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Hi Sea Urchin,My bags are packed and I'm ready to go.
Karl, how do you tell if you need a new O-ring and how do you get them off and put in the new ones? You know, I never had to do any of this, always had some guys taking care of it for me but I am interested in learning.
Starting the countdown...6 more days.[COLOR=purple][COLOR=purple]
......ask your local dive shop for a brass pick........brass because it's a softer metal that won't damage the tank yoke O-ring groove when you use it to pry the old O-ring out.
...you likely won't have the time or favorable conditions to mess with the O-rings on your boat dives.......but you will have time to do it on your shore dives.
......the best way to judge if you need new ones is buy some new ones from your dive shop and see how they look........pliable, uniform color, not 'smushed/crushed'.......used-up ones will be compacted/ crushed, have nicks/cuts, and generally look faded/tired......and if you've ever seen an O-ring ring blow underwater, well, it's a scary sight!
........for a well-used tank, with a worn groove, it's a little tricky installing the new O-ring, I usually had to lay the tank down on it's side with the O-ring facing upwards, position to O-ring, and then tighten down the O-ring with my reg 1st stage, still with the tank lying down sideways......once the O-ring is seated properly, undo the reg and stand the tank up if you want, the O-ring will now stay in place from now on...it's just a llittle tricky to put the brand-new O-ring in the very first time.
.......Bonaire is FUN, you'll have a great time...and after a week of lugging all your tanks and other gear around, plus all the diving, you'll be in great shape by week's end!
Karl
