Changing lightbulbs underneath GE Spacemaker XL1800 microwave/range

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Old 04-04-2010, 10:49 AM
twolfe
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Default Changing lightbulbs underneath GE Spacemaker XL1800 microwave/range

The first time you have to change these lightbulbs is a real pain. There is some kind of glue attached to the factory installed bulbs. Uninstalling the old bulbs is the hard part. Add to this the complication of having to work crouched down in addition to being unable to see what your fingers are doing. So far I could only remove/replace 1 of the two bulbs.


Replacements can be bought at Walmart. If you have large fingers you are in for a real chore!! Anyone else had this issue?
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Old 04-04-2010, 11:37 AM
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I absolutely agree with you, twolfe. I just replaced a bulb in a model 1650 GE spacesaver microwave. What a pain!!!

I didn't know about the glue and I ended up separating the glass of the bulb from the base of the bulb. I had to use a needle nose pliers to extract the base piece by piece.

I paid $10 for a replacement bulb from the GE dealer. Only later did I learn that it's a common bulb available in many stores for about $3-$4.

Such is the life of a DIYer
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Old 04-04-2010, 01:41 PM
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If you remove the 3 or 4 screws that hold the cover plate to the underside of the microwave the covers tilts down exposing the light bulb sockets. remove socket and replace the bulb...glue is still a problem but easier to unscrew the broken bulb. BTW...Ace hardware sells the bulbs also.
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Old 04-04-2010, 07:12 PM
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Not sure if it is the same style microwave, but after playing contortionist and trying with the needle nose pliers, I went outside and found a piece of a pine branch that was about the diameter of the socket and jammed it into the socket and turned it and the broken socket screwed out. When the other side went out, I twisted the bulb out and used the same piece of branch to get the other one out. Easy as pie - one-two-three!!

I did turn off the circuit breaker to the microwave first.
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Old 04-04-2010, 08:15 PM
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Default Sorry, but somebody had to ask...

Q: How many TOTVers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: At least four to explain how they did it and the rest of us to pray we don't have to any time soon.
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Old 04-05-2010, 07:21 AM
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AMEN!
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Old 04-05-2010, 11:14 AM
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The bad thing was that when the bulb blew it took out the piece of glass that covers it. That was not cheap. When the other one blew, I replaced the piece of glass with a piece of plexiglass. Works better because it is not frosted.

For you that joke about trying to get that bulb out, please bookmark this site for when yours goes out. It looks a likes a simple job but is all but that.
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Old 04-05-2010, 09:20 PM
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Oh no, Z. I hope you did not take offense. Believe me, I am sufficiently intimidated by how hard sounds that when the time comes, I think I'll just start using a flashlight!

Unless of course, dearest neighbor, you would come change it for me.
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Old 04-06-2010, 10:10 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pturner View Post
Oh no, Z. I hope you did not take offense. Believe me, I am sufficiently intimidated by how hard sounds that when the time comes, I think I'll just start using a flashlight!

Unless of course, dearest neighbor, you would come change it for me.
Will do. I still have my pine branch/socket remover!!
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Old 04-06-2010, 03:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pturner View Post
q: How many totvers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: At least four to explain how they did it and the rest of us to pray we don't have to any time soon.
lololol!!!
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Old 04-06-2010, 03:23 PM
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I think the key here is, do not use the light as a night light!
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