Help, new some advice on a water trap.

Ian_Edwards

Ian_Edwards

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I'm replacing the flexible exaust pipe from the generator to the water trap.Split in pipe.jpgCorroded flexible.jpg

Theres's a hole in the pipe and the hose is well rotted at the input to the water trap.
Rotating input.jpg

The water trap has a rotating input, with O rings and a hose clamp on the body of the water trap. It looks like this has been leaking as well.
When I re-install it can I rely on the O rings and clamp, or is it OK to put some high temperature silicon on the outer two groves?
I looks line there's been some kind of sealant in there before.
 
The third ring out, has semi circular moldings which, protrude into the grove making the O ring useless. The top ring look like it might have been made for a washer of sorts.
I think it's a Vetus part, and I could do with an exploded diagram or installation manual.
Working on the boat from a mobile with intermittent 4G.
 
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I've just checked the empty grooves, they are much too deep for O rings. The bottom of the groves aren't square, but deeper nearer the hose. And the grove mearest the hose is really deep.
It looks like some sort of square "O" ring, if that makes sense, or thin rubber washer was fitted originally.
I have an O ring kit on board, and could make new O rings, but I don't think that they would help.
 
Yes, found that, and at £6.95, is probably worth buying a new one, in the hope that the new seals come with it.
In reality all I need is the new seals, or a photo or diagram of them. I have plenty of rubber sheet on board for making gaskets, if I knew what they looked like and how they are intended to make a seal, in combination with the O rings.
For now I've re-assembled with JB Weld Red RTV, until I can get the correct parts.
Thanks for your help.
The generator was put together by "proffessionals" at £60 plus VAT per hour. It really P...... me off, putting something like that back together, with parts of the seal missing, and charging me a premium for doing it.
 
As far as I can make out from those pictures there are just two o rings and nothing else. And I don't see why you would need more.
If you can measure the grooves you can get the o-rings from Simply Bearings Ltd (or Vetus or ABC may sell you some).
 
I think you miss understand what I wrote in post 4.
The 2 top groves are not O ring groves, an O ring grove should have a rectangular cross section about the same width as the O ring and be a lttle shallower than the diameter of the O ring.
The two top groves, are much too deep, an O ring would sink right into them, and just not work. The crossection isn't rectangular, it's sloping. That tell me there should be some sort of seal in there, probably some form of washer.
 
Ian_Edwards said:
I think you miss understand what I wrote in post 4.
The 2 top groves are not O ring groves, an O ring grove should have a rectangular cross section about the same width as the O ring and be a lttle shallower than the diameter of the O ring.
The two top groves, are much too deep, an O ring would sink right into them, and just not work. The crossection isn't rectangular, it's sloping. That tell me there should be some sort of seal in there, probably some form of washer.
Click to expand...
And I think, with the greatest possible respect, you misunderstand what I wrote in Post #10

Other than the two o-rings , there is no need for anything more than the two round black rubber o-rings to provide a seal.

As can be seen from the photos I posted, there is nothing in the two outer grooves. They are for the retaining clamp to engage in.

Vetus waterlock (2).jpg
 
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I tend to wack some sealant in there on those vetus units, doesn't have to be high temp cause the unit will melt before the silicon does!
 
Poigard, it may be the same rotating connector, but it's a different watertrap, WLOCKL40R, there's no retaining clamp, just a hose clamp.

1650952685769.png

You can just about see the hose clamp in the image above. The connector locates in the main body of the watertrap right up to the stop.
I have to admitt that I'm not sure what the hose clamp does, it's tightened onto a relatively ridged plastic body.
I've ordered a new rotating connector, and it'll be interesting to see what it comes with.
In the mean time I sealed it up with RTV, left it overnight to cure. I'll tighten the hose clamp as much as I dare this morning and see if it holds.
It really doesn't help when Vetus don't provide any installation instructions, or at least any that I can find on the web.
 
In that case it looks as if the outermost grooves are redundant when the elbow is used in your type of water lock.

Have you thought of contacting Vetus for an answer? I once asked for advice about something and they were helpful.
 
fwiw, I have on my generator the same 45mm (iirc) watertrap as Ian_Edwards.
Must be over 25yo now and was leaking at some point.
Never bothered taking it apart, just put a better (read stronger) clamp and tightened it a bit more, job done ?
 
I don't know if this extract from the Vetus Spare Parts Catalogue helps at all but it seems to show that the only replaceable parts in your model of waterlock are the drain plug, swivelling elbow and the O-rings, ie no other type of seal is mentioned. So it looks like the two round-section O-rings are all you need.

1650959695489.png1650959736120.png
 
nb Useful to have a spare drain plug. I have a deep-keeled boat and if I drop mine into the bilge it is out of arm's reach.

This thread has reminded me to order a spare!
 
I have this model of water trap on my boat. I remember when I took it apart, there were four very small stainless steel plates which engage in the two extra retaining grooves to stop the spigots pulling out. For safety reasons these are very important, I'm surprised that the manual doesn't mention them. Because of their small size, they're easily over looked or lost. Check that they are present on yours, and engage properly in the two retaining grooves.Vetus waterlock3.jpg
I've arrowed them in Red. They are NOT washers.

John
 
It's fixed for now, just started it up, and there's no leaks.
20220426_121302.jpg

The exaust system is a "dry" exaust, the output from the watertrap rises about a meter, I haven't measured it, to a seperator, the water goes back down to a skin fitting below the water line, and the gas goes to another skin fitting above the water line.
This means the watertrap has to withstand enough pressure to push the water up about 1m.
That's why I'm so concered about getting a strong water tight seal that will withstand the pressure needed to push the water up hill.
I couldn't see how two O rings with a hose clamp would be very reliable.
I'll also have a look at the clamps Vetus fits on bigger systems, to see if they'll work on the water trap I have.
Thanks everyone for there input.
 
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