TruGlo TFO / solvents....

[atimetobuild]

OK, so I let some Rusty Duck cleaner drip around to my TFOs, and my rear sights are definitely dimmer than my front ones now. It looks like the breech end of the fibers got hazy.

My questions:

Can I buy (do I need?) replacement capsules?
(If so, where? I Googled the matter, but was unsuccessful.)

Can I get TruGlo to fix them? I couldn't find anything about this on their sight.

If I can get the capsuled serviced cheaper somewhere else, who can I find to service something that proprietary?

Am I the only one stupid enough to let a harsh solvent get on a brand new $100 tritium sight?

Any thoughts?

[Moshe]

I'll bet there's a way to polish them. Maybe if you can take out the fiber you can polish the end to restore the brightness.

Worth a try before replacing the fibers. The tritium isn't in the fiber so there's no real "capsule" to replace.

TruGlo sells replacement fiber, but I think it's in longer pieces that you have to cut down.

As for you being the only one, I doubt it. TruGlo has a small piece of paper with the TFO's (at least mine had it) specifically mentioning the issue of being careful with certain solvents, so they must have had a lot of people having this happen.

Good luck. I think the worst you've done is just inconvenience yourself. I'm pretty certain it can be fixed relatively easily.

[atimetobuild]

Originally posted by Moshe
I'll bet there's a way to polish them. Maybe if you can take out the fiber you can polish the end to restore the brightness.

How would I take the fiber out?


Worth a try before replacing the fibers. The tritium isn't in the fiber so there's no real "capsule" to replace.

Where is the tritium, then? Something is funky about the left fiber. I had assumed is was some liquid/gel that was disturbed


TruGlo sells replacement fiber, but I think it's in longer pieces that you have to cut down.

As for you being the only one, I doubt it. TruGlo has a small piece of paper with the TFO's (at least mine had it) specifically mentioning the issue of being careful with certain solvents, so they must have had a lot of people having this happen.

Good luck. I think the worst you've done is just inconvenience yourself. I'm pretty certain it can be fixed relatively easily.

[Moshe]

Well, I haven't tried on a TruGlo, but I have changed the fiber on a Hiviz sight (same fiber).

I would imagine that the fiber slides out of its slot.

Give me a minute and I'll make an image showing what I'm thinking.

[Moshe]

sorry... I can't get my camera to work again (it works every so often).

Basically here it is:

Look at the sights/gun from the top (looking down at it) You'll see openings on the top where the fiber is exposed to sunlight. I'll bet if you use a soft tool (so to not scratch it) you can get the fiber to come out by pushing it out the rear exposed hole using that opening.

If you look just in front of the exposed part of the fiber, there is a black metal enclosed area. That is where the tritium capsule is.

If all you did was damage the finish of the fiber on the end, then taking it out and polishing it or replacing it should help.

As you can see on the TruGlo sight:

http://www.truglo.com/content/prod_accessory_dealer/replacement_fibers.asp

They sell replacement fibers. But you don't need as much as they're selling. Call them up worst case scenario and have them walk you through removing your fiber and polishing it, and/or they might be able to send you precut fibers (free or for a nominal fee).

[atimetobuild]

I figured the whole thing was a tritium-filled fiber. I love it when I become less ignorant. :)

I saw those fibers on TruGlo's sight, but figured that those were only for standard sights, and that they weren't selling the Tritium fibers because of their environmental impact.

I will try fooling with it some more.

I sure do appreciate your taking the time to help!

:thumbsup:

[Moshe]

No problem. Happy to help. :)

[blastjv]

I think that there's a lot more to replacing a fiber (if it can be done at all) on a TFO than replacing a 'standard' fiber optic sight fiber. I could be wrong, but I'm betting that your best bet is to call TruGlo and explain you situation, then hope they'll fix you up...

Good Luck!!!


-John

[FJR]

atimetobuild, Any further update on your situation? Have you contacted the company? If so, what did they say?

[atimetobuild]

Hey, thanks for reminding me!

I have been meaning to post a follow-up.

TruGlo asked me to send it back to them, and they replaced the rear sight for free!

It turned out to be a good thing, too, because TopGlock installed a grossly defective rear sight on my gun. I didn't know it, because I have never had a TruGlo sight before, but the old one had a gap between the bottom of the sight and the sight rail on the gun. Not OK. I thought it was supposed to be that way. I just put some threadlok on it, and went on (since TopGlock didn't even tighten it down, so it flew off when I started shooting). Anyway, TruGlo sent me a whole new one, since they could see it was wrong for my gun as soon as they got it.

I am much better off now, and they got it back to me in a week!

Way to go, TRUGLO!!!

[FJR]

atimetobuild, PM sent.