Wing inflator button sticking

[tbone1004]

Inflator Instruction Video

watch video, rebuild inflator. enjoy smooth operating inflator

 

[KeithG]

So my HOG wing uses a one of the standard inflator/deflator units
.View attachment 378952

The inflator button has become a bit sticky. Its not terribly hard to R&R (soaking the pieces of course), but is there a more durable fix? Is there anything wrong with applying a little silicone lube?

If it is sticky that means you have some gunk in there. Simply applying lube will make it slimey gunk. Break it down, clean it out and then apply the proper lube. Be careful about the lube you choose. Lube made FROM silicone is very different from lube FOR silicone orings.

The "most" durable fix would be prevention. How old is the wing?

 

[KeithG]

P.S. Soak it more after each dive / dive trip. My first BCD went over 700 salt water dives with no issues.

 

[fmerkel]

I'd rather spend 15" once a year overhauling it than hours soaking and rinsing. Mine gets a solid dunk and flush - hang and done. Not much to go wrong there.

Camera, regs, and lights get attention.

 

[KeithG]

I'd rather spend 15" once a year overhauling it than hours soaking and rinsing. Mine gets a solid dunk and flush - hang and done. Not much to go wrong there.

Camera, regs, and lights get attention.

what if it needed over hauling just before your current dive?

 

[fmerkel]

Spare in save-a-dive kit, 10"-15" swap time.
If you pay attention to the feel of your buttons (BCD and drysuit) you can tell when they are approaching overhaul time. Both devices function the same and have a similar build even if working on them is different.

And I bought that 4-pack of cores that were linked to. Now it will take 5"
most of that getting parts and tools.

 

[JohnN]

If it is sticky that means you have some gunk in there. Simply applying lube will make it slimey gunk. Break it down, clean it out and then apply the proper lube. Be careful about the lube you choose. Lube made FROM silicone is very different from lube FOR silicone orings.

The "most" durable fix would be prevention. How old is the wing?

Thanks all.

I removed the assembly, soaked it and was able to disassemble the button mechanism. Not a surprise that the design is the essence of simplicity.

A little silicone lube (yes real lube, not O-ring lube) and it is working very smoothly. About 180 dives to this point and the next time it will be even easier to service.

 

[fmerkel]

Thought I'd do a follow-up since the inflator cores that 2airishuman linked to came already (fast). This is $5/core!
4-Pack-Of-Sherwood-Genesis-Power-Inflator-Modules
They are not....exactly...the same. But they appear to function exactly the same and fit in the same hole. I put one in a brand new/spare DGX inflator, put pressure to it, threw it in a tub of water and it did not leak. It did give air when I pressed the button. Appears to be a great deal and should work fine.

 

[fmerkel]

A little silicone lube (yes real lube, not O-ring lube)

I don't understand what you mean. I use silicone grease on my O-rings. I use 'special' manufacturer supplied grease for camera stuff since you never know for sure what they are using for O-rings.

 

[JohnN]

I don't understand what you mean. I use silicone grease on my O-rings. I use 'special' manufacturer supplied grease for camera stuff since you never know for sure what they are using for O-rings.

This:

If it is sticky that means you have some gunk in there. Simply applying lube will make it slimey gunk. Break it down, clean it out and then apply the proper lube. Be careful about the lube you choose. Lube made FROM silicone is very different from lube FOR silicone orings.

The "most" durable fix would be prevention. How old is the wing?