scuba-s 0 Posted May 12, 2007 i have an ike housing with the standard ike black o-ring and was told by someome with an ike housing that you can use standard oring grease in the small tubes that you use for your valve o-rings, is this true as i am going overseas shortly and won"t have time to get some more ike o-ring grease as i have lost my ike grease any hekp would be gratefull ps i know you probably been asked this question before but could not find a link unless someone has a link. steve Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cerianthus 55 Posted May 12, 2007 (edited) greases can vary very subtle. With the wrong grease, the oring might swell or shrink ever so little. This can induce a flood. Using the wrong grease is pennywise, pound foolish ! If you cant order it in time, beg, borrow or steal....Maybe that friend with the ikelite housing has a spare tube..the cost is next to nothing. PS: if ordering at your home will take too long, have the order send to you holiday adress ! Edited May 12, 2007 by Cerianthus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islandbound 1 Posted May 12, 2007 I would like to hear (read) the answer to this question as well. I live overseas and have easy access to standard silicone at dive shops but not the Ikelite grease. My only complaint with Ikelite at this point is that after spending an enormous amount of money on housings and arms and strobes that they only give you a very small not-resealable plastic vial of grease. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cerianthus 55 Posted May 12, 2007 I was a bit disappointed they didnt have it in a recappable tube as well. But if you saved a few film containers from the analog days: they are just the right size to save your current ikelite tube..... If not: a sealed bag might be an alternative... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scubaboy1 0 Posted May 13, 2007 I have been diving with Ikelite housings for the last 5 or 6 years. I have used Ike grease as well as generic 100% pure silicone grease on the O Rings and have never had a problem. I have heard that some greases may contain additives (i.e. are not 100% pure silicone) and can cause the O Rings to swell. I have been specifically warned not to use Nikonos grease on Ike O Rings. From my experience, the generic 100% silicone grease works fine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davephdv 0 Posted May 13, 2007 I lost my Ikelite silicone grease on a trip once and substituted Nikonos silicon grease. It did something (swell?) to the o-rings on my SS 200 Ike strobes and one of them flooded. I now always stick with the manufactures specific o-ring grease and have never had a problem. I know of UW photographers who claim this is nonsense. Contact Ikelite. I bet they can overnight some o-ring grease to you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
markdhanlon 0 Posted July 12, 2007 It's funny, I have tons of the Ikelite grease sitting at home. It seems everytime I buy something from them, they throw in 4 or 5 tubes of the stuff. I just keep the open tube in a ziploc so that it doesn't get everywhere. I also keep my orings in ziplocs when not in use to keep them as clean as possible. I would never use anything other than Ikelite grease. It's just not worth the risk to me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcclink 8 Posted July 12, 2007 (edited) For Buna (black) o-rings use a good quality generic silicone grease (I prefer Dow Corning). Manufacturer's grease is probably plain silicone grease, but some may have additives which may or may not affect the o-ring long term. To make life easier get rid of all the various little "mystery" tubes & use silicone. For colored o-rings it's a different matter - either "special" grease or no grease may be required. I've changed all my S&S blue o-rings to buna so I can use one grease for everything. Edited July 12, 2007 by jcclink Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cdoyal 0 Posted July 12, 2007 It's funny, I have tons of the Ikelite grease sitting at home. It seems everytime I buy something from them, they throw in 4 or 5 tubes of the stuff. I just keep the open tube in a ziploc so that it doesn't get everywhere. I also keep my orings in ziplocs when not in use to keep them as clean as possible. I would never use anything other than Ikelite grease. It's just not worth the risk to me. I'm the same way. I think they try to see how much of the stuff they can give away! Open tube goes in a small baggie and the rest in a medicine bottle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
