Any Gates Housing users?

[Padowan]

As I posted previously, I have just bought a second hand Gates PC housing - I picked it up last night, and all looks good, just need to get it wet (empty) to check the integrity of all the controls and port.

Is there anyone out there with a Gates Housing who can provide any information regarding the control orifices, and whether there are any maintenance techniques to ensure that these don't leak? I've had a look at one, and it appears to me that on the barrel of the control arm, there is only one o-ring? It does not appear to me to be that tight on the arm (I can wiggle the arm about a bit, although turning the control does feel like the o-ring has good contact as the action is smooth with a little resistance)

Any pointers from experienced Gates Housing users?

Thanks

[Fiona]

Simon

I am sure Kathy (scubachick) has a gates housing on her video camera. You could drop her an email as she doesn't have internet access at work, or a PM if your not in a rush.

[Okeanos]

Not in a rush! He wants to get it wet tomorrow!

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Okeanos

Not in a rush! He wants to get it wet tomorrow!

Well he will buy dodgey gear from eBay

[Padowan]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Well he will buy dodgey gear from eBay

It's not dodgy!

At least with it being a mechanical housing it means that is it does flood (when empty) it's no great shakes, other than than drying it out and trying to fix the leak...

[daz]

Simon,

Perfectly normal for the control rods to slide in and out easily.


As for maintenance, I never touched any of the control rods/O rings for 3 years. Just rinsed the housing in fresh water and changed the main O ring occasionally.

I've actually just serviced mine completely after 3 years and the original O rings seem in very good condition on examination.

One thing to be careful of with the gates housings, some of them (maybe all of them) use a special self lubricating O ring for the main seal (It's orange in colour on mine). This O ring should not be greased at all. All it needs is removing and rinsing in cold water if it gets grubby.

The other O rings are standard on mine and I lubricated the new ones when I fitted them. Probably good for another three years

Oh they do recommend having it serviced professionally every year but what the hell, I can pick up a replacement camera off ebay for less than £150.

HTH
Daz

[yellowduke]

Just used my Gates housing for the first time this past week. Got it cheap from Cameras Underwater, discontinued stock, and have to say what an awesome piece of kit it is. It is the smaller screen closed version but it really hasn't proved a handicap when filming as the viewfinder port magnifies quite well. I even found that as I got used to it I could just point the housing and not use the viewfinder at all sometimes. The only maintenance I have done so far is keeping the main O ring clean and giving it a good rinse. And the UR Pro filter makes a big difference!

Jim