Repairing a Stuck Flint Wheel on a Zippo Lighter

Written By: Joseph Yoo
  • Comments: 30
Repairing a Stuck Flint Wheel on a Zippo Lighter

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

5

Time Required

5 - 10 minutes

Introduction

Is your Zippo lighter not working because the flint wheel is stuck? Don't want to invest money in a brand new lighter? Your flint wheel is stuck because the steel rod it strikes is stuck at an awkward position against the wheel causing the wheel to be immobile. Find out how to loosen the steel rod and fix your Zippo!

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    • Open your Zippo lighter and take the inside component out of the shell simply by pulling it out.

    • Be careful of the fluid that already might be in the lighter, it might leak out.

    It worked! I’m so happy! Thank u!!!

    tylb75 -

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    • Flip the lighter to face the bottom of the unit and locate the brass colored screw.

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    • Loosen the brass screw with the flat head screwdriver

    • Unscrew the rest of the brass screw using your hand.

    • Unscrew the brass screw until it comes off and the spring beneath shows but do not take the spring all the way out.

    Non riesco a svitare questa vite, consigli su come fare??

    Icaro Official -

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    • Pull the brass screw and spring out about a centimeter or two to unhinge the steel rod located beneath the flint wheel so that the rod and the wheel are not touching.

    • If necessary, tap the unit to unhinge the steel rod

    I want this spring plz tell how I can buy it .

    Zaman Bai -

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    • Follow the steps backwards to reassemble the unit and check to see if the flint wheel is unstuck.

Conclusion

You have now fixed your flint wheel! Enjoy your Zippo Lighter!

Author

Joseph Yoo

Member since: 09/04/15

956 Reputation

27 comments

This made the problem even worse. The flint wheel is now unstuck but it can't make any sparks whatsoever.

Nabiel Wahedi -

me too it will not work i did the same and now it wont make sparks

cool kid -

Did you change the flint aswell? Change the flint and put it back together, if it won’t turn after changing the flint then loosen the spring again.

Bret lauk -

You need to replace the flint itself in that case.

jayanthkumarak -

Wonderful instructions! AND IT WORKED! Thank you.

John Heard -

Thanks! I fixed it!!

robbysmama1994 -

It worked very good for me. Thank you!

Matei Galesanu -

Where can I get a flint spring

Rick Newell -

I just took a spring from an old bic. Worked perfect. Finding a screw to fit is my current dilemma…

Chris Boucher -

I just used an old bic spring. Now i just need a screw to hold it in place lol

Chris Boucher -

I accidently pulled the entire spring out now what do i do ;-;

Aaun -

I accidently pulled the entire spring off

Aaun -

Just push it back in. If you happen to need more flint, it sells really cheap on Amazon.

Sal Grant -

Wish I'd seen this sooner. My dad's vintage flint wheel was stuck. I got a rubber gripper and worked it til it came free but now it just spins loosely. Is there anyway to fix this problem or have I broken it?

Angie Ford - 01/22/17

Angie Ford -

Hey Angie, it may just be a damaged flint that you can replace. Try following this video guide for replacing the flint, it’s not great quality but very informative.

Sam Goldheart -

Thanks Sam. I'm going to give it a try.

Angie Ford -

Same thing as the guy on the top, fixed but no sparks. But hey it got the thing unstuck.also neon is

neon is nice -

Awesome! That worked..! Thanks Bro!

Ks Kavitha -

Thankyou great step by step guide and it fixed my

sarahfolmer -

That did not work

shawn.carter -

Awesome!!! Finally got it to work!! Thanks

Nancy McGoldrick -

hello. i removed the rod COMPLETELY and the flint is still stuck into the wheel. the rod is not in the zippo and it is still stuck and the wheel is still unmoving. what do i do?? plz help

nicolla b -

If it won't spark the rod itself fell out. You need to find it or replace it.

Carson Renwick -

I've watched videos of using a 1/16 inch drill bit to drill in the hole to get what degrees won't come out I've done this repeatedly and repeatedly and still my wheel is locked up when I replace it with a new Flint I've been doing this for too long.

Jeff hill -

Perfect instructions. Unlocked a jammed flint that has been stuck since 1970 in a lighter my Dad carried in Vietnam. Works now. Thanks!

Gerald Miller -

Once mine was free of flint debris and spinning free, I put my new flint in, screwed it in and was stuck again...so I loosened it again, til I had no flint touching wheel, and lightly pressed down on wheel wheel I rescrewed it in. I let go, and bam, worked perfect. So for those with the resticking wheel, try that. Press down on wheel to keep flint from popping through the hole, as you screw it in. Then let go of wheel. Works every time now.

June Minard -

In my zippo there still old flint powder and even if i removed the spring It doesnt come off

Un_Pittore -