Problems with pull-chain light fixture
May 16, 2011 5:56 PM   Subscribe

Am I doing something wrong with my pull chain light fixture, and/or do they just tend to be really crappy? Broke two of them in short order...

[The part that I believe I am having a problem with is depicted on this Home Depo page; if that link doesn't work it is a "Leviton Pull-Chain Socket", apparently a variation on manufacturer's part # 19980]

Long story short, I have apparently broken two of these within a 6 month period. All I ever do is pull to turn the light on or off, with what seems to be an appropriate amount of force (i.e., I don't yank on it excessively or send the light swinging or anything like that). The first one was very old so I wrote it off to that, but that was only 6 months ago and so the new one is... well, almost brand new!

What happens in particular is that the chain seems to get stuck in the "out" position and will not reel back in. It has resulted in the light being stuck off both times, never stuck on.

First of all, is there a way to fix this without getting out any tools or turning off any breakers? Something I can do in 2 minutes when I get home? Obviously as you can see from the web these are not expensive to replace, but it is a rental and my landlord is a little touchy about anyone else doing work on the place, despite the fact that this is SO cheap.

In the alternative, if I were to go get one of these and attempt a replacement myself, is that a good idea as a non-electrician? Obviously I know to turn the breakers off, but I don't know much more than that about home wiring...
posted by rkent to Home & Garden (4 answers total)
 
I bought a couple of the ones you have pictured from the home depot a few months ago. They are crap. Lamp about falls over before the light switches on/off.

Easy to replace, just shut off breaker/fuse. Part itself is crap. Next time out I would look for another brand; or try the smaller hardware stores for an older model. Simple to replace, just two wires.
posted by buzzman at 6:04 PM on May 16, 2011


My dad, who is obsessive about home maintenance, always trained us to grab the chain as close to the base as possible and pull out instead of down. Pain in the ass, yeah, but none of the pull chain fixtures in our 25 year old house have ever broken. (Don't know what brand they are, though.)
posted by phunniemee at 6:17 PM on May 16, 2011


Response by poster: always trained us to grab the chain as close to the base as possible and pull out instead of down

Alas, that is impractical in my case as the fixture hangs from the ceiling and the base is out of reach for a sideways "out-instead-of-down" pull, even with my arm fully outstretched. Thanks, though.
posted by rkent at 6:22 PM on May 16, 2011


No, no. Most pull chain light fixtures are cheap crap. Buy one that seems constructed out of better materials and replace.
posted by jbenben at 7:29 PM on May 16, 2011 [1 favorite]


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