Maintenance

[Hiloboy]

I know what the ideal thing to do is but I wanted to know what others actually do.  I travel with both my handles on my Nauticam housing assembled.  I never take them off.  I know I should remove them after every trip and clean them but I worry about stripping the screws as they are so tiny.  And also, I may be lazy:)  What do others here do?

[Chris Ross]

I leave mine assembled.  I did though remove all the screws and coat them with grease though,  I figure that will help with making sure they don't seize.

[ChipBPhoto]

Hi @Hiloboy - congrats, it looks like you do a good job of caring for your housing!  
 

As for me, I only remove the handles maybe once a year for cleaning or if I need to remove them for travel.

 

Question, how do you like the R7?  And what port/lens do you use for wide angle images?

 

Edited December 17, 2024 by ChipBPhoto

[Dave_Hicks]

I would not remove the handles too frequently, but it is worth cleaning them every year or so. (About 150 dives a year for me) Soak all parts in a 50% vinegar bath or use an ultrasonic.

 

I have not seen the handles strip but i have seen the ball mounting plate on top of the handles strip as they take a lot of torque. Fortunately this is a $20 replacement part.

[humu9679]

On smaller housings I've taken off the Nauticam handle/tray and opted to use ultralights. Easier to remove and travel. Also easier and cheaper to mail your housing for service. Larger housings I've had get taken apart once yearly and fasteners cleaned, replaced if needed, and greased.

[TimG]

The handles are easily removed on my Subal system with their chunky M4 screws. A 5-minute job to take them off or screw them back on. This makes life easier for travelling and cleaning.

 

Like Chris, I usually put a little silicon grease on the threads when putting the system together. Dave's 50/50 water/(white)vinegar mix for soaking the screws if they have been left assembled for a while is a good idea. 

[Hiloboy]

Thanks for all the feedback!  Since my housing is over 1.5 years old and has been on 15 dive trips, I decided I should remove the handles to check the condition of the screws.  All screws came out easily and I did not see any corrosion.  I forgot when I initially assembled my housing, I coated each screw with Ultra Tef-Gel, which prevents corrosion and seizing.  It sure does work!  I reapplied The Ultra Tef-Gel on the screws and now feel confident keeping the handles in place for maybe 2 years.

[Dave_Hicks]

It's a good idea to soak the housing and handles with all screws removed (don't forget the ball mounts) as the sockets can get pretty encrusted with salt.

[makar0n]

Personally I am always removing the handles - apart from cleaning, housing wouldn't fit into the backpack otherwise ;]

Screws are going into a small zip-lock style bag, so no issue losing those. Also greased with lovely Lanocote (marine grade grease) from time to time - also useful for any other metal screwy parts like clamps etc.

Edited December 27, 2024 by makar0n

[TimG]

2 hours ago, makar0n said:

housing wouldn't fit into the backpack otherwise ;]

Screws are going into a small zip-lock style bag,

 

Yep, exactly the same for me. Zip-lock bag with screws and Allen keys which, from time to time, punch their way through the plastic in an effort, I suspect, to escape. Ha!

[SwiftFF5]

I also remove my handles for travel, but clean and dry the bolts, then put them back in the holes that they came out of so that I know where they go.

[TimG]

19 minutes ago, SwiftFF5 said:

then put them back in the holes that they came out of so that I know where they go.

 

Now that is a cracking idea! Keeps those bolts safe and sound. I like it!

[SwiftFF5]

I like to keep things as simple as I can...