Leaking at the solenoid o-ring...now what?

tekdiver170 · 25th April 2007, 10:17

Well I've now been diving a rebreather for a whole month, not getting the time I would like to be getting on it but that's another story. Tonight I'm getting ready to do a dive tomorrow, going through all my checks so there are no surprises when I get to the boat in the morning.

I do my negative test and it passes both times I try it (I did it twice because I'm anal), then I did my positive test, let it sit around for about an hour and the CL are a little deflated. When I first got the unit and I did my positive tests I could fill them, have them sit overnight and they would be about the same fullness. So I check all the seals with a little shampoo and H2O, sure enough there is a leak when the solenoid screws into the lid, fair amount of bubbles coming out.

I double check to make sure it didn't loosen up, nope. I took it apart clean the O-rings and put it back together. It's better but now there are very small bubbles when I first inflate for the Pos test, after around 10 minutes they stop and the test holds. Has anyone else seen their lids leak like this? Should I send it in? I just bought the unit used from an instructor who just got the lid back from AP for the whole bad diode thing. Any suggestions on how to fix it other than just cleaning the o-rings?

Thanks,
-Chris

***jradomski*** · 25th April 2007, 10:22

Quote: (Originally Posted by tekdiver170)

Well I've now been diving a rebreather for a whole month, not getting the time I would like to be getting on it but that's another story. Tonight I'm getting ready to do a dive tomorrow, going through all my checks so there are no surprises when I get to the boat in the morning.

I do my negative test and it passes both times I try it (I did it twice because I'm anal), then I did my positive test, let it sit around for about an hour and the CL are a little deflated. When I first got the unit and I did my positive tests I could fill them, have them sit overnight and they would be about the same fullness. So I check all the seals with a little shampoo and H2O, sure enough there is a leak when the solenoid screws into the lid, fair amount of bubbles coming out.

I double check to make sure it didn't loosen up, nope. I took it apart clean the O-rings and put it back together. It's better but now there are very small bubbles when I first inflate for the Pos test, after around 10 minutes they stop and the test holds. Has anyone else seen their lids leak like this? Should I send it in? I just bought the unit used from an instructor who just got the lid back from AP for the whole bad diode thing. Any suggestions on how to fix it other than just cleaning the o-rings?

Thanks,
-Chris

I have seen this you need to REPLACE the o-rings not just clean and relube.. Its probably a bit too flat right now.. same thing happens with the o-ring that seals the sensor tube to the lid..

tekdiver170 · 25th April 2007, 10:30

Yeah I was going to do that instead of just relubing and cleaning, but out of all those damn o-rings included in all the kits I have none of them fit those fittings. Looks like I'm going to have to hit the dive shop before the dive tomorrow morning. Thanks for the help.

-Chris

25th April 2007, 10:17	#1 (permalink)
tekdiver170 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 88	Leaking at the solenoid o-ring...now what? Well I've now been diving a rebreather for a whole month, not getting the time I would like to be getting on it but that's another story. Tonight I'm getting ready to do a dive tomorrow, going through all my checks so there are no surprises when I get to the boat in the morning. I do my negative test and it passes both times I try it (I did it twice because I'm anal), then I did my positive test, let it sit around for about an hour and the CL are a little deflated. When I first got the unit and I did my positive tests I could fill them, have them sit overnight and they would be about the same fullness. So I check all the seals with a little shampoo and H2O, sure enough there is a leak when the solenoid screws into the lid, fair amount of bubbles coming out. I double check to make sure it didn't loosen up, nope. I took it apart clean the O-rings and put it back together. It's better but now there are very small bubbles when I first inflate for the Pos test, after around 10 minutes they stop and the test holds. Has anyone else seen their lids leak like this? Should I send it in? I just bought the unit used from an instructor who just got the lid back from AP for the whole bad diode thing. Any suggestions on how to fix it other than just cleaning the o-rings? Thanks, -Chris
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25th April 2007, 10:22	#2 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 3,115	Re: Leaking at the solenoid o-ring...now what? Quote: (Originally Posted by tekdiver170) Well I've now been diving a rebreather for a whole month, not getting the time I would like to be getting on it but that's another story. Tonight I'm getting ready to do a dive tomorrow, going through all my checks so there are no surprises when I get to the boat in the morning. I do my negative test and it passes both times I try it (I did it twice because I'm anal), then I did my positive test, let it sit around for about an hour and the CL are a little deflated. When I first got the unit and I did my positive tests I could fill them, have them sit overnight and they would be about the same fullness. So I check all the seals with a little shampoo and H2O, sure enough there is a leak when the solenoid screws into the lid, fair amount of bubbles coming out. I double check to make sure it didn't loosen up, nope. I took it apart clean the O-rings and put it back together. It's better but now there are very small bubbles when I first inflate for the Pos test, after around 10 minutes they stop and the test holds. Has anyone else seen their lids leak like this? Should I send it in? I just bought the unit used from an instructor who just got the lid back from AP for the whole bad diode thing. Any suggestions on how to fix it other than just cleaning the o-rings? Thanks, -Chris I have seen this you need to REPLACE the o-rings not just clean and relube.. Its probably a bit too flat right now.. same thing happens with the o-ring that seals the sensor tube to the lid.. __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated. Last edited by jradomski : 25th April 2007 at 11:13.
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25th April 2007, 10:30	#3 (permalink)
tekdiver170 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 88	Re: Leaking at the solenoid o-ring...now what? Yeah I was going to do that instead of just relubing and cleaning, but out of all those damn o-rings included in all the kits I have none of them fit those fittings. Looks like I'm going to have to hit the dive shop before the dive tomorrow morning. Thanks for the help. -Chris
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