Rick,
Sounds like you've got the machining capability. I'd suggest strongly that you look into the 36 Volt Minn Kotas as a replacement for the homemade units. Take one apart, machine an o-ring groove where the gasket currently sits, and machine the garter seal socket around the shaft for a ceramic pump seal. I've seen them done like this and tank tested to 1200 feet before any hint of a failure.
Vance
-----Original Message-----
From: Land N Sea Welding <landnsea1@verizon.net>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:12:17 -1000
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST]
Hi all
I am building a K-350 and was toying around with weather or not to pressure compensate the thrusters with a gas, oil fill them or stick to the design the Captain calls out on his plans of being one ATM. I would like to hear from anyone out there who has run a thruster in a one ATM housing at 300 feet or so to see if there was any noticeable resistance on the shaft thusly putting more resistance on the motor and weather that was a problem or not. Thanks in advance
Rick Patton
Land-N-Sea Welding Inc.