After my last batch, of which 8 out of 10 valves were defective, I would not recommend even paying someone else to take these valves from you. The grease went from a tan-ish color stuff to a clearly oil-based grease color, and were even more difficult to take apart in order to clean and lubricate with silicone grease. The geniuses who make these still have not figured out that if you glob grease on the lower o-ring before assembly, all it does it squeegee that grease along and out the bottom, leaving a nice, tight, non-lubricated rubber-on-plastic seal which is so tight, it takes most of my strength to pull the valve apart. After lubrication, it turns like a dream

This valve sucks.

This product has Oil on the wheel that your supposed to use to turn it so I don't think your supposed to fully submerge it.

Even with all the oil they have on the product the item is still very hard to turn. I would go with a Two Little fishes one they are way better for the same price.

This item should be discontented....

I have ordered about 2 dozen of these for a product I make. This is a good valve, but the manufacturer apparently does not use it very often. When you get it initially, you can hardly turn it. They do not adequately grease the seals, and what they do use is a milky tan lubricant on only the bottom o-ring that I question is reef safe.

About 1 in 5 valves have an o-ring that is ruined, making the valve pretty much useless. My guess is because they lubricate the bottom ring only, then push it together thinking this will "spread" the lubrication throughout the outer body, but it does not - is just pushes it along like a squeegee, leaving the center and upper o-ring to roll and tear apart due to nature's brake - friction.

I'm sure you can find an o-ring at the hardware store though. And besides, you really need to go to the hardware store anyways, don't you? Yeah, that's right - you do.

So anyways, just take the 2 parts of the valve apart (carefully) and wipe off the factory lubricant, then apply reef-safe silicone grease to each of the 3 o-rings (if still in tact), and then re-assemble. After that, it turns like a champ.

Also, while it is apart (or before - doesn't matter) you need to take a needle-nosed pliers and snap out some plastic tabs that are left over as part of the injection molding process. you can see them if you look through the valve when it's open.

So final word is that it's a good valve if you plan to use many. If you only need one, and you can't risk it not working and having to exchange it or find a replacement o-ring, order the Two Little Fishies valve.