TOPIC: All around light

I need this rubber piece to keep the light up so my flag stays up.

I've tried a couple of things rig it but can't find on online to buy.

What do i call that rubber part to search for it?

check McMaster Carr, or Grainger. look under seals or grommets ?
There may be something there ?

Thanks I'll give it a try.

Could you post a pic of the light base?

Sure.

I'm also trying some rubber revitalizing tips I found on a motorcycle forum.

The whole thing

The base

diatshaw, I believe that you should have a nylon ring under the nut on your base, and when you tighten the nut it will squeeze the nylon ring. kinda like a ferrel fitting. frog

A thick rubber O ring should do the trick. Failing that, just slip a small hose clamp onto the shaft. A half turn will loosen it to let it slide back down into the hole.

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried large o-rings but even when i tighten it the pole slides down when under way.

The red ring in the first picture goes under the nut and when you tighten it, the ring is just to old/hard/smooth to hold the pole in place.

If you do not have an old light mast laying around that you can use then take a set of tubing cuter ans cut about 3/4 of an inch of tubing off of yours

Go to the parts house and buy some thick sheet rubber or gasket material (about 1/4 thick) and a copper coupling that is about the size of the inside of your nut on your light mount.

Take a file and put an edge on both the coupling and the cut off of the light mast.

Take a hammer and on a piece of wood lay the material and use the coupling first stamp out a piece. Then use the cut off mast piece and cut out the middle.

You may have to trim the outside some, however it should slide up into the nut and when tighten down on will spread out to hold the mast

Hmmm. sounds good. I think i have some this sheet rubber laying around.

What is the OD of the pole? You might try a piece of slip nut washer as found on a sink drain. The soft plastic ones have a tapered edge that should be placed down. They are nominally 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch. The washer is probably too large so cut a piece off.

Another idea is to place several wraps of string around the pole, under the nut.

Or try Red Green's favorite tool: Duct tape.

Randy

I drilled and tapped a hole for a small set screw, on the front side of the base. Worked fine. Eventually I found a used light for $1 at a yard sale and it had the needed compression ring.

try steve at pennypinchers ,on ebay send him the pics,im sure i sold him one or more of those stern lights,john
www.ebay.com/usr/pennypinchers743?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754

Its either a Perko or Attwood fixture and a local marine store should be able to get the correct piece. Failing that, try looking for a second hand boat shop.

Ian

I found on another site, honda motorcycles, about using different things to revitalize rubber.

I used a mixture of, wait for it, olive oil and white vinegar!

Put the part in a dish, all but covered it with olive oil, then covered it with vinegar. put it in the microwave for about 45 seconds until it started to boil.

When i pulled it out the piece was swelled up to about twice it's size!

I put it on the light pole above the nut and let it sit for a week or two while i plowed snow.

When i finally got around to working on the boat again today i noticed it had shrunk and was more pliable. I put it on the proper way and when i tighten the nut the pole stays up.

One thing they recommended was Oil Of Wintergreen. The chemical in it is the same chemical they use in rubber revitalizer products. Buy it smells up the whole house.

Anywhere, your mileage may vary, but there it is.

cheers!