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Post by nikeajax on Oct 16, 2016 15:53:36 GMT -8
Mark, I think you've just about got it...
The first generation Scubair is unique: the first stage is very similar to the Dacor Dart.
The second generation Scubairs were just augmented, or glammed-out Scuba Stars: yep, they just restyled the body and tacked cr@p on, "Gee-whiz fellahs, let's put a j-valve on it...", "No, I wanna put a sonic reserve on it..."
It wasn't until the Scubair-"B" that things took a radical departure: B is for balanced and is very close to the second generation/piston-model USD Calypso.
The Scuba Star first stage was around for almost 20-years, with VERY little changed, they just added a HP-port!
JB
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Post by nikeajax on Oct 16, 2016 16:28:39 GMT -8
Now, before you get too much going here, put one of the new silicone diaphragms into that very old, tilt valve second stage and take a few breaths off it. I think you'll see that even at that time, it was a pretty good regulator. I went from the Healthways original SCUBA regulator to a Healthways Scuba Star, the tilt valve version, when I first started diving, and it was a pretty good regulator at that time. John Yeah, I think people are just starting to catch on to this! Personally, I think they're the best looking second stage ever made... What makes these regs so good is that they are super robust and simple in their design: you can almost work on one with a rock and a coat-hanger JB
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 3, 2016 8:59:39 GMT -8
OK, I'm discovering that John's trick of reactivating the neoprene-rubber in these old single hose diaphragms can take months, several, to fully work; but work it does! If you're not in any hurry, go back from time-to-time, and reapply the silicone grease: I have some that I've set aside, and reexamining them after several applications and massagings, they are VERY SUPPLE, I mean... VERY! So, if you're one of the brave Scuba Star and Scubair users, keep the diaphragms well greased! FYI: if you're worried about the diaphragm walking out of the seating while at depth, they have a very robust flange on the outside, so if you put the cover on correctly, it won't happen JB
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 24, 2016 11:18:40 GMT -8
John or Charlie: with this IDI second stage, if it had a lower IP, would I still need the weight on the exhaust? I'm using it as a primary for my Scuba Star, and the blue octo being a tilt-valve needs a very low IP about 100-psig... I'm asking this because I have access to a second stage without the weight... I'm gunna make a counterfeit Scuba Master... JB
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 24, 2016 16:11:21 GMT -8
The weight on the exhaust has nothing to do with the IP. What it does is prevent the regulator from bubbling when in an inverted position and the exhaust is above the diaphragm. The weight on the exhaust causes just enough pressure to prevent the bubbling when you are holding your breath in an inverted position (exhaust higher than the center of the diaphragm). It is not a necessary function on the regulator, as all other single hose regulators lack such a weight. If you back off the IP, so that the breathing resistance (breaking) is greater than about 1 inch of water pressure, the bubbling will also stop in the inverted position, but you will be stuck with a harder-breathing regulator.
Merry Christmas, Jaybird.
John
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Post by nikeajax on Dec 24, 2016 16:19:36 GMT -8
The weight on the exhaust has nothing to do with the IP. What it does is prevent the regulator from bubbling when in an inverted position and the exhaust is above the diaphragm. The weight on the exhaust causes just enough pressure to prevent the bubbling when you are holding your breath in an inverted position (exhaust higher than the center of the diaphragm). It is not a necessary function on the regulator, as all other single hose regulators lack such a weight. If you back off the IP, so that the breathing resistance (breaking) is greater than about 1 inch of water pressure, the bubbling will also stop in the inverted position, but you will be stuck with a harder-breathing regulator. Merry Christmas, Jaybird. John Thanks John! Also, a God Jul (Good Yule: Norwegian) to you sir, and to everyone else: please be safe out there, life only comes once JB
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Post by tomcatpc on Dec 31, 2016 20:40:44 GMT -8
Here is a Healthways "Scubapak". I've seen these in a 1969 Healthways cat., not sure how long they were around before, or after? Mark
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 1, 2017 9:22:18 GMT -8
Mark, excellent, thanks mate; I bin wantin' wanna these fer quite a while I wanted it to go with my newer gear like my "B" and J-II. On a side note, John gave me a parts sheet and the Scubamaster appears to have an MR-12 first stage JB
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 5, 2017 10:03:06 GMT -8
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 13, 2017 13:40:54 GMT -8
OK, this one might even too high-and-outside for DRW, but... he some how always pulls off a "hat trick", more than I ever wanted!
So, if Sears sold the Scuba Star as the Dive Lung, what did they sell as masks and fins?!?!
JB
EDIT: Forget Matt Hooper in "Jaws", I just told my wife I wanna make a Milo Sangster dive-kit: he's the villain in, "The Mermaids of Tiburon": her response was, "I approve... sweeeeeeeeeeeet!"
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 13, 2017 14:37:24 GMT -8
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 13, 2017 15:05:37 GMT -8
Dang! Some of that stuff I have collected and still use, or have similar to what is there That was the Xmas catalog, grumble, grumble, grumble... that's some cool (expletive deleted)! JB
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Post by tomcatpc on Jan 15, 2017 23:59:28 GMT -8
Bizarre Healthways question... On a couple of 1950's/1960's Healthways ads, I've seen an advertisment for "Aqua Tabs for Divers". Anyone have any clue what that is about? Scuba Steroids? Just wondering... Mark
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 16, 2017 9:44:48 GMT -8
Mark, I can't help but wonder if these beat out Redbull by a long shot: my conjecture is caffeine and vitamin-B M.V.'s are multivitamins, so it only stands to reason, unless it's speed! JB
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Post by tomcatpc on Jan 16, 2017 18:06:38 GMT -8
Thanks for the large ad. All the ones I've seen were small and could not read the fine print. I think I had the general idea, but still wondered about "Aquatabs for Divers". I'd love to see an original "Aquatab" or bottle/packet, etc. One of those forgotten items from the past. Mark
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