Olympus CAMERA HOUSING FL-50 - Manual (Page 5)

8/6/2006 5
4.5 Maintaining the O-ring Seal:
If the main body to lid O-ring is not installed, install the O-ring before diving. This is
the only user serviceable O-ring. Its care and maintenance is critical to the watertight
integrity of the housing. The O-ring should be replaced at the service interval (see section on
service). If the O-ring is contaminated, or not already installed, inspect grease and install the
O-ring according to the following guidelines.
4.6 Inspection, cleaning and re-instillation of the O-ring
Tools:
A soft cotton bud or sponge applicator, make sure these are free of all chemicals or
contamination such as loose fibers, and the tube of silicone grease supplied with the housing
are required. Note other types of silicone grease specifically for use with underwater camera
equipment can usually also be used. It is advised to carry out the following procedure on a
firm clean level surface, (e.g. at a table), to prevent skidding especially useful to have when
diving from a boat.
When to maintain the O-ring seal:
Remove the O-ring periodically for inspection. It is not necessary to remove, clean and
re-install the O-ring after every dive provided the O-ring did not become contaminated. As a
rule of thumb set up the camera and housing before a day’s diving. If the housing is required
to be opened between dives for changing memory card or re-charging batteries, make sure
the outside of the housing is thoroughly toweled dry before opening up. After removing the
lid and servicing the camera, replace the lid straight away, rather than leaving it lying around.
Before replacing the lid, make sure that no contamination such as dust, hair, salt, sand etc.
has fallen onto the O-ring or O-ring recess, as a precaution we recommend to inspect the O-
ring every time the lid is opened and to carry out the maintenance if necessary.
Procedure:
•
Place the lid on a firm non-slip level surface.
•
The O-ring can be extracted using an O-ring extractor tool (make sure the tool as no
sharp edges). Alternatively use the flats of the thumbs to gently stretch the O-ring on
two faces (Fig. 4) thus making a small loop protruding a few mm. The loop can then
be grasped between finger and thumb, to pull the O-ring over the lip.
•
Clean the O-ring recess (the square groove where the O-ring sits) with a cotton bud.
•
Inspect the O-ring all the way round its surface for damage such as cuts tears or
contamination. This should be done visually and also by feeling the surface texture
between finger and thumb.
• IF THE O-RING IS DAMAGED OR SUSPECTED OF BEING DAMAGED, DISCARD
IT IMMEDIATELY
. A spare O -ring is supplied with your housing, or a replacement O-