70 year old recess light

[sparkync]

I have a customer who needs the tubes changed in an old recess light fixtures. It is a 1x4 wirh a glass lens. I can't figure how to get into it, without taking rhe whole outside of the frame down. If I do that it will take two men, since it's going to be heavy. I'm trying to send a picture of it but haven't figured out how yet. It says "file is to large". It has a small piece of metal going horizontal half way of the length. It has a "thumb screw" in it, which I tried to unscrew, but it stopped about 3/4 inch out. I was afraid to "force" it anymore just in case it wouldn't go back in. With this crude information has anyone seen anything like it? Homeowners says it's 70 years old.
I know, without a picture, you would have to be psychic., thanks anyway.

 

[hillbilly1]

When you select the picture click on options or file size, you should get a prompt that you can select the file size, click on small or medium, and it should go through.

 

[hbiss]

Lots of recessed fixtures from that era had chrome trim, a hinge at one end and a captive thumb screw at the other. Likely it's been painted or plastered in. Try running a knife around it to try and get it lose.

But I'll await a picture.

-Hal

 

[retirede]

Agree with Hal. The trim should be hinged opposite the thumb screw.

 

[sparkync]

I think I got the picture resized. The strip in the middle of the light has the " thumb screw" on one side of it. You probably can't see the thumb screw. You think by just swinging the strip to one side might allow the glass lens to be accessible to remove? Thanks

 

[hillbilly1]

Looks like an old work fixture, and the screws in the trim release it from the ceiling by flipping the wings above.

 

[hbiss]

Take the six screws out! Trim and glass should come off.

-Hal

 

[qcroanoke]

Looks like an old work fixture, and the screws in the trim release it from the ceiling by flipping the wings above.

So don't do that. Or prepare to get knocked off the .
Not so sure those 6 screws hold that fixture in the ceiling most of those you had to get the lens off and then there were 4 screws that held the clips that rotated to the drywall and you take those loose.
If you get it open put LED tubes It and bypass the ballast

 

[sparkync]

Thanks for the warning. I'm to old to get knocked off the ladder.

 

[James L]

It looks like something I helped with in a finished basement about 30 years ago for my in-laws.

We framed in to 1ft x 4ft and cut the rock out

I mounted shop lights in the joist bays, then father-in-law made the frames out of wood and prismatic lens and screwed them in

 

[Flicker Index]

The ballast on something that old may contain PCBs.

 

[kwired]

The ballast on something that old may contain PCBs.

That's why you put in ballast bypass type LED tubes and abandon the ballast in place - somebody else's problem another day

 

[Ponce]

I did a design to replace a recessed light fixture in the canopy of a building lobby.
Took the trim, glass and light socket out, left the fixture housing in place, and installed a low profile LED light fixture that was larger than the hole.
There was a driver on the top of the fixture, but it fit neatly into the hole.