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From: <kirvine@sa*.ne*>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 07:27:03 -0500
To: freeattic@co*.ci*.uf*.ed*
CC: techdiver <techdiver@aq*.co*>, cavers@cavers.com
Subject: Scooter Maintenance
For those of you who have the Gavin scooters ( not the fakes, the real
ones): You need to regularly vacuum check and blow check the inside
compartment ( a fast vacuum pump sometimes snatches the seal tight when
it is really not tight by itself - the blow check reveals this). Both
ways must be done. The inside barrel o-ring needs to be kept in good
shape. It is the only ring that needs silcone. It still flattens and
gets stiff, so needs to be replaced from time to time. It is a number
256. When putting the lid on, it must go down evenly and not extrude the
ring anyplace - you must feel no springing action at all. Remove the
port plug when doing this. Some of these have a second ring on the
surface and latches - do not lubricate that ring, only the inside ring.
If you have changed the position of the spacers in the battery pack,
remember that the pack holds that lid down for scooters without latches,
so be sure that is still working. The motors should not get hot, but if
they do , they will expand the air and push the lid off. One way to get
them hot is to spray any conductive lubricant into the motor. Another
way is to be rigged like a stroke and give the scooter too much drag for
the prop setting. I realize none of you are so stupid as to have fixed
props, so I won't even go into that.

Do not get any kind of solvent or hydrocarbon vapor anywhere near the
open scooter - it sinks into the motor compartment and ignites when you
start the motor. Be careful of any propelants in spray cans as well. I
already sprained my wrist when one of these things went off on me while
I was cleaning it.

As always, any problems, just send the bottom back to me - I can fix
them in minutes rather than the hours it takes the uninitiated. I also
like to see how they are doing from time to time. I can also spot
developing problems and correct them.

Despite the abject stupidity you have read from the idiots at the
Wakulla 2 project, when these things are right , the motors should never
get hot, never leak through the seal, and never need any kind of
servicing what so ever . These are continuous duty electric motors and
are highly efficient. The one scooter that I take with me on every dive
as my final backup scooter is seven years old and has never been apart
or needed any parts changed out, other than new batteries every couple
of years.

The other thing to remember is that all batteries offgas -even nicads.
Never leave these things sealed or pull the trigger out of the water. I
blew one up in my van several years ago after I left it sealed for three
weeks. That will wake you up, trust me. 

Also as always, any and all questions on these devices need to be
directed to me. I have a ton of experience with them, make use of that
knowledge base. What takes me seconds figure out and minutes to fix
could take you days, and I have all the parts and special tools to
perform any type of job on these, and I like doing it.

Just don't ask me about "helium cooling " the socoter.

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