Volvo Penta 31 Series Workshop Manual page 10

Repair instructions
Safety precautions for Fluorine
rubber
Fluorine rubber is a common material in sealing rings
for shafts and O rings.
When fluorine rubber is exposed to high temperatures
(over 300°C) it can release highly corrosive hydro-
fluoric acid. Exposing the skin to this chemical can
cause serious burns. If splashed in the eyes it can
cause malignant ulcers. Breathing the fumes can
damage the respiratory tract.
WARNING! Take the greatest care when work-
ing on engines that have been operating at high
temperatures, for example an overheated en-
gine that has seized or an engine involved in a
fire. The seals must never be burned off when
disassembling or be burnt afterwards in any-
thing other than a special disposal site.
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• Always used chloroprene rubber gloves (gloves
for handling chemicals) and protective glasses.
• Treat removed seals in the same way as corro-
sive acid. All remains, even the ash can be ex-
tremely corrosive. Never use compressed air jets
for blowing clean.
• Put old seal remnants in a plastic container,
close it and stick a warning label on it. Wash
gloves under running water before removal.
The following seals are very likely to contain fluorine
rubber:
Crankshaft, camshaft and intermediate shaft seals
O rings, wherever used. O rings for cylinder liner seal-
ing are almost always fluorine rubber.
Note that seals not exposed to high temeratures
can be handled normally.