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Post by scubalawyer on Jun 19, 2019 17:33:47 GMT -8
I did some fooling around with the valve position in order to find a good balance for venturi effect. In the stock position, small hole facing the intake horn, the reg breathes adequately. The other stock position, utilizing the second pin hole, faces the blank side of the valve at the intake horn. This decreases the effect even more. Turning the big hole to the intake increases the venturi significantly, making it objectionably strong and likely to induce free-flow. If you take a big breath and take the mp out of your mouth, it will start to free-flow. Keeping the mp in your mouth will keep it from flowing, but I don't like the force of the air delivery, and wonder if it will be uncontrollable in the water. Interesting. On both of my operational 50 Fathoms I have the big hole pointed down the intake horn (I don't worry about misalignment because if a deckhand touches my DH the deckhand gets decked  .) While the venturi is stronger than in the pin-in position, I love the added ease of breathing. I have intentionally tried many times to over-breathe it underwater (keeping my mouth on the reg) and have yet to induce uncontrollable free-flow. I'd be interested to know if someone has experienced that effect. I can see where some might find the increased venturi annoying. It is nowhere near as annoying as an overpressure reg. My 2psi, M |
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 19, 2019 18:00:27 GMT -8
When I had a 50-Fathom, I had the large hole oriented down the intake horn, and loved it that way. I never had an overpressure situation, or a run-away Venturi, but also enjoyed the ease-of-breathing. As I have stated years ago here, I think AMF Voit oriented this regulator that way (small hole down the intake horn) in order not to overshadow their more expensive, two-stage regulator, the V66 Navy Regulator (Voit's equivalent to the DA Aquamaster).
John
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Post by nikeajax on Jun 19, 2019 18:11:57 GMT -8
I never had mine in the water, but now it belongs to Ty: I did reorient the larger hole to the intake, and as I recall he really liked it that way. On repainting the early regulators: if you want it to be correct, the paint should not be metal-flake, but what was referred to as "iridescent" like this:  JB |
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Post by scubalawyer on Jun 19, 2019 20:05:26 GMT -8
As I have stated years ago here, I think AMF Voit oriented this regulator that way (small hole down the intake horn) in order not to overshadow their more expensive, two-stage regulator, the V66 Navy Regulator (Voit's equivalent to the DA Aquamaster). John I have heard that explanation also. What never made sense to me was that the V66 was manufactured (I think) 1962-1964 and the 50 Fathom was (I think) manufactured in 1959-1960 (Blue case) and 1961 (Chrome case). Not sure where the overlap is. Just throwing it out there. Always open to discussion.  M |
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 19, 2019 22:22:40 GMT -8
As I have stated years ago here, I think AMF Voit oriented this regulator that way (small hole down the intake horn) in order not to overshadow their more expensive, two-stage regulator, the V66 Navy Regulator (Voit's equivalent to the DA Aquamaster). John I have heard that explanation also. What never made sense to me was that the V66 was manufactured (I think) 1962-1964 and the 50 Fathom was (I think) manufactured in 1959-1960 (Blue case) and 1961 (Chrome case). Not sure where the overlap is. Just throwing it out there. Always open to discussion. M That makes an even better case for the AMF Voit people to switch the 50-Fathom to the small hole for their Venturi. Before the 1962 V66 (equivalent to the DA Aquamaster) the AMF Voit company was marketing the VR-2 Mariner (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959--according to Fred Roberts in Basic Scuba). The VR-2 Mariner was the equivalent to the USD DA Aqualung regulator, their first regulator and, like the DA Aqualung, it had no Venturi at all. The air went into the case, whirled around the case for 180 degrees, then exited into the inhalation horn. I have a DA Aqualung, and it is a hard breathing regulator. To come up with a super-Venturi regulator to compete with it was not good for the VR-2 Mariner sales, except that in those days, easy breathing regulators were equated with "wasting air," so the reason may have been not competing with the VR-2 Mariner, but rather not to "waste air" by breathing too easily. John PS, the DA Aqualung, and also the VR-2 Mariner, were the quietest regulators ever marketed too. If you don't mind the harder breathing, it's easier on the fish. |
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Post by scubalawyer on Jun 20, 2019 5:55:47 GMT -8
John, Here's my (L--->R) VR-1, VR-2, 50 Fathom 1959/60, and 50 Fathom 1961, that I have rebuilt - all operational. The 50 Fathoms with the stock orientation (small hole pointed down intake) breath a whole heck of a lot better than the non-venturi assist VR-2 (with its Broxton internals - which was the same as the USD DA Navy Approved at the time). It's all speculation on my part but, if the Voit engineers thought about it at all (one would think they did:)), they may have "de-tuned" the 50 Fathom to prevent the potential of free-flow on the surface swimming out to the dive site while still having an easier breathing reg. (Of course it could have been a marketing ploy of some type too - wouldn't put anything past anybody ). I'm sure the debate will continue - and it is a very small subset of humanity that even cares - the "conspiracy theorist" in me thinks the truth is out there.... Mark  |
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Post by Michel on Jun 20, 2019 9:59:58 GMT -8
Very attractive collection of Voits particularly the powder blue one! Congratulations on having them all functional as opposed to wall hangers, well done.\
Michel.
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Post by scubalawyer on Jun 20, 2019 11:16:02 GMT -8
Very attractive collection of Voits particularly the powder blue one! Congratulations on having them all functional as opposed to wall hangers, well done.\ Michel. Thank you Michel. I also have a rebuilt V66 Navy and a (to be rebuilt) Trieste, but I consider those regs too "modern."    |
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Post by scubalawyer on Jun 21, 2019 7:37:09 GMT -8
Completely forgot about my Voit Polaris. Very cool reg only made for 2 years.   Before clean-up:  After clean-up:  M |
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Post by vance on Jun 23, 2019 19:07:34 GMT -8
Completely forgot about my Voit Polaris. Very cool reg only made for 2 years. Before clean-up: After clean-up: M Sweeeet. |
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Post by vance on Jun 24, 2019 11:01:07 GMT -8
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Post by scubalawyer on Jun 24, 2019 13:00:07 GMT -8
Here's Mike's 50 cleaned and ready for the DBE and new diaphragm   
Gotta love 60 year old regulators and the people who dive them today!
M
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Post by vance on Jun 25, 2019 14:49:45 GMT -8
I set this one up with the big hole aligned with the intake horn. It is pinned so it can't rotate. Now there are 3 positions: big, small, none. Since this one is a diver, it gets a DSV. This calms the venturi by keeping the boosted air from going past the diver's mouth and through the exhaust hose with a baffle. I am doing the same thing to my 50.
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.) While the venturi is stronger than in the pin-in position, I love the added ease of breathing. I have intentionally tried many times to over-breathe it underwater (keeping my mouth on the reg) and have yet to induce uncontrollable free-flow. I'd be interested to know if someone has experienced that effect. I can see where some might find the increased venturi annoying. It is nowhere near as annoying as an overpressure reg. My 2psi, M
M
