How to Fix a Lamp With a Pulled-Off Chain

The pull chain for an electric lamp controls a switch inside the socket for the bulb. Pulling the chain switches the lamp on and off. A lifetime of pulls can wear out the chain, which may eventually break or pop out of the socket. When this happens, if the chain breaks inside or near the socket assembly, the only option is to replace the assembly with a new one, which comes with a pull chain attached. This part is available at hardware and electrical stores. Replace the socket yourself to continue using the lamp. If the chain breaks with a few links (actually little crimped metal balls) hanging outside the socket assembly, you can simply clip a chain lengthener to the last link or ball on the remaining chain.

Pliers
Screwdriver
Pull-chain lamp socket

Instructions

- 1
  Unplug the lamp from the power cord.
- 2
  Remove the lamp shade and unscrew the bulb from the socket.
- 3
  Unscrew the socket from the threaded cap beneath it, where the cap attaches to the lamp. Use pliers, if necessary. On some lamps, there may be a small screw on the side of the socket base that you must remove to release the socket.
- 4
  Slide off the tube-shaped insulator from the socket.
- 5
  Pull the socket gently from the lamp to expose the wiring. Loosen the two screws on the side of the socket holding the two wires, and pull each wire free from the old socket. May a note of which wire connects to which screw terminal.
- 6
  Wrap the end of each wire under its corresponding screw head on the new socket with the pull chain. Tighten each screw so the wire is firmly secured. The bare wires must not touch each other.
- 7
  Slide the tube insulator over the new socket.
- 8
  Lower the new socket into the threaded cap on the lamp, pulling gently on the other end of the power cord to draw the cord through the inside of the lamp. Tighten the socket on the cap by turning clockwise or tightening the screw in the side, depending on your model.
- 9
  Screw in a lightbulb with a compatible watts rating for the socket.
- 10
  Replace the lamp shade and plug in the power to cord to an electrical outlet.

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