Broke down and bought a Task Force LED light after reading all of the raves about the light. Got home and shined it against the garage door with my stand-by mag light to see how they will work together. Will be mounting the Task Force on the other side of the steering stem. I will be using the "flood" feature of my mag light and the spot of the Task Force. The attaching method for the Task Force will be using a touchdown clamp, these are found in the plumbing section of Lowes and multiple zip ties. The touchdown clamp and zip ties have held my 12-volt halogen driving light system for many miles. The reason for the change from the driving lights is not having to re-charge my 12-volt power tool batteries. Thanks to all who have posted about the Task Force.

I bought the task force the other day and used it for the first time this morning. It's MUCH brighter than what I was using but after 10 miles or so the light started flickering and dimming as my bike bumped from the road. I'm hoping it's just a bad light but before I exchange it, is there some cause or trick that I don't know about to help prevent this?

Sounds like poor contact from the light and batteries. Pulling the spring out a bit could help, but I'd just return it. Mine has many miles of off-roading abuse on a rigid bike, and has not flickered once. My take is that QC isn't great on these, so I'd swap it and hope for a better one.

Do you have the batteries wrapped in paper to eliminate them rattling in the cage? I did this right off, not sure if it would change the flicker issue, but it kills the noise by keeping the batteries tight, and is a very worthwhile 1 minute & free mod IMO.

I've read about wrapping the batteries but I was waiting to see just how annoying it would be without it. I'm wrapping them before I leave to go home. I figured it was the contacts but I didn't know if there was something I could do to help prevent this. Thanks for the input.

It's just a bad light for me I think. I pulled out the contact spring and it's still acting up. I'm just going to exchange it and hopefully the new one will not have this problem.

Anybody A/B these against a FENIX L2D? I run the Fenix, and it looks a lot smaller, plus it fits in a lockblock which removes the need for zip ties. From experience too, it seems to be brighter than what your pics suggest for the Lowe's.

But you can't simply walk into a local store and pay $30 and walk out with a FENX L2D.

Never used an L2D to compare. That said, check out the conduit clamp idea from bicyclelighting.com and forget the zip-ties. Great idea, clamps are under a buck at an industrial supply place. I picked a few up yesterday.

Don't take those pics at face value unless you're familiar with the Planet Bike Beamer 5 so you can compare the poor photo job. When the weather improves I'll take better pics now that I think I know how, as well as an a/b with the flood lens available for the TF light.

Did you ever find that flood lens? Let me know the status of that deal.

Dan,

Not yet! I found a 23.5 mm, about 10 deg lens, but that is it so far. Though I haven't done a lot of looking. I think maybe a 15 deg lens would do, though trial and error is the only true way to find out.

I have been intrigued by a DIY bike light over on MTBR.com in the light threads. It is a Dinotte style light, very cheap build.

Chris

I got a package from that kind gent on the other forum. Here are the 2 lenses, with the stock lens on the left and the flood lens on the right:


Here's the flood lens:



And here's the same pic with the stock/spot lens:


It definitely kills the spot some, but how well it spreads the light for off-roading remains to be seen. The pattern of the flood is somewhat narrow vertically while being very wide (depending on the angle you hold the light).

I'll get some outdoor shots tonight if the weather cooperates.

Chris,

Very cool thread on MTBR. I may have to make one of those, although at that point I'd buy the parts on dealextreme.com rather than butchering a TF light, since a cree bulb and the necessary goodies can be had for 1/2 the cost of the TF light. I think I may have to give that setup a go. Thanks for the link. I have no idea the angle of the flood lens, I have. I'll let you know how it works off-road, and get back to me about that PM.

That's the Achilles heel of that light. (well, other than it's size making it difficult to mount securely) The batteries are loose in the body, so it can flicker when bumped. Wrapping the batteries helps a little.

Honestly tho', since the head unscrews off so easily, my "dream mod" is to convert the light into a head and separate battery pack.

