O-rings, O-rings

[jamiei]

Anyone have any valuable information on O-rings? Can you use "generic", where to get them, whats the durometer, material variations? I'm surprised their isn't more discussion about them... or does everyone else just know it all? I have scubapro and us divers regs if anyone has any feedback on them.
Anyone involved in the scuba equipment service industry will swear that the scubapro o-rings are completely different than the identical looking generic o-ring. If anybody actually knows for certain, please clear this up. I'd be willing to bet that even most service techs have been brainwashed by the manufacturers. Most of us have access to service kits/parts, but the markup is really rediculous. $20 for a service kit for an MK20 is crazy. The dealer price is only $10 (which is still rediculous based on what you get). Most quality, generic o-rings are $0.35, not $2.00 or more. There is too many middle men in this game. This is worse, well not quite as bad, as prohibition.

 

[MechDiver]

If you get this worked up over a stupid o-ring, I'd hate to see you if your car had a flat tire.

Get a grip.

 

[jamiei]

ouch, just trying to get a little feedback and info... I really don't mind paying $20 or $30 for a kit but the hassle involved in getting them is really the biggest problem.

If my car has a flat, I just change it... If I had to buy a $400 Mitsubishi tire because its the only one that will correctly fit my 15" wheel and it has to be installed only by Mitsubishi trained techs for another $300, then I'd have a problem.

 

[canuckdiver]

http://www.mcmaster.com/

mcmaster-carr has some pages describing the differences between materials, and the various durometers, etc.

just remember, an iquisitive mind is a sign of intelligence

 

[O-ring]

What do you want? Oh, nevermind..

 

[joens]

if you choose to use standard o-rings in equipment .many different kinds are available from McMaster-Carr www.mcmaster.com they even have metric o-rings and indicate the hardness [durometer] of the o-rings . Also quite a few different o-rings are available from John at northeast scuba supply
www.northeastscubasupply.com/tools/o_rings.html
joens

 

[Mo2vation]

http://www.reefscuba.com/o_rings.htm

Every time I don't dive my rig (when I go on a boat that supplies the tanks, etc.) I always pull and inspect the O-ring. 9 of 10 times so far, the loaner has a jagged shred that ws once an O-ring.

On my 3-dy in September, my own Virto O-ring got lost...I mean, it just fell off my DIN reg. I had to bum a ring of someone to save the trip. On the same trip, someone else had a hose O-ring break. Nobody had one - they we're totally screwed and had t borrow a reg for the rest of the trip.

After that trip, I got the kit. I never take the chance. To me, the peace of mind was worth the $24.95.

K

 

[Genesis]

if you have the appropriate equipment.

Perhaps you might want to take a new (unused) kit to someone who has said equipment and get the answers, then post 'em!

Now THAT would be wonderful. With that you could EASILY get whatever you needed from generic sources.... no more games!

You wanna talk about being POd? Oh man, a cross-reference like for brake pads.... THAT would be cool!

 

[MechDiver]

jamiei once bubbled...
ouch, just trying to get a little feedback and info... I really don't mind paying $20 or $30 for a kit but the hassle involved in getting them is really the biggest problem.

Sorry. Part of my job is to be politically correct while people rant at me about things I neither have control of, nor really care about. You appeared to be going ballistic over a few bucks for o-rings that are made to work with your regulator vs something from Joe's Hooch Garden and O-ring Emporium.

I still think it was a rant though

MD

 

[JeffAustin]

I'm sure that you could find a source for them in bulk. There is a specialty o-ring distributor in most metro areas, mine is 20 minutes away. Look in the yellow pages. O-rings are o-rings. Not to say that a cheap rubber ring is the same as a Viton O ring, which you need for 02 service, but if the specs. are correct: diameter, durometer, thickness, and composition, why wouldn't you use it? I bet alot of SCUBA repair facilities order in bulk from distributors, as opposed to getting them thru Scubapro.