How to undo this ceiling light cover?

flaneurs_lobster

WIAWSNB said:

No idea what a 'bar clamp' is? (Edit - ah, nice tool, and could indeed do the job.)

I'm trying to remove the chrome cover only, in order to then replace the bulb - it cannot be removed directly, as it's bigger than the hole in the cover. (I can see the actual bulb behind is held by the usual spring wire.)

Diameter is too big for any tool I have - I'm guessing it's around 125mm?

I'll try gentle anti-clock taps with a flat-blade on the serrations. 

Cheers.

That looks all kinds of wrong to me, or mebee it's just a very stupid design. What would be the point of recessing the spot bulb up into the fitting? Aren't they supposed to be level with the ceiling? 

Doesn't the bevel on the chrome cover suggest that the bulb should fit against it. I recon that bulb has been put in place (badly, pushing the fitting upwards) then the chrome surround applied afterwards.

I've got several of these spots and they don't need the fitting to be removed to replace the bulb (bayonet fitting, a rubber glove can help give purchase). 

Rodders53

That lamp looks to me to be held in by a metal circlip.. 

Pliers or similar to compress and remove the clip and the lamp then falls out on its connecting cable.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/277369553089 is an example clip.

FrugaiMacDugal

Has MIL got matching ceiling paint in case of flaking, if you do get it removed?

kimwp

WIAWSNB said:

Thanks, all.
That's what I was looking for - I don't wish to remove the whole fitting from the ceiling by prising it away, as these spring clips often do damage to the p'board edges, so Kimwp's confirmation will hopefully be the case.
I suspect the ceiling has been painted to the chrome edge, so will try a screwdriver blade on the serration (around the back where mil won't see...) and a few taps to try and loosen it.
Cheers.

Just came back to this thread - I meant unscrew the bulb. It looks like yours are different from mine if the bulb is bigger than the covering.

TELLIT01

Ours are similar, and twisting anticlockwise less than half a turn releases them.  I have a heck of a jobs getting them to stay in place after replacing the bulb.  A couple of them hang down a few mil but as they are in the bathroom I'm not too bothered.

WIAWSNB

TELLIT01 said:

Ours are similar, and twisting anticlockwise less than half a turn releases them.  I have a heck of a jobs getting them to stay in place after replacing the bulb.  A couple of them hang down a few mil but as they are in the bathroom I'm not too bothered.

NOW you tell me!
Thanks - I'd done the job earlier, and found it's as you say - a part-turn anticlock should release the whole caboodle. 

It actually took me holding a knife blade against the serrated rim, and thumping it with a large screwdriver handle repeatedly. This finally loosened it (and dug a nice slot in the rim...), and a part-turn, as you say, allowed it to drop down.

The whole chrome collar and lamp holder withdraws, and the bulb can be disconnected from its socket.
Found not only paint, but caulk stuck to the chrome rim. 

The visible circlip is actually just holding the glass disc in place - the bulb is simply held in the semicircular tangs. Replacing it was as simple as it should have been to remove.

There was another blown lamp, too, but a few thumps and it didn't budge, so I stopped... If another bulb goes, I'll get the bar-clamp mentioned above - that looks ideal for grabbing the rim.