For those who've been asking about what this light looks like on the road, I have an old pic in this thread, although I didn't point the light very far down. My favorite mod to increasing the near-field lighting is to add a second light.

Rather than use paper for a shim to keep the batteries from rattling/missing contact. Try plastic! Plastic will not absorb moisture like paper might.

Cut several (maybe a half dozen) strips from an old milk container, about 1/4" to 3/8" wide, and about 1/4" shorter than the total length of your batteries.

Insert them between the batteries and the case of the flashlight.

Insert as many as needed to get a snug fit, and no rattle; and, save the others in case you need more for different batteries, or flashlights.

The extras take up no room in the bottom of any bag, and are there if you ever need them, or, drop the others while changing batteries.

Cheap, effective, and ZERO cost! And, you know where to get more for yourself or friends!

Another tip - a little dab of dielectric grease on the contact points of the batteries, and on the threads of the flashlight metal parts, will keep corrosion at bay, and promote good contact. It only takes enuf to put a slight film on things. Dielectric grease is available at almost any automotive parts place, available in small tubes as "tune up grease." Great stuff for electrical connections.

Not a bad idea, but I don't know if they'll fit. Have you done this, or is it just an idea? My light didn't even have room for a couple wraps of paper, I had to cut the sheet both ways to get it to fit. Worth a shot though.

I've done it on this light, and, also on Maglight flashlights. Work great!

Dan,

IF I used the T.F. for parts, I would only do as wyeast mentioned, is to use it with the light head mounted on a helmet with a seperate battery pack. The light output with the new lens looks pretty good!

Something I have done to stop the batteries from rattling in my Mag lights is tape the batteries up with electrical tape. I ran a few strips of tape down the length of the batterries, then wrapped them at the ends and where the batteries "meet".

Chris

Got a dark MTB run in on my muddy truck trail that's part of my commute home. Flood is very wide and narrow vertically. Works great as a secondary light for right in front of the bike, showing where your wheel is going and what's off ot the side. Almost no forward throw though, I ended up using the beamer 5 to illuminate 10; in front of me. 2 of these, one wiht the flood and one with the spot would be perfect. No beam shots tonight - working one handed (razor blades are sharp). maybe tomorrow.

Chris, offer still stands if you're liking the looks of that throw. I'll get outdoor beam shots when I can. No way will it pass as a solo light, but it makes a great secondary for right in front of the bike. I now need to find another of these babies. Or, if Chris doesn't take that offer, I may use the DIY dinotte theory with parts from dealextreme to build a second.

I looked in a Lowes store today as well as the Lowes website and only see a Task Force flashlight with the phrase "30x brighter" - not 60x. Maybe the 60x brighter light is not something they offer any more? Anyone see any of these lights lately?

G0 to the store, and they will be on the display. Usually by the cash register end caps.

I saw them at my Lowes, by the tool section.

My local Lowe's (Houston) didn't have them in stock either, but there was definitely a place on the rack for them. I travel for a living and am in Columbus, Ohio this week. I stopped by the local Lowe's here and found one no problem. So far, I'm impressed - very bright! Now if I can just figure out a suitable mounting option....

Anyone know what the best C size rechargeable batteries are for the TF? Also where to buy them?

Here you go, 6000mAh NiMH: https://www.batteryjunction.com/tpeh-t6000.html

Here's an economical charger: https://www.batteryjunction.com/tpec-ttg3000.html

Dan,

Sorry I haven't replied sooner! Thank you again for the offer, but I may order some as I am looking at building the Dinotte style light with a Cree MC-E, and if so, will order from DX since I do think I found it! Check this out: Flood Lens

I haven't taken the time to get my calipers and double check the measurement, but it looks like that is it for anyone else looking to get the flood lens.

Chris

They are at my local Lowe's in stock as well, in the "tool world" by all the other flashlights. They were sold out for a couple weeks after I bought mine (I got the last one), but my dad picked one up there this past Saturday, and said they had them 2 full displays wide, probably 20 lights. The 30x brighter is the Luxeon, and definitely not in the same league as this 60x brighter cree.