O Ring Lubrication

Grahjam · 13th December 2006, 14:06

Hi all

Another newbie question,

I 've had a look around the forrum and in my APD maunal regarding how often (generally) you should be lubricating o-rings etc, did n't really find an answer so thought I would pick the brains of the you guys.

So how often do you lubircate yours? In particular I'm thinking of the scrubber o-ring, scrubber head o-ring and the bore of the scrubber canister itself? When I asked my instructor he suggested every 6 months or so which I thought was a bit long

BR & safe divin

GMC

***Decodiver*** · 13th December 2006, 14:12

Every time you repack it for the o-ring under the spacer, same for the o-ring on the head.

Lightly with O2 grease that you remove and replace at each re-pack.

As for all the other o-rings on the loop just use saliva.

That is how I do it.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Skeletor · 13th December 2006, 14:51

Is it just me, or is does the o ring in the vision cause the srubber to lock against the sides of the case more easily than the classic did if not lubricated every time ?

Grahjam · 13th December 2006, 17:34

Cheers Dave,

when you refer to removing the old grease and replacing with new, what are you removing the old grease with, anything in particular or just your fingers? Have you been lubrication the inside of the scrubber canister. When mine was delivered it was very lightly greased, which has now been removed following cleaning

***Decodiver*** · 13th December 2006, 19:42

Quote: (Originally Posted by Grahjam)

Cheers Dave,

when you refer to removing the old grease and replacing with new, what are you removing the old grease with, anything in particular or just your fingers? Have you been lubrication the inside of the scrubber canister. When mine was delivered it was very lightly greased, which has now been removed following cleaning

I have never lubed the inside of the cannister but see no problems with doing so.

I remove the O2 grease by running the o-ring through my mouth then dry it with a lint-free cloth.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

divetheworld · 13th December 2006, 20:13

I remove the lube from the scrubber and 'o' rings and re-lube it every time I pack the scrubber.
This is for a number of reasons but the main ones are;
Gets rid of any contaminants such as dirt etc.
Makes sure the 'suicide' ' o'oring moves when its supposed to do.

BTW, I dont use oxy compatable grease for the suicide 'o'ring. Silicone or loctite superlube works best for me. It lasts longer and slides more consistently.
I only use fomblin18 on high pressure O2 parts.

01RMB · 14th December 2006, 01:38

I lube the o ring under the spacer and the one on the head everytime I prepare the unit for a dive trip. I clean the o rings between my fingers to wipe off any buildup and contaminents. I use silicon grease since I find that it lasts longer and slides better than O2 grease. I am paranoid about the spacer o ring sliding smoothly and have found that O2 grease did not slide as well. I do use O2 grease on all the high pressure parts and regs though.

I will also remove, clean and lube the o rings in the hoses probably every 1-2 months. Mental note to self - must lube the mouthpiece o rings shortly.

I am careful about using too much lube and wouldn't use it on the scrubber body since I have a black labrador who sheds fine black hairs that stick very easily to anything with lube on it. Contaminents on most o rings can be picked up during the pressure tests but something across the spacer o ring is a very bad thing and is not readily picked up.

CharlieT · 14th December 2006, 11:38

And I thought we could rely on Mr Cooper!!!

I was going to attach a somewhat rude alternative description to your licking your O ring but I'll leave that to someone braver or more foolish than I

Sounds a disgusting habit though.

I am sure I could learn all sorts of "interesting" practices on a course with Mr C, not sure how many of them would be relevant

Only kidding, as you know.

Anyway, I digress.

The 1st time I tried to prise open my Vision lid, post Mod 1, it was a huge effort. I was cursing having bought a rebreather, it all seemed such hard work!

I subsequently lubed the lid O ring with silicone grease (O2 grease didn't work as well) and voila problem over but only very lightly lube this and the other scrubber O ring.

I over lubed the lid O ring and my Vision wouldn't hold a negative test. Very helpful that was on the 1st day of my IANTD Mod 3 course with Martin Robson of Eau Zone!

