Question about proper lube for o-rings on a fill probe.

[Speedly]

So I have a new AT-44, that came with the standard Hatsan fill probe. Mine leaks a little until you get some pressure on it, and then it seals itself.

I've seen people say to lube the rings with silicone lubricant. I have happened upon a spray can of silicone lube, but it says it has petroleum products in it. It says you spray it on and it dries, and the dried substance provides the lubrication. Knowing the properties of gasoline, butane, etc., I know they can be used as carriers for otherwise unsprayable compounds, so I'm not sure if they'll cause a problem.

I have a strong feeling in my gut that I'm not supposed to use it for this purpose. I know you don't use petroleum lubes in chambers and stuff, but is it of concern on a fill probe?

Thanks for taking the time to answer this dumb question. 

[PakProtector]

You'll probably get away with using it as you suggest, but I'd recommend against it. The way you'll discover you guessed wrong is not likely to be pleasant. A bit or divers grease, either silicone or Krytox will do just fine.
cheers,
Douglas

[Mod90]

I use a finger moistened on a damp rag. Been doing it for years with no ill effects. Keep in mind though, orings are consumables, no matter what you do they will suffer wear. Besides the lube, get more than a few spares.

[darren]

Adam, goto dolphin scuba in sac, and get a small tube of divers grease

[wilsonj1018]

dielectric grease, its cheap and works, its silicone grease.
Josh

[Bwalton]

The proper lube to use is vaccum grease.

[wilsonj1018]

The proper lube to use is vaccum grease.

seeing as how vacuum grease is not as easily obtained, and dow corning vacuum grease and dielectric grease are chemically identical except for a silica thickening agent which is known to be abrasive why would you suggest it as the "proper" lube to use? even consider its made to be used in a vacuum instead of high pressure? the absolute most fitting lubricant to use here would be divers grease as it is a standard grease for high pressure oring seals.

[Bwalton]

The proper lube to use is vaccum grease.

seeing as how vacuum grease is not as easily obtained, and dow corning vacuum grease and dielectric grease are chemically identical except for a silica thickening agent which is known to be abrasive why would you suggest it as the "proper" lube to use? even consider its made to be used in a vacuum instead of high pressure? the absolute most fitting lubricant to use here would be divers grease as it is a standard grease for high pressure oring seals.

Well Josh being an optical engineer and dealing with O-Rings in a Vacuum state or non Vacuum state, for one they  help reduce the leakage rate by filling the asperities of the metal. It is great for the longevity of O-rings, has no abrasiveness what so ever where did you get that from? why would I use the something that is abrasive in a VC that has $50,000 worth of substrates inside to fail? and where did you hear that it is not ez to get? Amazon, Ebay and other places is not a problem and would last for many many years to come......takes very little per O-ring just enough to put a light layer down. The main benefits for using is  It exhibits excellent high and low temperature resistance and do not solidify or melt at extreme temperatures. It does not carbonize after decomposing at high temperature and also demonstrate excellent resistance to extreme weather conditions, Water,  chemicals etc.

Places to buy

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dow-Corning-high-vacuum-grease-/121493141318?pt=BI_Pumps&hash=item1c498e3746

[Bwalton]

Oh and by the way its not used inside a Vacuum chamber its used for the O-Ring of the Vacuum doors and feed thru to help SEAL from leaks.....

[wilsonj1018]

my definition by not as easy to get is he cant pick it up at local hardware store, silica in its base form is abrasive to most materials it has a very rough grain structure and it is used as a thickening agent in dow corning vacuum grease. perhaps its in the grease to do as you suggested and fill voids in the surface on which the orings slide.

[Bwalton]

You got it Josh and the only reason is that I have the same gun and that probe can be a pain....... I have not measured the the probe per say, but I am willing to bet that the tolerances vary.

[wilsonj1018]

gotcha, the reason for the probe issues I can explain. they are still using the same probe design from back when webley made the fx 2000, which in all rights is a fx airun, the probes are all the same. well a decade and a half later the probe design is still the exact same and has a fiddly fit because manufacturing tolerances aren't what they used to be when webleys were built in the uk. ive had quite a few uk webleys and fx and played with enough hatsans to notice the probe fit is quite a bit different.
Josh

[Bwalton]

Indeed they are , i was just looking at it here at work and was tempted to machine my own.

[wilsonj1018]

maybe you should machine a few and sale em 
Josh

[Bwalton]

maybe you should machine a few and sale em 
Josh

I would hand a few out, plus shipping and material, thats it.

[Speedly]

Adam, goto dolphin scuba in sac, and get a small tube of divers grease

Done. Thanks for the tip!

[kj]

a possible use for your silicone spray would be lubing pellets. i dump a new tin of pellets on a paper towel and spray with silicone then holding the edges of the paper towel roll them back and forth and spray again. i do the process a few times turning the towel so they get mixed up good. then i wipe out the tin if there are any lead shavings in it, then dump the pellets back in . any shavings or debris on the pellets stays on the paper towel. the pellets are dry and there's no build up on them or in the barrel.

i've tested this against slick 50 one lube, krytox, white lightning and whiscombes "honey" and just out the can...best results for me was with the silicone spray.

peace
kj

[AnchorsAway]

Drilled out fill hole in cylinder.  Used a "R" drill.  Tapped both ends of the hole to 1/8th NPT.  Put stainless steel allen head pipe plug in top hole.  Screwed cylinder onto gun.  Screwed Foster brand QD male fitting into other end of hole.  Used Locktite 545 on threads.  Works GREAT!

Drain all pressure from cylinder prior to working on it!!!

[chiro972b]

Dow Molykote 55 is what I use. It is specifically made for use on o-rings. It is expensive, but a tube should last you a lifetime's use on air guns.

[kbwitt]

If you put any type of grease or silicone lube dirt and dust will stick to it the you will be pushing it into you gun leave it alone or a little water( spit) on it before insertion.