective. Make sure it says ships from and sold by Amazon to if you bought it there. There are many knockoffs out there. Best of luck!

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@axelgarciaalvarez4364 Try replacing the bulb to, even if it isn't burnt out. If the light is dropped or bumped, the filament can snap. Touching the bulb with your fingers shortens the lifespan to.

[@Oppteekap]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial how does it shorten the lifespan if you touch it?

[@bossmanboss3087]

Didn't help me

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

Try checking the spring and contacts. Sometimes the spring isn't set right.

[@20alphabet]

Still no luck. Hope my life never depends on this product of spotty quality and poor workmanship.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

If money isn't a problem then get an Elzetta Bravo. They are by far the toughest and most reliable.

[@20alphabet]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial Got one for my AR, was hoping to get one of these in working condition for the GI belt with canteen for the kid's camping trip. Shame this is the best we can do for our servicemen.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@20alphabet it was replaced with by the Streamlight Sidewinder which is a pretty good light.

[@20alphabet]

@@fixedfocusmediaofficial Lol, it better be for $90 a pop +tax.

[@fixedfocusmediaofficial]

@@20alphabet it was $75 when I got it. Just don't change colors while it is wet. The switch design isn't good for that.