Made a great impression on a new instructor.

Luckily, like Dave (Cooper), Martin is a very capable instructor and sussed out I might have been a little over zealous with the silicone grease.

I am a little more generous with the silicone grease around the O2 and Dil O rings as I found that otherwise the little sods jumped out and ran off.

Good to have a spare set of lid, canister and O2/diluent button O rings.

Charlie

Sorry, I think I'm diving tomorrow so I'm feeling a little silly!

Grahjam · 15th December 2006, 13:03

Cheers for the input guys - so going off on the natural tangent this thread has - I spoke to AP to see if they had a recommended mainteance schedule / regeime.

Not got a defiinative answer yet, so I would be grateful to see what maintenance people generally tend do on a "Every time" and "Periodic" basis.

Seems a bit odd to me that there is nothing in the AP manual - all cars have this sort of detai

BR & safe divin

its that Friday feeling

Skeletor · 15th December 2006, 14:03

Quote:

Seems a bit odd to me that there is nothing in the AP manual - all cars have this sort of detai

Section 13 of the manual does make reference to lubricating this particular o-ring at every scrubber change.
I agree that there is no general maintenance schedule, but for an Rebreather, I am not sure what they could practically do other than saying 'change cells every 12 - 18 months, service once / year, disinfect after use, and in between make sure all o-rings are lubricated.'

13th December 2006, 14:06	#1 (permalink)
Grahjam New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Warrington (a delightful Cheshire Hamlet) - UK Posts: 31	O Ring Lubrication Hi all Another newbie question, I 've had a look around the forrum and in my APD maunal regarding how often (generally) you should be lubricating o-rings etc, did n't really find an answer so thought I would pick the brains of the you guys. So how often do you lubircate yours? In particular I'm thinking of the scrubber o-ring, scrubber head o-ring and the bore of the scrubber canister itself? When I asked my instructor he suggested every 6 months or so which I thought was a bit long BR & safe divin GMC
(Offline)

13th December 2006, 14:12	#2 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,190	Re: O Ring Lubrication Every time you repack it for the o-ring under the spacer, same for the o-ring on the head. Lightly with O2 grease that you remove and replace at each re-pack. As for all the other o-rings on the loop just use saliva. That is how I do it. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
(Offline)

13th December 2006, 14:51	#3 (permalink)
Skeletor The 4th King Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Purgatory Posts: 47	Re: O Ring Lubrication Is it just me, or is does the o ring in the vision cause the srubber to lock against the sides of the case more easily than the classic did if not lubricated every time ? __________________ Un-shallow Seating Receptacle
(Offline)

13th December 2006, 17:34	#4 (permalink)
Grahjam New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Warrington (a delightful Cheshire Hamlet) - UK Posts: 31	Re: O Ring Lubrication Cheers Dave, when you refer to removing the old grease and replacing with new, what are you removing the old grease with, anything in particular or just your fingers? Have you been lubrication the inside of the scrubber canister. When mine was delivered it was very lightly greased, which has now been removed following cleaning
(Offline)

13th December 2006, 19:42	#5 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,190	Re: O Ring Lubrication Quote: (Originally Posted by Grahjam) Cheers Dave, when you refer to removing the old grease and replacing with new, what are you removing the old grease with, anything in particular or just your fingers? Have you been lubrication the inside of the scrubber canister. When mine was delivered it was very lightly greased, which has now been removed following cleaning I have never lubed the inside of the cannister but see no problems with doing so. I remove the O2 grease by running the o-ring through my mouth then dry it with a lint-free cloth. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
(Offline)

