Valve and Manifold Lubrication......

[Big O]

Hi everyone.

Last night I took apart a manifold I had purchased on ebay to 02 clean it and reassemble it. After I took it apart, I removed all the old O-rings and started to wipe off all the old grease I could with paper towels before I actually started to clean it.

It took me SIX paper towels to remove all the grease I could by hand before I actually used started to clean the nooks and crannies with a toothbrush and pipe cleaners.

I couldn't believe the ammount of grease that was used before, and the ammount of sand which it had collected.

My question is this... Anytime Iv'e ever re-built, or re-cleaned a valve, all I do is put a small ammount of 02 lube on the sides of the threaded seat of the valve, and a light coating on all the viton o-rings upon assembly.

Is that adequate or do I need to start buying o2 lube in a grease gun cartridge like the last guy?

Ive never had any trouble this way before.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[O-ring]

Some on the threads of the valve and a very light coat on the o-rings...maybe someone will either confirm we are doing it right or tell us to get out the grease gun.

 

[wb416]

Save the grease gun for the joints on your car!

hth, wb

 

[rmediver2002]

I have seen some heavy coating as well, another problem is the lubricant heating up (melting) when the tank is in the sun and running down inside the tank.

As far as the lube acting as a magnet for sand, dust, and particulate. Some manufacturers are now recommending not using any lubricant at all for some annual replacment parts (exhaust valves for example) as the particulate retention can affect the ability to seal...)

You know you have been doing the right thing all along anyway...

Jeff

 

[pescador775]

Sounds like your approach to greasing the valve is the right one. I always put some krytox or similar on the moving parts including O rings and packing nuts. Heavy lube is not necessary. I don't see how you can clean off the old lube with soap and water and toothbrush. Just doesn't sound possible. I have a hard enough time just washing silicone from my hands. I use Ensolv to clean manifolds which is the ozone friendly replacement for trichlorethane. There is no labor involved but the stuff is expensive. Soak the manifold parts in solvent for 15 minutes and drain dry. Air drying not necessary but is helpful to clear tiny passages. I think some people use ultra sonic cleaning to prepare metal parts for O2. Also, there are home brews like vinegar/water or off the shelf cleaners for verdigris and salt.

 

[Big O]

pescador775 once bubbled...
Sounds like your approach to greasing the valve is the right one. I always put some krytox or similar on the moving parts including O rings and packing nuts. Heavy lube is not necessary. I don't see how you can clean off the old lube with soap and water and toothbrush. Just doesn't sound possible. I have a hard enough time just washing silicone from my hands. I use Ensolv to clean manifolds which is the ozone friendly replacement for trichlorethane. There is no labor involved but the stuff is expensive. Soak the manifold parts in solvent for 15 minutes and drain dry. Air drying not necessary but is helpful to clear tiny passages. I think some people use ultra sonic cleaning to prepare metal parts for O2. Also, there are home brews like vinegar/water or off the shelf cleaners for verdigris and salt.

I will try the stuff you mention above the next time. I remove the lube scrubbing about 3 times with simple green not soap and water. I then rinse it all well with soap and water.

Your right, soap and water wouldn't cut the grease at all.

Dave

 

[The Chairman]

less is always best! I never lube a static o-ring. I lighty lube dynamic o-rings. The #10 o-ring for the valve stem gets the most lube. It gets absolutely squashed under pressure, and I have pulled out quite a few that were only dust when dissassembled. I have always felt this was an issue of under lubrication but am always open to other views. That being said, I use less in that area than most people seem to use on the barrel o-rings in a manifold... which are essentially static in my estimation.

 

[pescador775]

Big O, I include Simple Green in the soap category. This is what frustrates me. People are evidently doing stuff with greenie that I find impossible. Cutting silicone is out of the question. I have a gallon of the stuff, originally bought for cleaning; now, my primary use for it is to attract mosquitoes. I dissolve a bit in a pail and leave it in my dive locker/ shop. Seems to improve the fragrance and it does collect bugs. Keeps me from getting bit during the summer. I have yet to find that it has any cleaning power beyond ordinary detergent, if that. I would not even think of using it for O2 cleaning. To clean a tank with Ensolv or trichlor all that's needed is to slosh a quart in the tank and drain. With greenie, you tumble a load of marbles and soap, rinse and blow dry. That's a lot of work unless you have a tumbler and media plus a rack and dryer. Then, you have to do the threads. Get out the old toothbrush.

 

[Rec2Tek]

Hot water and Dawn dishwashing liquid(preferably the clear stuff).Let us know how it works The less lube the better. Orings should be lightly lubed ...enough to make them look wet Safe diving

 

[Big O]

pescador775 once bubbled...
People are evidently doing stuff with greenie that I find impossible.

You may very well be correct that it isn't cleaning it properly. But a person sure reads alot about it being used to o2 clean tanks and valves.

With Ensolv or trichlor all that's needed is to slosh a quart in the tank and drain.

Back in the day I remember using trichlor in the Marines, that stuff sure was nasty!

A few questions about Ensolv....

1) Does it leave a odor? I take it you don't rinse it out with hot water afterward?

2) How many tanks do you or will you clean with the 1 quart of Ensolv.

3) How do you properly dispose of it?

Thanks for the good discussion!

Dave