Housing on storage, keep the O-ring on or remove it?

[AleG]

I have a WP-DC34 housing for my Canon G11 and I was wondering if in between uses (three or four dive trips a year at most) should I keep it closed with the O-ring in place or should I remove it and keep it in a plastic bag or some other container?

 

[HerraduraDivers]

In a housing with a groove for the o-ring i would:
- take th o-ring out, clean and grease it slightly
- clean the groove
- put the o-ring back in the groove being very careful to use his original orientation
- don't close the housing, put front and back in 2 seperate zip-loc bags with maybe a silicia bag inside.

Why? Storing the o-ring outside of it's groove may provocate small invisible deformations of the "unprotected" o-ring and/or he is loosing his shape, and this may lead to a leak as the o-ring may don't fit well the groove.

Chris

 

[AleG]

Thank you Chris, I opened the case lid and used the strap to keep it from closing when it's inside the box.

 

[HerraduraDivers]

AleG,
take extreme care that the strap don't squeeze the o-ring as the starp between may deform the o-ring and the housing may leak next time you use it. Store front and back separate if not hinged or wide open if they can't be seperated.

Chris

 

[Dan G]

In a housing with a groove for the o-ring i would:
- take th o-ring out, clean and grease it slightly
- clean the groove
- put the o-ring back in the groove being very careful to use his original orientation
- don't close the housing, put front and back in 2 seperate zip-loc bags with maybe a silicia bag inside.

Why? Storing the o-ring outside of it's groove may provocate small invisible deformations of the "unprotected" o-ring and/or he is loosing his shape, and this may lead to a leak as the o-ring may don't fit well the groove.

Chris

Pardon the resurrection of a very old thread. How do you recommend cleaning the o-ring? Do you use a particular product?

 

[Searcaigh]

If I have some grit or sand stuck to the O-ring I simply wash it in fresh water and air dry or use paper kitchen towel before re-greasing it.

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I remove the o-ring and store it in a baggie in the housing. Storing it with the ring in place and closed compresses the o-ring, shortening its life. If there is a little grit someplace it will cause a leak. In all honesty, my eye are not so good and I will never spot a hair or grit on the ring itself. Here is my procedure.

1) After use, I remove the o-ring, check it carefully and sometimes rub a little grease into it. Then place it in a baggie.
2) When I go to use the housing, I wipe down the groove with a lint free cloth in my house with A/C (low humidity environment).
3) Then I take the o-ring and run in through my fingers, which both cleans it and feels for grit & stuff.
4) Then I place it in the groove and close the case.

So far I have never leaked. I still take a lot of lousy photo's, but the housing never leaks.

 

[BoltSnap]

If I have some grit or sand stuck to the O-ring I simply wash it in fresh water and air dry or use paper kitchen towel before re-greasing it.

Is there a specific brand you recommend for paper towels in Dubai that doesn't leave lint on o'rings?

 

[Searcaigh]

Is there a specific brand you recommend for paper towels in Dubai that doesn't leave lint on o'rings?

The stuff my wife buys from Spinneys

Honestly I have been using paper towel since I lived in Jeddah, never found any bits sticking to the O-rings, to me paper towel is paper towel, I never use tissue paper though.

 

[daz88]

I normally take the o-rings out clean them, grease them, then put them in a baggie and put inside the housing until ready to go diving.