Surfmaster PI o-ring question

[joeyrsmith]

Hey guys.
Just got a new (too me) Surfmaster PI today.
Going over it and reading the manual, etc. I came up with a question to myself.

Has anyone used 2 o-rings side by side to help seal the case?
Is it even feasible or recommended?
Thx for any input

 

[arclyt]

no if the one is installed properly, then that is all you need--your just worrierd due to being under water. I have a BHID and split the case myself to install a different coil and had no issues at all--just use a non edged object to reinstall the o ring--a tough suppresser would be good

 

[Jason in Enid]

White's changed the O-ring style a while back. The original manual may say a "black" O-ring, but whit'es only sells the red ones becuase of the change. There is a difference between them, and I recommend getting a new one every year. Yeah, it costs a few bucks and the old is probably just fine, but are you will to risk a $500 detector on a $5 O-ring (which is the ONLY thing keeping your detector dry)?

 

[worthy]

after reading this post last night, i decided to clean and grease my seal ( red one). trying to put it back in was difficult it was like it was too big.-- it was like trying to push a worm back down its hole!!

 

[andreak77]

It wasn't a good idea to grease it. The new o-ring is an orange hollow ring and conforms to create a better seal (the black o-ring was not hollow - not as much give) and no grease is needed otherwise the factory would have used it the first go-round. The o-ring doesn't need to be replaced every year either. If your detector already has the orange hollow o-ring don't mess with it - too many times we've seen leaking detectors come in from people who replaced the o-ring themselves or greased them up and then they didn't put it back in correctly and compromised the units water tight integrity or they improperly tightened the nuts (on the BH) and created tiny hairline cracks that lead to leaks. We always suggest to send it in if you want it replaced because we have the capability to test the unit to ensure that it won't leak.

If you want to quickly test the water-tight seal - fill up a bucket or tub and dunk it for a few minutes and look for bubbles - of course this will only test it for that amount of pressure. To gage whether or not it will leak at deeper depths the unit needs to be pressurized and then dunked. We test the BH up to 30ft and up to 110 ft for the Surf PI. After you dunk it, you can dry it and check to see if there is any moisture inside but again it will be for that amount of pressure.

Andrea

 

[Jason in Enid]

The o-ring doesn't need to be replaced every year either. If your detector already has the orange hollow o-ring don't mess with it - too many times we've seen leaking detectors come in from people who replaced the o-ring themselves or greased them up and then they didn't put it back in correctly and compromised the units water tight integrity .........We always suggest to send it in if you want it replaced because we have the capability to test the unit to ensure that it won't leak.

Andrea

O-rings are cheap (and easy to nick, scratch, cut etc), detectors are expensive after the warranty expires. If someone can't figure out how to replace the O-ring, they probably shouldn't be replacing thier own batteries either.

If you say the detector needs a pressure test every time the O-ring is changed, then that means it needs to be pressure tested every time it's opened to change the batteries because the O-ring just sits in that channel.

 

[andreak77]

You didn't read my post correctly. I did not say it needs to be tested every time it's "opened" only if you want the o-ring "replaced". In addition I wasn't talking about changing the batteries - the conversation is about replacing the o-ring which on the Surf PI you shouldn't mess with the o-ring when you change the batteries.

Read it again:
"...too many times we've seen leaking detectors come in from people who replaced the o-ring themselves or greased them up and then they didn't put it back in correctly and compromised the units water tight integrity .........We always suggest to send it in if you want it replaced because we have the capability to test the unit to ensure that it won't leak.



On a side note - you'd be surprised by how many people there are that don't know how to properly change an o-ring which has lead to leaks - which is something that I do know about seeing as I work at White's.

Have a great day.
Andrea

 

[joeyrsmith]

I have to pipe in here.
Since I started the post I have spoken with Andrea personally 3-4 times. Since I live in the FL Keys, her Whites Branch is the regional center for me.
She has helped me immensely and has been amazing on the phone with parts and answers.
Just hours ago I called to find out what a pressure test would run me. I mentioned that I used silicone grease. She told me to take it off, which is what I am doing right right.
She said "if Whites wanted it there they would have sent them out with a greased up o-ring".
Makes sense to me.
Andrea knows what she is talking about.

 

[Tom Slick]

One thing that I think is important is to apply pressure equally to both latches at the same time. In other words, try to latch them both at the same time to keep the lid from going on cockeyed. You want to keep even pressure on the O-ring, all the way around.

 

[Jason in Enid]

You didn't read my post correctly. I did not say it needs to be tested every time it's "opened" only if you want the o-ring "replaced". In addition I wasn't talking about changing the batteries - the conversation is about replacing the o-ring which on the Surf PI you shouldn't mess with the o-ring when you change the batteries.

Read it again:
"...too many times we've seen leaking detectors come in from people who replaced the o-ring themselves or greased them up and then they didn't put it back in correctly and compromised the units water tight integrity .........We always suggest to send it in if you want it replaced because we have the capability to test the unit to ensure that it won't leak.



On a side note - you'd be surprised by how many people there are that don't know how to properly change an o-ring which has lead to leaks - which is something that I do know about seeing as I work at White's.

Have a great day.
Andrea

I read your post perfectly, I don't agree with it. I refer to my previous post.... If someone can't replace an O-ring in the SM detector, they shouldn't even be changing thier own batteries. Since the O-ring just sits in a channel, as opposed to being a captured type of O-ring, if the machine needs to be tested every time the O-ring is replaced, then it would have to be tested every time the batteries are changed, because it opens the O-ring channel.

I'm sure you have gotten detector from folks who screwed it up. That doesn't mean it's still not a user-level maintenance items.

 

[andreak77]

We'll just have to agree to disagree - But I think I'll stick with the advice and knowledge from someone who's been in this business and repairing hundreds if not thousands of detectors over the past 40 years.

HH
Andrea