APPLICATION NOTE NO. 66
Routine Maintenance for the SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler
Revised September 2008

Print version

This Application Note reviews corrosion precautions and routine maintenance for the SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler. The reliability of the Carousel is sustained by establishing proper handling practices.

Note: Also see Application Note 88: Frame Coating Repair for the SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler.

Rinsing and Cleaning

After Every Cast

• Rinse the entire Carousel, including the frame, with fresh water after each cast.
• The Carousel’s trigger mechanism is made of titanium. The titanium is coated with Tiodizing; this product is similar to anodizing aluminum. The Tiodized surface is water lubricating and should never be oiled with petroleum or silicon-based products (such as WD-40). Rinse the trigger mechanism thoroughly with fresh water after each cast.

If it will be More than 24 Hours Until the Next Cast

To prevent salt buildup on the latches (which can cause sticky latches), Sea-Bird recommends the following:

1. Remove the 3 socket hex head screws holding the latch assembly to the pylon [Photo 1 in Removing / Replacing Latch Assembly below]. Soak the whole latch assembly in a bucket of fresh water until the next cast.
2. With the latch assembly removed, thoroughly rinse the top of the pylon, including the magnets, with fresh water [Photo 5 in Removing / Replacing Latch Assembly below]. The photo at right illustrates the salt deposits and corrosion that result from not rinsing these surfaces with fresh water!

Periodically, and if experiencing Sticky Latches

1. Remove the 3 socket hex head screws holding the latch assembly to the pylon [Photo 1 in Removing / Replacing Latch Assembly below]. Soak the whole latch assembly in a bucket of warm, soapy, fresh water; rinse with fresh water after soaking.
2. If latches stick after this cleaning:

1. Open (unlock) all of the latches.
2. Place the latch assembly upside down on the top rack of a residential or commercial dishwasher. Run the dishwasher with regular dishwasher soap, and a no-heat dry cycle (air dry only!).

Anodes

Large zinc anodes provide corrosion protection:

• SBE 32C and 32SC - 2 each in lower adapter plate, lower guard ring, upper adapter plate, upper guard ring; 1 on pylon/hub assembly
• SBE 32 (standard)
  12-bottle size - 3 each on lower guard ring and upper guard ring; 2 on lower adapter plate; 1 on pylon/hub assembly
  24-bottle size - 3 each in lower adapter plate, lower guard ring, upper adapter plate, upper guard ring; 1 on pylon/hub assembly
• CTD extension stand (if used) - 2

Check the anodes occasionally to verify that they are securely fastened and have not eroded.

Screws

All screws exposed to seawater have been generously lubricated with Bostik's Never-Seez Blue Moly anti-seize compound (available through marine hardware stores). When disassembling/reassembling the Carousel, re-lubricate these screws with Blue Moly or equivalent. Blue Moly is electrically conductive, so be careful not to get it on circuit boards.

Note: Blue Moly is molybdenum disulfide and pure nickel flake in pressure-resistant premium grade grease, formulated without graphite, lead, or copper. See Bostik’s website (http://www.bostik-us.com/TDS/TDSFiles/NSBlueMoly.pdf) for the specifications.

If the Carousel is stored on deck, we recommend covering it to keep off salt spray and protect the plastic parts from UV rays. At a minimum, a cover for the latch assembly is a good investment.

As described above in Corrosion Precautions / Cleaning, rinse the inside and outside of each bottle with fresh water after every cast to prevent salt deposits on the tubing that closes each bottle. Periodically inspect the tubing for tears and to insure the proper amount of tension. Replace the tubing if it becomes torn or damaged from salt deposits, or is overstretched.

1. Remove the three socket hex head screws, lock washers, and flat washers from the top of the latch assembly. [Photo 1]
2. (For Carousels built in 2006 and later) Insert a jackscrew (jackscrew kit is provided with the Carousel) in the center hole. As you turn the jackscrew, the latch assembly will push away from the pylon. [Photo 2]

Photo 1

Photo 2

3. Lift the latch assembly off the pylon.
4. Remove individual latches if desired:

1. Mark the location of latch 1 (from the retainer disk) on the trigger mount disk to aid in reassembly.
2. Remove the Phillips-head screws (eight for 32C and 32SC, six for full-size 32). Lift the retainer disk from the top of the latch assembly. [Photo 3]
3. Pull the desired latch(es) horizontally from the trigger mount disk. Mark the latch(es) to aid in reassembly. [Photo 4]

1. Replace the latches on the trigger mount disk.
2. Place the retainer disk on the latches, aligning the mark you made for latch 1 on the trigger mount disk with latch 1 on the retainer disk. Verify that the latches are properly seated in the grooves and that the disk is flat. Reinstall the Phillips-head screws loosely. Tighten the screws, working in a diagonal pattern to ensure the disk remains properly seated.
3. Line up the latch assembly alignment hole with the pylon alignment pin. [Photos 3 and 5] Seat the latch assembly on the pylon. Reinstall the three socket hex head screws, lock washers, and flat washers.

1. Remove the lifting bail.

1. Remove the hardware from underneath the lower guard ring.
2. Begin to pull the lifting bail up, until it is above the lower guard ring/adapter plate/hub assembly connection.
3. Remove the hardware from the legs of the lifting bail.
4. Pull the lifting bail out of the upper guard ring.

NOTE:

There are plastic insulators on the underside of the following connections:

• Lower guard ring/adapter plate/hub assembly - for lifting bail
• Upper adapter plate - for pylon

Verify that the insulators have not fallen out before reinstalling the pylon and lifting bail.

2. Remove the 6 socket hex head cap screws and washers from the underside of the upper adapter plate. Pull the latch assembly with the pylon up and out of the Carousel frame.

Last modified: 14 Oct 2010

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