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Stretching a O-ring

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:39 pm
by clemsonguy1125
I finally found a somewhat large o-ring for my piston valve bushing. Its slightly smaller than the bush od which is good but I cant seem to get it to fit over. How much can they stretch? Is there a trick to make them expand because I dont want to rip it by using pliers? Will soaking them in hot water work?

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:52 pm
by Hubb
Takes a little bit of manliness to stretch 'em...

Just hook one side over one end of the fitting and pull yer little heart out to slide it over the other side. It's made to stretch a little so you ain't gonna hurt it.

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 2:54 pm
by clemsonguy1125
Ok thanks, I just didn't want to break it cause I only got 1

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 4:10 pm
by Gun Freak
Haha your arms look like gecko's :D with the big hands and stuff.
in my experience they strech pretty far. you should be fine. where did you find this one?

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 4:16 pm
by Technician1002
I stretch mine to get them over the piston into the groove. Never broke one stretching it. I do the same for the 1 inch Marshmallow cannon up to the 2.5 inch cannon in the process of being built.

Image

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 5:46 pm
by clemsonguy1125
Cool, you cut your grooves on a drill press don't you?

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 6:12 pm
by Technician1002
The smaller ones were cut on a drill press. This 2.5 inch one got time on my dad's lathe. It is UHMW stuff so it is a little harder to control. Regular HDPE turns fine on a drill press.

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:21 pm
by clemsonguy1125
Well I cut mine using a regular drill but the iting was too thick, I'll have to replace the bushing, and find a thinner oring

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 9:00 pm
by Crna Legija
why dont you just buy some oring the not expenive

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 9:23 pm
by clemsonguy1125
The lowes near me only carrys 1 in ID and lowers

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 9:46 pm
by geardog32
the ace by me sells really big ones.

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 9:50 pm
by clemsonguy1125
Well the closest ace is 45 mins from me and I'll gain powers by adding the adapter

Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:07 pm
by Gaderelguitarist
I'll gain powers by adding the adapter
If only we could all gain powers.

I agree with Hubb. Grab a fistful of raw beef, shove it into your mouth, and give that O-ring a taste of some man strength.

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:57 am
by clemsonguy1125
I got it to stretch over the bushing but it was to thick

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:55 am
by Gun Freak
Yesterday I made an o-ring detent from an o-ring smaller than the OD of a 1.25" plug, and I managed to strech it over 1.5" pipe, but it seemed very capable of getting streched more.