Sub Maintenance - when and what... - A comprehensive listing for all to share

[bob the builder]

I thought it might be a good idea to post this topic here for everyone to benefit from. There have been several questions over the last few months regarding which products to use to keep your sub running properly.

On that note, why don't we all post recommended maintenance schedules below for all to benefit from]you[/i] do to keep your sub in perfect shape?

[JWLaRue]

I'll start.....here's an overview to

[color=#000000]I'll start.....here's an overview to get everyone started.....

Before each day's run]

[bob the builder]

Also before each run...


...check

Also before each run...


...check for proper operation of your failsafe unit by turning off your transmitter and watching for your ballast system to blow. (I'll assume that this is what Jeff meant by "correct R/C operation")

I know that silicone is the grease of choice for o-ring seals on endcaps, but what is recommended for greasing or oiling the linkage and/or stuffing box seals?

[drdave]

Linkage seals and shaft seals

Linkage seals and shaft seals should be lubricated with silicone grease as any petroleum products used might cause the seals to swell and lose their water tight qualities.

Also if you use several nicad batteries in a days run, you should find a way to seperate the discharged batteries from the charged ones so that they do not get mixed up. I would think that this would be easy to do, but I did have to go into the water at the SF Regatta to retrieve my boat as I did the unthinkable ..... This hobby is similar to RC aircraft in some ways..... If you make a small error it can mean the loss of the boat... Redundant check procedures are needed to make tha boat Sub Safe.... On real subs, all orders are repeated back, to ensure one less thing from going wrong

The day you are in a hurry and trying to get the boat in the water as quick as possible and skip a few " non important" things on your check list, is the day you will probally will have a problem that could result in the loss of your boat

I use a check list similar to Jeff LaRue which I typed up and then put into a plastic page holder so I can use it as my check list so nothing is overlooked.. DrDave

[david h]

Dear all,

This in an excellent

Dear all,

This in an excellent thread. I have often looked at SUBMEPP / joint fleet maintenance manuals (US navy)stuff to do with full size sub maintenance and to produce some sort of document on safety procedures is a really good idea.

I will pretty much do all of those things, I will also hook a fish tank pump up to my water tight comaprtment, open the far nozzle and allow some fresh air to circulate throughout the WTC for a couple of hours after the boats been running..

I will also replace parts after a certain period of time even if I can't necessarily see a problem with them. eg Nitro tube line with the pinch valve. (pump boat) after 2 years.

Interested in hearing about other peoples maintenance and safety routines.

david H

[tmsmalley]

I wrap a rubber band

I wrap a rubber band around my battery packs as soon as I take them off the charger.

I take the rubber band off when the batteries are discharged.

[safrole]

Here's what NOT to do.

I

Here's what NOT to do.

I failed to oil the little car axle bearings I'm using in the shaft supports of my Robbe U-47. One seized up on me and became a "bushing". This "bushing" had a lot of vibration and cracked the resin of the support. I may have banged the support underwater, but in any event she came back to the bank missing the outside arm on her port shaft support- very annoying.

I got a blunt-tipped syringe from the hobby store and filled it with synthetic disc brake caliper lube. It works great for dabbing things with little microdots of lube.