StephenFord Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I have just had my late dad's Zippo lighter returned to me from Zippo after repair. Works fine, but the lid hinge is very stiff. I must have opened/closed it over 100 times but it's still stiff. 3 in 1 oil also made no difference. Zippo lids are usually very free moving allowing a nice 'flick' action to extinguish the flame, I can't do that on this one now. I'm loathed to fettle with it as I don't know what to do to loosen it, and am afraid of breaking it. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turvey Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I presume it was sent back to Zippo for repair? If so get back in touch with them and see if they can suggest anything. https://www.thelightershop.co.uk/repairs.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted June 5, 2021 Share Posted June 5, 2021 Usually it's just that the hinge parts have been pinched too tight. Remove the insides and put an old plastic card (nectar card etc) between the upper and lower case near the hinge then close the case onto the card just enough to slightly put tension on the hinge parts. This should loosen the hinge a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 11 hours ago, Stoney871 said: Usually it's just that the hinge parts have been pinched too tight. Remove the insides and put an old plastic card (nectar card etc) between the upper and lower case near the hinge then close the case onto the card just enough to slightly put tension on the hinge parts. This should loosen the hinge a bit. **** it!! Hinge just broke 🤬 🤬 🤬 LOL It's back off to Zippo again 😐 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marineboy Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 So sorry I didn't get to this sooner because there's a trick my dad showed me (bit of an engineer). I had an old bike and one of the throttle control lever pivots above the carbs was sticky. I was at a loss as to how it had become too tight and was not at all happy. I was on the edge of hitting it with a hammer (anywhere on the bike would have done - I was quite young). What he suggested was a bloo** miracle as I'd also already done the working it backwards and forwards thing to no avail. He said drop a tiny bit of metal polish into the pivot (effectively a hinge) as you would if it was WD40, and you were trying to free it up. So I did and bug** me it worked. So, the tiny bit of abrasiveness in the polish reduced the size of frictional surfaces enough to do the trick and Voilà it was sorted. I think I blasted the hinge with WD to remove any remaining polish so it wouldn't continue to cause wear after freeing it up, then I greased it of course. This is probably deemed to be a workaround but it's something I've never forgotten as it was a real saver at the time. If Zippo don't get it right again, maybe worth a shot? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted June 7, 2021 Author Share Posted June 7, 2021 3 hours ago, Marineboy said: So sorry I didn't get to this sooner .... Yes, me too, that would have been handy LOL When I get my Zippo back (again!), if it's too tight, I'll try that. I've had Zippos repaired before and they have always come back 100%, the tech working on my dad's lighter must have just had an off day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turvey Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 @MarineboyI presume you mean something like Brasso? Or something else that's easily available 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted June 7, 2021 Author Share Posted June 7, 2021 7 minutes ago, Turvey said: @MarineboyI presume you mean something like Brasso? Or something else that's easily available 🤔 Peek, Brasso, Silvo, Autosol, Meguiars metal polish, I have them all! LOL 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marineboy Posted June 8, 2021 Share Posted June 8, 2021 17 hours ago, Turvey said: I presume you mean something like Brasso? Yes well quessed. If memory serves, I think it was Brasso. Maybe start with the finest you can find and see how it goes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmoore04uk Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 Hey even toothpaste would do it. Probably even less abrasive than Brasso Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 4 minutes ago, kmoore04uk said: Hey even toothpaste would do it. Probably even less abrasive than Brasso From experience, I have found toothpaste to be useless for anything other than cleaning teeth. It's mooted as a solution to restore car headlights, and even removing minor scratches from watch glass, all it does is makes things minty fresh LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmoore04uk Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 Well I did say it was probably the least abrasive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomsFocus Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 Don't forget toothpaste isn't all the same, they do vary in abrasiveness. Also wondering how much use your Zippo gets if you don't smoke...? Birthday cake candles? Incense sticks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 5 minutes ago, TomsFocus said: Also wondering how much use your Zippo gets if you don't smoke...? Birthday cake candles? Incense sticks? LOL, I'm a fiddler! I'm like a child whose mum always shouts at them for playing with matches, I always have one to hand. There is something very tactile about a Zippo, the cool feel of the metal, the distinctive sound it make when the lid is opened, the firmness of the striking wheel as you flick it, the smell of the petrol as it ignites, the ritual of refilling it with fuel, or replacing the flint, or even knowing the heritage of the lighter., Yes, I do know I'm sad and should probably seek help 🤣 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turvey Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 I'm an ex-smoker with a Zippo and I know exactly what you mean. I could sit and open, light and close my Zippo for ages if it didn't annoy everyone else! 😄 Very tactile indeed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 Yet another Zippo use - I have a cat who loses her collar regularly, so on putting a new one on her I have to trim the collar for length., I use my Zippo to melt the edge of it so it doesn't fray LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigLen Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 5 minutes ago, StephenFord said: Yet another Zippo use - I have a cat who loses her collar regularly, so on putting a new one on her I have to trim the collar for length., I use my Zippo to melt the edge of it so it doesn't fray LOL safety suggestion; take it off the cat before melting the end or the cat might go woof 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomsFocus Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 I recently bought a Rubiks cube to fiddle with...sounds like I should have bought a Zippo instead! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenFord Posted July 14, 2021 Author Share Posted July 14, 2021 Look what I got back today! Lighter hinge is now just perfect, and to compensate for me having to post it back so soon after initial repair, got some nice complimentary bits sent with it! Also, I only sent the case back, and it's been returned to me with a brand new insert. Now, if only Zippo made cars! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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