Under Water Housing Service

[ManTeeRay]

I am wondering when and if I should have my Olympus under water housing (PT-027) fully serviced? I have replaced and taken good care of the housing o-rings but am wondering how often I should send the housing into Olympus to have it fully serviced to maintain the seals on all the knobs and etc.

My manual doesn't say anything about it and when I called Olympus, the service tech said "Ohh you should do that every year". It certainly seems like they are trying to milk some extra money out of me (and others). This service is pretty expensive ($104.00) and if it was necessary every year you would think the manual would tell you that (like it does the o-ring replacement which I also know is over kill if you take good care of your o-rings). On the other hand I don't want to flood my camera. The housing has had moderate use for about 2 1/2 years now without any service (beside housing o-rings).

Any input or options would be truly appreciated. I read somewhere in my internet search that it isn't that difficult to do yourself if you can get the correct o-rings and seals?

Anyone..... Anyone.....

Thanx

 

[fppf]

Ikelite recommends having there housings redone every 18 months or so.

It all depends on what type of diving you do and how you take care of it. Saltwater is the worset followed closely by pool water. Fresh water will put the least wear as long as you stay out of the silt.

Do you soak your housing for an hour after each dive and the push all the buttons a few times to flush them?

 

[alcina]

I've never had a housing serviced. I do good maintenance and call it close enough.

Your mileage may vary...

 

[Reefwalker]

I have been maintaining all manner of housings for many years simply by lubricating each control button and dial shaft with one drop of Food Grade Silicon (available from your dive store or visit McNett their brand name is Silicon Pump) every 10 dives or when storing without use for longer than a month.
This will keep the ‘O’ rings on the control buttons/shafts lubricated and stop them from becoming tight to operate. DO NOT get any of this silicon lube onto the front lens port or inside the housing. Wipe off any excess drips from the housing and operate the buttons and control dials a few times after lubricating.
Using an eye-dropper for applying each drop of silicon to the controls makes this job easier.

 

[fppf]

No matter what you do someday there will be a small little piece of dirt or sand that gets inside the control. Then everytime you use that control it will nick away at the oring. You won't be able to see it happen or even know its there.

Then after you spent large amounts of money to go to Little Cayman, half way through your trip, you will notice a drop of water enter the housing everytime you use that control. If your smart you don't push your luck and stop diving the housing, if your rich or brave, keep diving it with the possible flood in the future.

When you just can't bring your self to risk your investment and half to put up with the insurance claim you stop diving the housing. Then on the rest of your dives you get some of the best photo chances so far in your life. As the words %$## %$#% ^ &^#& &^%$*&^ *&$^ come out through your bubbles.

So, it is a relitivly cheap service you don't need to do often.

 

[ManTeeRay]

fppf, How do you know my vocabulary so well? I do throw in an occasional %%@ but we speak the same language.

Reefwalker/Jeff, I do have some food grade silicone I guess I should have been using on them. Good idea. I have taken the housing on approximately 50 salt water dives and have always cleaned it well with fresh water. Seems to be working well apart from the normal minor stickage after it hasn't been used for a while. I guess if I haven't been using the silicone yet I ought to send it in and then start with the drop of silicone after every 10 dives for maintenance? Good idea? I do always take it down without the camera to about 60 ft prior to photo dives.

 

[AndyT]

I have two PT-027 housings - one with the standard port, the other with an Athena dome. Both have been used roughly the same amount of time over two years (I dive every weekend). I have never replaced the button o-rings but use the food grade silicone as suggested above about once a month. And now I hope I haven't gone and jinxed myself .............

 

[ManTeeRay]

And now I hope I haven't gone and jinxed myself .............

I certainly hope not. Now I need to decide if its worth the risk to just lube the button o-rings and go or send it in. I would feel OK not sending it in if I had been using the silicone all along.

 

[Reefwalker]

I certainly hope not. Now I need to decide if its worth the risk to just lube the button o-rings and go or send it in. I would feel OK not sending it in if I had been using the silicone all along.

If it were my housing - I would be having a close look at the push buttons with a magnifying glass. Check out the area where the shaft enters the O ring from the outside of the housing. See if there are any sand grains or white calcium type build-up on the shaft.
-If there is sand or any build-up of calcium, then send it in for servicing.
-If the shaft and O ring joins are all clean and when the housing is in water (ie. the push buttons are wet) the buttons are not stiff to operate, then I would be just using the silicon lube I suggested above.
I hope this helps?

 

[ManTeeRay]

Thanks Jeff, As you know it's kind of tough to see in there very well but, I will take some time and check it out with a magnifying glass and eye piece I have. Once I push (cycle) the buttons they seem to be working pretty smoothly. I think they are all functioning and sealing pretty well. I am just a little nervous that I haven't done anything (i.e. silicone drops), except rinse it well, until now. Hopefully I can see if there is any drying or cracking on th button seals. Like I said they all seem to work fairly smoothly.

Thanks again