Double ended HQI bulb removal

[elliottsa]

I have a double ended hqi bulb that I'm trying to take out of the fixture and can't find the secret... anyone have any idea what the heck I'm doing wrong? This thing will not move.

[manderx]

first, don't be afraid to touch the bulb. just clean it with alcohol later.

i like to pop one end out at a time. pull straight up. any twisting will break the glass.

if it just isn't moving or you are afraid of breaking it, get a long skinny nail and stick it between the end of the bulb and the socket, right into the metal contacts. this will spread the contacts, making it easier to pull. it's possible if you had a crappy bulb it might have soldered itself to the contacts. i had that happen with both bulbs back when i tried a pair from an early batch of coralvues. if it soldered itself, you gotta remove the whole socket and then get angry with it, knowing that the bulbs are shot and going straight into the trash.

[elliottsa]

You're a live saver manderx... I wasn't giving it a good enough pull. It's out! Thanks!!

[gcarroll]

whew, good thing it wasn't a 150 watt HQI, that advice would have given you a big problem.

[Cubman777]

sometimes it I cant get them out, I just beat the ever loving
s*%t out of it with a hammer.

[manderx]

Originally posted by gcarroll
whew, good thing it wasn't a 150 watt HQI, that advice would have given you a big problem.

i assumed it was 250 since i've *never* heard of anyone having trouble with 150.

so, what's your advice for pulling a 150?

[pfish]

When you put it back in put a little Vaseline on the contacts and you will find it slides in easy and will come out easy. I've been doing that for a year now with no probs.