Under Water Housing Service

[merxlin]

This is a timely discussion. My SP-030 has serviced me well for almost two years with just normal fresh water soaking and cleaning. I serviced the main o-ring the night before a weekend dive last week, and made it through 3 dives, as deep as 90 ft. On the 4th dive, I noticed the lens fogging (never had a fogging problem, ever), then the housing fogging (one positive point for a clear housing). I'm at about 35-40 ft. I notice a small amount of water in the housing. By tipping the housing up I had enough room to hold what water was getting in without soaking the camera, and it was slow enough that I was able to get back to the boat, make a normal ascent, and do a safety stop without filling the housing. I have a few functions on the camera that are now no longer working, but I was able to save the battery and memory card.

Since it didn't leak for 3 dives, I don't think it was my maintenance from the night before, just a normal occurrence. Once I see if I can find out where the leak occurred, I'll post that here.

 

[Wiggsy]

I have food grade silicone grease, but where does one get the liquid? The grease is impossible to get onto the tiny shafts!

 

[Wiggsy]

BTW - just a thought. I have found it very useful to have on the bottom of the housing a little strip of self-adhesive.....(this is delicate)....women's panty liner....stuck in the bottom of the housing. This will cheerfully absorb and capture any of those minute droplets that can form/leak into your housing. ANd what's more you can go horse riding; sailing and bike-riding with 'total freshness'.

 

[Dee]

ANd what's more you can go horse riding; sailing and bike-riding with 'total freshness'.

Yeah, but do you by them yourself?

I've been using these strips for quite a while, too. Just a small 1"x2" strip slipped into a couple of spots can indeed save your camera. It also helps with condensation if your packet is spent or you forgot to change it. The only thing I don't like about using the strips is you have to be very careful of the 'fluff' from the edges, but it's worth the extra care.

 

[ManTeeRay]

I have food grade silicone grease, but where does one get the liquid? The grease is impossible to get onto the tiny shafts!

Hey Wiggsy,

LeisurePro has liquid food grade silicone in a pump spray bottle called "Aqua Silicone Pump Conditioner 8 FL oz.". I'm sure other stores would have a similar product. It is actually quite handy and works well for a number of diving equipment uses. Just beware that it can make some rubber parts a bit slippery for a while.

I still need to find a fairly sharp nosed dropper to get it into the o-rings/seals now that my housing just came back from Olympus and is all "tuned" up.

I guess I also need to find someone to buy me some panty liners?

By the way, Hi Dee. I still have 2 of your Dee rags. I probably ought to get a couple more in the near future (mine are getting a little rough) they're great. Also, I assume you would be interested in letting us sell some in our dive shop? If so, I can talk to the manager about putting some in.

Cheers

 

[gary-ramey]

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.

Its a surprise to me that Olympus even offers a housing service. I tried to get a new port for my old housing and was told they don't have the part. After two calls to Olympus over the issue, no one even suggested I could send it in for a service. I'd like to get ahold of the number to the place that actually makes those housings though. Its kind of ridiculous that some basic parts aren't offered.

 

[MauiScubaSteve]

I believe Oly does not sell parts for the housings, but they do repair them. I have two PT-015's with the front threads worn out to the point they won't hold WAL's. I can spin the front ring off by hand and could easily replace it if I could get the part. I was told I could send it in for repair but they would not sell the part. I rigged a McGiver WAL attachment.

I have 2 Oly housings with thousands of dives. I have replaced the button o-rings on the oldest, which showed slime on the most used ones. They have never been in for factory service and the only time I have ever seen leaks in any housing I have ever been in the water with (including my S-70 and numerous guests housings) has been due operator error with the door seal.

I'm with Alcina on this one.

 

[ManTeeRay]

You know it is interesting that I lost the little white plastic diffuser that slides into the housing in front of the built-in flash and it was impossible to get a new one from Olympus. I tried a number of times and got treated like I was either nuts or informed that, whatever it was, I could try some other retailers as I couldn't get it from Olympus. I ended up making my own, that actually fit better (much less likely to slide out) which I inadvertently left on the housing when I sent it in. Low and behold, when it came back from Olympus mine was gone and there was a new factory one in its place. Amazing they couldn't just send me one a year and a half ago. I'm actually a little pissed that they kept the one I made as it was a better fit than theirs.

Cheers again

 

[Dee]

Hey Wiggsy,

LeisurePro has liquid food grade silicone in a pump spray bottle called "Aqua Silicone Pump Conditioner 8 FL oz.". I'm sure other stores would have a similar product. It is actually quite handy and works well for a number of diving equipment uses. Just beware that it can make some rubber parts a bit slippery for a while.

I still need to find a fairly sharp nosed dropper to get it into the o-rings/seals now that my housing just came back from Olympus and is all "tuned" up.

I guess I also need to find someone to buy me some panty liners?

By the way, Hi Dee. I still have 2 of your Dee rags. I probably ought to get a couple more in the near future (mine are getting a little rough) they're great. Also, I assume you would be interested in letting us sell some in our dive shop? If so, I can talk to the manager about putting some in.

Cheers

If you'll go to a craft shop, ala Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc., You can get a glue syringe that has a very sharp needle nose-type point on it. That's what I use on my Oly housings. I use the McNett Aquaseal Silicone Pump brand of silicone on mine.

FWIW....I think if you clean your housing inside and out, lube the o-rings, make sure all the screws are tight where they're supposed to be, etc. you can service your housing yourself and do just as good a job. Unless you've got a scratched port glass, cracked latches, etc. you can do it.

Great...glad to hear your Dee Rags are still doing their job! I'm leaving Sat. for 2 weeks in Roatan but when I get back I'll be glad to make you some new ones. We'll talk about selling them in your shop.

Oh...do I need to send you a few pads?

 

[ManTeeRay]

Great...glad to hear your Dee Rags are still doing their job! I'm leaving Sat. for 2 weeks in Roatan but when I get back I'll be glad to make you some new ones. We'll talk about selling them in your shop.

Oh...do I need to send you a few pads?

Have a great trip in Roatan. I'll wave at you from Belize. We'll be there Wednesday (American Airlines willing).

and....

Make sure you send those pads in a plain brown wrapper labeled books or food items or something!

Later