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Post by diverdon on Mar 29, 2014 14:41:50 GMT -8
I really like the condition of my new Mistral. As you can see its in really good shape. The hoses will be replaced before I take it in open water because they show weather checking when the hoses are stretched, but they should work for the pool anyhow:  I tried it on a reg right out of the box and after I turned the tank on I realized how green I was to this all. What if it doesn't breath at all? How will I release the pressure? There's no purge! Luckily I could draw breath but barely. Inhalation was not easy and no matter what i did I could NOT exhale through the reg!!! Any ideas why? I have no clue because these things hate me:  The Aqualung repair manual I have says to remove the box clips with diagonal Pliers. That's it. Nothing else. Not knowing what those are I searched here and found the thread suggesting you use 7R Vice grips. Well I have vice grips, but they probably predate my reg and do not have any size indicator on them so I struggled with it and ended up using a straight head screw driver. What a pain in the ...  I'll try to go slow and get those cursed things off and if I do I'll post my findings. Wish me luck! |
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Post by nikeajax on Mar 29, 2014 15:14:39 GMT -8
Don, the way I have depressurized my Healthways, was to put a very blunt long object into the holes in the top can and and push the diaphragm down: you'll want to disconnect the hoses so the air has somewhere to go!
As for not being able to exhaust, your non-reaturn valves are probably sticking, or your duckbill may be fused together/melted/oxidized...
Oh, try a needlenose pliers to get the clips off? I don't have a USD DH...
Congratulations my friend,
Jaybird
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Post by diverdon on Mar 29, 2014 19:12:32 GMT -8
Hey I got those clips. Only took about ten minutes and a half pint of blood. Boy they're on good. And yep, the non-return valve in the exhaust side was melted in the wheel. The diaphragm looked good and inside its pretty clean. This'll be a really good one to dive once I get a few new parts for her   Someone suggested electrical tape to protect the body of the reg from the likes of me and my ham-fisted ways. It worked.  |
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Post by herman on Mar 31, 2014 16:27:24 GMT -8
Hello all, I just joined the site a few days ago but many of you will reconize my name from other boards. While I am new here, I have been around a while and know my way around a DH reg. So I thought I would share a little USD C clip tips with you. The best way to remove them is to use a large set of end cutters. These can be found at Lowes Home improvement stores, this pair happens to be their house brand. You first need to slightly modify them, you must grind off the face slightly to remove and exterior angle off the jaws.  This is what they look like ground properly.  To use them you grab the clip as shown below and rotate the clip downward, it will come off fairly easily.  Once you get them off, you may want to replace them. While I highly recommend getting a band clamp instead, I know some want to keep the regs original. The best tool for the job is a large pair of vise grips that have had the jaws custom ground for the job. To use them, you install the clips on to the reg then slightly crimp each clip in turn. Once you make one round, make sure the clips are where you want them (they will slide at this point unless you tightened the pliers too far),tighten the vise grips a little and repeat the process. I usually go around 3 or 4 times to get the pressure even but there is no need to over do it....Me, I use a band clamp for everything I actively dive.  Hope this tip helps. Good Diving., Heman |
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Post by diverdon on Mar 31, 2014 16:42:13 GMT -8
Thanks Herman. Welcome aboard. It seems You have knowledge to offer.
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Post by herman on Mar 31, 2014 16:55:51 GMT -8
I knew there was something else for you. To remove an old duckbill, the easiest way is to soak it in denatured alcohol over night. Reguardless if it has turned to goo or hard as a rock, it will pretty much disolve and wash out. There are other solvents that will work but alcohol is a lot less toxic and does not have a bad smell...I kind of like it actually.
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Post by diverdon on Mar 31, 2014 17:36:51 GMT -8
Hey Herman, thanks again. It is in there and so I thought I'd leave it alone. I blew into it to test it and it seemed to perform well enough and is quite supple. Just the same, I'll order a couple as I need on for my HW's SCUBA, and possibly this one, along with some silicone non-return valves.
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 31, 2014 17:57:20 GMT -8
First, Herman--welcome here! Great to have you and your expertise.
I have never used the Herman method to get those darned clips off. I use a vice grips and a flat-head screwdriver. I grip the clip with the vice grips, then open a gap between the clip and the box. I then slide the screwdriver blade behind the clip, and use leverage to pry it off while slightly twisting down with the vice grips. They then come off pretty easy.
Concerning getting them back on, I use the vice grips to open up the clip, place them where I want them, then use a rubber mallet to get them onto the box. I then go around like Herman stated and progressively tighten each clip. By the way, this is what I was taught in the U.S. Navy School for Underwater Swimmers in 1967.
But I really endorse Herman's idea of replacing the clips with a body clamp, which can be purchased. They make servicing the interior so much easier.
One other caution, Don. Don't take a breath off any used double hose regulator until you've at least looked down the intake hose. Those things can get nasty.
John
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Post by luis on Apr 1, 2014 3:14:05 GMT -8
I knew there was something else for you. To remove an old duckbill, the easiest way is to soak it in denatured alcohol over night. Reguardless if it has turned to goo or hard as a rock, it will pretty much disolve and wash out. There are other solvents that will work but alcohol is a lot less toxic and does not have a bad smell...I kind of like it actually. Hi Herman, I have been using boiling water. It softens the rubber and it makes it very easy to peel off. I hold the can with a mitten and use a plastic knife if I need to reach inside the horn to get some of the rubber. Most of the time I can just grab some the duckbill from the outside and pull it without touching the can (be careful, the can is hot). The method Herman described to removed the clips is the best way to avoid scratching the can. The only variation I do is that I use vise-grips to to clamp the side of the clips. I use the same motion Herman described. I have re-install clips in the past... I will never again use clips. I like to be able open my regulators easily so that I can inspect them and clean them as needed. |
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Post by diverdon on Apr 1, 2014 5:27:00 GMT -8
OK, thanks all. The clips are going in the tool box for the rest of their natural days.
So. Where can I get a ring? And has anyone used the DB eliminator? I may go this route if it is in fact more efficient and ultimately easier to use.
Thanks again for all the input.
Don
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Post by regulator68bj on Apr 1, 2014 5:59:47 GMT -8
Hi Herman ,
Welcome from the UK
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Post by herman on Apr 1, 2014 7:14:15 GMT -8
Never tried boiling them...I always keep alcohol in the shop so I just soak the can while doing the rest of the reg. I prefer the end cutters over vise grips because the cutters bite into the clip and are less likey to slip.
I use the DBA on most of my regs unless I want to keep them original. IMO it does breath some better but the real advantage is not having to deal with a DB.
BJ, we have emailed back and forth some in the past, you found some internal photos of a Drager Dolphin for me
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Post by george on Apr 1, 2014 7:31:20 GMT -8
Here is the good source for the parts you need.
www.vintagedoublehose.com/
If you are going to have the reg. apart get a long yoke for it as well, if you want to use a pressure gauge. 
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Post by diverdon on Apr 1, 2014 8:32:07 GMT -8
Sage advice. Thanks George! I have a shopping list started with them already Don |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 1, 2014 9:10:53 GMT -8
Hey Don, what do you need the long yoke for?!?!?!?!? The only reason I can see having one, and I could be wrong but, it's only for an SPG, you have a plethora of valves, Healthways and Dacor, to give you an SPG...
I'm wondering if you can use the duckbill off of Mistral on your Healthways? Looks like you need a new one for the Mistral, or have you stuffed the end of it into the air-horn? My thinking here is that since the HW DB isn't as long, you just trim to fit, yes...no?
Jaybird
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