WD-4 causing port O'ring issues?

[MagnaBoxer]

Having issues with the port o'ring on my Ikelite G10 housing and wondering if anyone is having same. When preparing for a trip earlier this year I noted that the port o'ring in the housing was pooching out on one side more than the other. Looked to me as if the o'ring was not seated in the groove. Sent it in mid May for service. When I got my housing back (minus the neoprene port cover that I sent it in with) the o'ring was seated and even all the way around the port.

Went to Bonaire for 2 weeks and a couple days into my trip I noted that the o'ring was pooching again on one side more than the other. To the point that I think I could get a fingernail under it if I really tried (which I didn't). I am using one of the WD-4 dome wide angle lenses from Ikelite (sometimes) and note that it is extremely difficult to install / remove on the housing port.

Even when using lubricant I sometimes feel as if I am going to pull the port off the housing I have to pull so hard. There are no burrs or foreign materials on the port or the inside of the dome lense so nothing should be causing friction other than the o'ring that is in the WA lens that is designed to secure the lens to the housing port. I have since removed all but about a 2 inch long piece of that o'ring so that now there is just enough to hold the lens on.

My question is, with the dome lense being so difficult to remove could it have caused enough suction (on the port o'ring) while pulling it off to have caused the o'ring in the housing port to pooch out?

 

[BrettF]

MagnaBoxer,

Make sure the o-ring on the WD-4 lens stays lightly lubricated, which it sounds like you are doing. This should allow the WD-4 to slip on and off easier. An option would be to send the WD-4 to Ikelite so we could machine the o-ring groove deeper or try a slightly smaller diameter, softer durometer o-ring which should help with installation/removal.

Regarding the housing top port o-ring, it is doubtful the suction from the WD-4 is pulling it out. More likely, there is a tolerance issue where the top port o-ring is seated. The top o-ring doesn't act as a seal. When water pressure hits the port glass and compresses the bottom o-ring, this allows the top o-ring to expand slightly and "pooch out". Another possible explanation is that the top o-ring is also out of tolerance (slightly smaller in diameter than what is called for).

If you could send us the housing we can check tolerance parameters and attempt to duplicate the problem.

Regards,

 

[MagnaBoxer]

Thanks for your reply Brett. Will box both the WD-4 and the housing to ship out early next week and PM you the tracking no's. For both of these items I was on the pre-order list and am sure they were among the first of their kind to be released (Jean actually sent me a prototype WD-4 to use while waiting on the first batch of WD-4's to ship). Possibly there is a tolerance issue on one or both of the items. Either way, I am not comfortable diving the housing as it is now. Thanks again for your support.