How to remove main o-ring from Ikelite Housing

[Skating101]

I purchased a Canon SD980IS and Ikelite housing for the camera. Ive used the camera several times for snorkeling and now the o-ring seems to be quite dry, how do you remove the main o-ring from the housing? The instruction manual mentions using an "o-ring removal tool" however one wasnt included with the housing and the supplier does stock the removal tool. They suggested just pulling it out with fingers? How do you guys remove your o-rings?

 

[knowone]

My glassblower friend fashioned me some toothpicks.

 

[Skating101]

doesnt damage the o-ring?

 

[diversteve]

Corner of a credit card to start with then your fingers.

 

[Skating101]

does it stretch the o-ring? how about putting in the new o-ring?

 

[rcs9250]

If you have a blow nozzle like the one in the link you can direct the air stream at the O ring and it will usually displace the O ring so you can extract it. The blow gun plugs in to your low pressure bcd inflator hose.
Always be carefull with O ring seats especially on plastic. One scratch and it may be finished.
33404 Low Pressure Hose Air Gun

 

[dhaas]

Go to your local music store and get thin guitar picks

Perfect and won't knick the o-rings.

dhaas
David Haas Underwater Photography

 

[muzikbiz22]

Go to your local music store and get thin guitar picks

Perfect and won't knick the o-rings.

dhaas
David Haas Underwater Photography

dhaas is correct, AGAIN !. The absolute best O-Ring removal tool is a good ol' Fender Thin (or Medium if it's a thicker O-Ring) guitar pick, available at any musical instrument retail store. They're cheap, plentiful, and available all over the world for $0.25 cents apiece.

And here I thought I was the only one who knew about this "little know secret"

 

[diver 85]

Corner of a credit card to start with then your fingers.

yep---kinda squeeze the oring up using your thumb & forefinger then put corner of CC under the small air space you created....

 

[highdesert]

does it stretch the o-ring? how about putting in the new o-ring?

Unless the O-ring is so old that it really shouldn't be used anyway, it'll retain its size when you remove/replace it.