Getting O-rings off hoses

[simbrooks]

I purchased some long hoses (one for both myself and my GF) the other week. I looked at the O-rings on the hose and saw they were black (most likely silicone, not vitron) and as i plan to use the regs for nitrox i thought it best to change them out. I could get to the O-ring at the 1st stage end - that was easy enough, however i couldnt even begin to get at the one at the 2nd stage end. It looks like it is in a groove on the long metal pipe that is inside the threaded area - ie it seals as you screw the 2nd stage onto it. I tried to fish it out with a few different implements, but nothing made it budge, its tough to cut as i dont have many knives that are that small to fit in there (of course getting a new o-ring in there would be easy too, if only i could get the old one out).

So how do you get that o-ring out to be able to change it? At the moment i am just diving O2 compatible air, holding off on nitrox until i get these o-rings sorted out. Or should i just take the hoses into my LDS and ask them to do it? I bought these hoses off ebay, not through them.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Get an o-ring tool. http://www.scubatools.com

James

 

[simbrooks]

Thanks James,

ok, i see a few options, o-ring picks (double, 3/16, 1/8, straight sharp or the set) would it be wise to get them all just in case? Do you think that the book they have is any good?

Now that i look Reef Scuba also has an all in one type tool with wrenchs, hex keys etc - would the pick on that be suitable to reach hard to get to places? http://www.reefscuba.com/add2.htm

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Just because an oring is black doesnt mean that its silicone. In fact, its most likely a buna or nitrile oring. Viton (and other orings like buna and epdm) can come in all different colors, including black, blue, gray, etc.

 

[HammerNoMore]

Thanks James,

ok, i see a few options, o-ring picks (double, 3/16, 1/8, straight sharp or the set) would it be wise to get them all just in case? Do you think that the book they have is any good?

Now that i look Reef Scuba also has an all in one type tool with wrenchs, hex keys etc - would the pick on that be suitable to reach hard to get to places? http://www.reefscuba.com/add2.htm

I just have the small hook and it seems to have worked wherever I've needed it. However if you plan to do a lot of maintainance 6.00 for the set seems quite reasonable. I've not had the opportunity to read Regulator Savvy, if that's the book you are refering to. Perhaps someone else will know. I do have the airspeed press book (http://www.airspeedpress.com/newregbook.html) which is good, but I can't compare them.

I can't really tell much from the picture of the scuba tool.

James

 

[Scottri]

I use a set of old dental picks. Works great.

 

[captain]

You can get a set of dental picks from Harbor Freight for about 7 bucks.

Captain

 

[diver_paula]

I've gotten several dental picks from my dentist. They replace them fairly often and save them for me. I then set them out for my club members.

Paula

 

[Delta_P]

ok, i see a few options, o-ring picks (double, 3/16, 1/8, straight sharp or the set) would it be wise to get them all just in case?

You should be able to snake any of the hooks in to get that o-ring. I've found the smallest hook or the the double hook work best for my regs. For the price, get the set, then you're ready for anything.

This particular o-ring can be tedious to get out even with the right tool, so it's not surprising that it gets "overlooked" sometimes during annual maintenance.

Be warned that these picks are steel, and therefore MIGHT scratch the metal you're working on if you're not careful. Slide the tip down against and underneath the rubber, then lift carefully and work it off. Avoid digging or applying pressure in such a way that the tool might slip.

Having said Do you think that the book they have is any good?

If it's anything like the written material Peter Built sends with some of their instruments, it's excellent. They used to have a sample chapter available somewhere on their site.

I would second the recommendation for Vance Packard's book. An enjoyable read, for a technical manual. Even better though, for your problem, would be a copy of Vance's "Oxygen Hacker's Companion":http://www.airspeedpress.com/newoxyhacker.html wherein you might just find out that you don't need to be futzing with this particular o-ring in the first place.

Now that i look Reef Scuba also has an all in one type tool with wrenchs, hex keys etc - would the pick on that be suitable to reach hard to get to places? http://www.reefscuba.com/add2.htm

Junk. Although, to be fair, maybe this is THE ONE TRUE TOOL, and I've just had the misfortune to only be exposed to the imitators.The picks on these tools tend to be crude and barely useable for spearing the large fat valve o-rings used in old USD valves, never mind the modern skinny ones or anything not sitting right out in the open. The wrenches are sloppy and tend to slip, and pieces break off the screwdriver blades. Save your hard earned cash for real tools.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I bought Regulator Savvy right after it was released and it is excellent.

THe stanard steel o-ring picks work fine and at $6.00 per set are one of the cheaper tools you will buy, You can also buy a set of brass o-ring picks and these can be a good idea in some sensitive applications where a scratch may otherwise ruin a part.