Mounting frame of recessed light gone in ceiling - can't get down

[Question]

We were attempting to paint the ceiling of our utility room, and decided to remove the housing of the recessed lights.  See picture with annotations for housing and mounting frame.   

Unfortunately, when I pulled the housing of one the lights, its mounting frame went above the ceiling as the hole in the ceiling is a bit wider than the width of the mounting frame  (but not of the housing). 

My plan was to:  (1) to get the mounting frame down and (2) put the housing back in the mounting frame which fits tightly and (3) put the whole light fitting back in the ceiling  - the width of the housing is wider than that of the hole in the ceiling (and is wider than that of the mounting frame.)

I am stuck at step 1. I can't get the mounting frame down, and the two springs (one shown in the picture) make it very difficult.    (The springs are designed to ensure the light fitting is held in the ceiling and usually lie at 90 degrees to the mounting frame on top of the ceiling). 
 

Do you have any advice? 

Edited August 29 by Question

[dpmiller]

squeeze and wiggle the spring and it should come off the legs it pivots on

[Question]

Thanks for the reply.   The spring is strong and I can't take it off.  I am running out of ideas.  I don't want to make a bigger hole and then it is replaster the whole ceiling.

[Mattg4321]

As above, take the springs off. Use a small screwdriver for leverage if necessary. Had to do this a few times myself for various reasons 

[Question]

Thanks for your reply.   I have taken a photo of the spring and the coil is wound around a metal centre which is integrated to the metal mounting frame - see photo.   I can't remove the spring using a screwsdriver.

 

I think the only possibility is to try to dislodge what I refer to as the "end of spring" in the photo thereby loosening the spring, pull down the light fitting, and then try to put the "end of the spring" back under the metal sleeve. 

 

I would be grateful for your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 31 by Question

[Tetrarch]

You'll have to fold both springs down. I'd try to bend both down, using a screwdriver to wedge them against the bottom and then use a zippy-strip to hold them in situ - that should let you get the whole thing out

 

Regards

 

Tet 

[Question]

Thanks for your reply.   Seems like a good idea.  I tried googling and can't find out what zippy-strip is.   What is it?

 

[Roundtuit]

42 minutes ago, Question said:

Thanks for your reply.   Seems like a good idea.  I tried googling and can't find out what zippy-strip is.   What is it?

 

Cable tie?

[Nickfromwales]

Whoa! 
 

If it went up as is, then it will come back down as is. 
 

You just need to get it facing down with the springs spread apart and it’ll just need to be pulled down with maybe a long nose pliers, or maybe 2 of them. Twist it slightly back and forth (not rotating it as much as a 1/4 turn, less should suffice) and keep at it. 
 

Wear eye protection obvs. If you damage the ceiling where the pliers are, which you will, then a bit of Tupret filler from Screwfix will sort that out. 

[BotusBuild]

On 29/08/2025 at 09:06, Question said:

one the lights

So, you have taken down at least one other of these lights?

 

If so, you have something to experiment on before attempting the offending one 🙂

[Mattg4321]

5 hours ago, Question said:

Thanks for your reply.   I have taken a photo of the spring and the coil is wound around a metal centre which is integrated to the metal mounting frame - see photo.   I can't remove the spring using a screwsdriver.

 

I think the only possibility is to try to dislodge what I refer to as the "end of spring" in the photo thereby loosening the spring, pull down the light fitting, and then try to put the "end of the spring" back under the metal sleeve. 

 

I would be grateful for your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ‘metal centre’ doesn’t pass all the way through the coiled part of the spring clip. 
 

Just squeeze the coiled part together using the screwdriver for leverage and pop the spring clip off the fitting. 
 

It’s quite easy when you know how, but I’ve done it quite a few times!

[Question]

Hi all, I got the light down.  I used a zip tie to tie the springs back.  I did one spring and tied it, and then the other and tied that.   It took a little while and was fiddly.   Thanks for all your suggestions and advice.  

[Spinny]

OK you solved it.

I was just going to suggest in extremis perhaps you could buy another light the same (or get your spare one out of the loft), disconnect the trapped one and push it aside in the ceiling cavity, then connect and fit the replacement light.