13th December 2006, 20:13	#6 (permalink)
divetheworld Dive porn pimp Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Classic Kiss Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 1,630	Re: O Ring Lubrication I remove the lube from the scrubber and 'o' rings and re-lube it every time I pack the scrubber. This is for a number of reasons but the main ones are; Gets rid of any contaminants such as dirt etc. Makes sure the 'suicide' ' o'oring moves when its supposed to do. BTW, I dont use oxy compatable grease for the suicide 'o'ring. Silicone or loctite superlube works best for me. It lasts longer and slides more consistently. I only use fomblin18 on high pressure O2 parts. __________________ Attitude and self praise is no reccomendation. Dont try to be a great man, just be a man and let history be the judge of you. *WWW.NARKEDAT90.CO.UK* *http://www.grpservices.com/pursuit/* Supporting Shearwater Research Products in Europe
(Offline)

14th December 2006, 01:38	#7 (permalink)
01RMB Evolving Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 193	Re: O Ring Lubrication I lube the o ring under the spacer and the one on the head everytime I prepare the unit for a dive trip. I clean the o rings between my fingers to wipe off any buildup and contaminents. I use silicon grease since I find that it lasts longer and slides better than O2 grease. I am paranoid about the spacer o ring sliding smoothly and have found that O2 grease did not slide as well. I do use O2 grease on all the high pressure parts and regs though. I will also remove, clean and lube the o rings in the hoses probably every 1-2 months. Mental note to self - must lube the mouthpiece o rings shortly. I am careful about using too much lube and wouldn't use it on the scrubber body since I have a black labrador who sheds fine black hairs that stick very easily to anything with lube on it. Contaminents on most o rings can be picked up during the pressure tests but something across the spacer o ring is a very bad thing and is not readily picked up. __________________ Cheers Rod
(Offline)

14th December 2006, 11:38	#8 (permalink)
CharlieT Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London Posts: 449	Re: O Ring Lubrication And I thought we could rely on Mr Cooper!!! I was going to attach a somewhat rude alternative description to your licking your O ring but I'll leave that to someone braver or more foolish than I Sounds a disgusting habit though. I am sure I could learn all sorts of "interesting" practices on a course with Mr C, not sure how many of them would be relevant Only kidding, as you know. Anyway, I digress. The 1st time I tried to prise open my Vision lid, post Mod 1, it was a huge effort. I was cursing having bought a rebreather, it all seemed such hard work! I subsequently lubed the lid O ring with silicone grease (O2 grease didn't work as well) and voila problem over but only very lightly lube this and the other scrubber O ring. I over lubed the lid O ring and my Vision wouldn't hold a negative test. Very helpful that was on the 1st day of my IANTD Mod 3 course with Martin Robson of Eau Zone! Made a great impression on a new instructor. Luckily, like Dave (Cooper), Martin is a very capable instructor and sussed out I might have been a little over zealous with the silicone grease. I am a little more generous with the silicone grease around the O2 and Dil O rings as I found that otherwise the little sods jumped out and ran off. Good to have a spare set of lid, canister and O2/diluent button O rings. Charlie Sorry, I think I'm diving tomorrow so I'm feeling a little silly!
(Offline)

15th December 2006, 13:03	#9 (permalink)
Grahjam New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Warrington (a delightful Cheshire Hamlet) - UK Posts: 31	Re: O Ring Lubrication Cheers for the input guys - so going off on the natural tangent this thread has - I spoke to AP to see if they had a recommended mainteance schedule / regeime. Not got a defiinative answer yet, so I would be grateful to see what maintenance people generally tend do on a "Every time" and "Periodic" basis. Seems a bit odd to me that there is nothing in the AP manual - all cars have this sort of detai BR & safe divin its that Friday feeling
(Offline)

15th December 2006, 14:03	#10 (permalink)
Skeletor The 4th King Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Purgatory Posts: 47	Re: O Ring Lubrication Quote: Seems a bit odd to me that there is nothing in the AP manual - all cars have this sort of detai Section 13 of the manual does make reference to lubricating this particular o-ring at every scrubber change. I agree that there is no general maintenance schedule, but for an Rebreather, I am not sure what they could practically do other than saying 'change cells every 12 - 18 months, service once / year, disinfect after use, and in between make sure all o-rings are lubricated.' __________________ Un-shallow Seating Receptacle
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode