Sofirn SC32 – Dead?

Seeking help from the hive mind here before I pitch one of my favorite old lights, the Sofirn SC32. Yes the SST40 is green. Yes, it’s an old linear driver. But it was my entry into the hobby and my first attempt at replacing a Cloud Defensive Chicro (heartily do not recommend, btw, get a Streamlight if that’s what you’re after) that was my proof that I’d use an EDC light if I carried one. So… sentimental value. Ok, onward to the light…

When the light is assembled with 3 different (confirmed on Vapcell S4) fully charged 18650s, screwed down tight, it doesn’t work. As in, nothing. When I plug the usb-c charging on the head in with no battery inserted, since it’s a tail e-switch light, nothing.

When I insert the battery AND have the usb plugged in, it functions fine. The green indicator light on the head is green when it’s off and flashes red when it’s turned on.

Initially I thought I’d lost the inner tube that carried the charge from tail to head, so it’s been sitting, nonfunctional for months now. But before I finally gave up and pitched it in the trash today, I took a closer look. It appears to me that the inner tube is actually there, glued into the body / tail, as visible above the non-anodized threads in the first pic… and there really isn’t room for anything else between the circumference of the cell and the inner body wall anyway. Please check out the pics for more illustration.

So, a lot of words here for a fairly simple issue- anyone got any wisdom for me before I pitch this thing? I realize it’s sort of dumb but like I said, sentimental value. Do I have a bad driver? Am I missing the inner tube? Something else I’m missing?