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Post by diverdon on Aug 27, 2015 8:48:12 GMT -8
Unfortunately, I have to send these out on a 180 mile round trip but I really like when I get 'em back all certified and ready to go. These three cost me $50 and came with a pile of goodies (not pictured). I'll be taking a couple out this weekend and it'll be the first time they've be used in decades!!! Crazy how long tanks last. Oh, and these have never seen salt water. I actually have the receipts for two of them     I hope everyone is getting dives in, DD |
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Post by nikeajax on Aug 27, 2015 9:25:10 GMT -8
I got a back pack like that but it doesn't have the decal: I'm making new straps for it, 'cause someone cut them down  You really need ta get a Dacor-DH for that Y-valve:   JB |
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Post by diverdon on Aug 27, 2015 10:05:28 GMT -8
Sooner or later I'll probably get one of those, JB.
In the meantime I use those y-valves to test my vintage single hose regs. Tomorrow I'll be trying out my Calypso on one with a reg I know is fine along with those gauges I tried out on a shallow dive last weekend. Ought to be fun.
DD
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Post by diverdon on Aug 28, 2015 15:58:33 GMT -8
I got to try out the new Healthways tank/valve and pack with my DA this afternoon. I really liked how it worked and the crossed bands held the tank very securely. I used my drysuit on this dive as the quarry is in the high 40s at depth. Plus I just wanted to see how the hooka adapter worked with my drysuit. I used my banjo today too. I must say its a great way to dive. I got to the dive site a few minutes after Rich and Eben splashed for their first dive so I was only able to get one in today so the other kit in the picture below will be used tomorrow. Hope everyone is getting some diving in this summer. Before it ends that is... DD 
That Y valve works well for checking old single hose regs too. As you can see I have room for drysuit hoses and gauges and so forth. I'll checkout the Calypso J tomorrow.  |
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Post by nikeajax on Aug 28, 2015 16:10:01 GMT -8
EWWWWWWWWWWW--neat-o-paskeeto!
JB
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Post by mmcohe on Sept 21, 2015 18:38:53 GMT -8
the tank on the right is early 80,s 82 cf I have four of them blue dacor with J value's and I was always told that in Europe they could be filled to 5000 psi
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Post by tomcatpc on Sept 21, 2015 18:57:22 GMT -8
Yep, been getting a few dives in this Summer and planning on going this Wed. evening. But not vintage...put the Mistral up for the year and only diving modern gear for now. But grateful for the fun I had this Summer.
I could see me looking for a Healthways backpack and reg. (either single or double hose, or both?) in the future, as I do have a Healthways tank and K and J Valve now.
Mark
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Post by nikeajax on Sept 22, 2015 7:02:13 GMT -8
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Post by SeaRat on Sept 22, 2015 7:43:20 GMT -8
'Good info, Jaybird. I have several of these tanks, and some I have taken out of service. I have one I'm now using with my Dacor Nautilus CVS, as that is the tank that system is designed for. My way of coping with sustained load cracking is to not store these tanks with their rated pressure for long. I recently got my tank filled (3000 psig fill), and used it yesterday to take the pressure down when I dove the Nautilus CVS. That way, in storage they are at much reduced pressure. It is the "sustained load" that causes the cracking, apparently. Those tanks I took out of service are at zero pressure, and unlike steel tanks, cannot rust at zero pressure. So they are available with a hydro/visual if I want them in the future. And, as you stated, do not overfill these tanks too.
John
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Post by diverdon on Sept 22, 2015 8:24:29 GMT -8
I too use a few of those "dangerous" tanks and like John, I leave them with just a little air in them until I want them. I have a couple for use with my Nautilus as well and the last one I sent received a VE stamp. They told me that tanks stamped with a VE in addition to a hydro stamp is good for 5 years. Has anyone else heard of a 5yr VE?
DD
I'll put a pic up later.
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Post by nikeajax on Sept 22, 2015 8:37:06 GMT -8
This is what they tell ya will happen if you even THINK about using one...  SNORT  JB |
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Post by cnotthoff on Sept 22, 2015 8:54:56 GMT -8
Don, Since visual inspections are an industry recommendation, there are no Compressed Gas Association or Department of Transportation regulations about what they must include. Each fill facility has its own policies for what they require when filling a tank.
The only federal regulations from the CGA/DOT cover the requirements for hydrostatic tests. I'd have to check my notices at work to see when eddy current testing was added to hydro test requirements, but that test is now required for 6351 aluminum cylinders. Of course, hydros are good for 5 years. The recommendation to include an eddy current test with an annual (or sooner) visual inspection is a good one, but not a law.
I use an Optical Plus magnifier to view threads at 4x magnification during visual inspections. During the 90's I caught a number of early cracks with a dental mirror and pocket magnifying glass.
As usual, informed divers make safer divers.
Good Dives,
Charlie
PSI# 155
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Post by diverdon on Sept 22, 2015 9:19:54 GMT -8
Hey Charlie, thanks for that. I have added a few pics to my photobucket and linked them here. Its interesting to me that both my Dacor tanks hydor'd last year are stamped VE and neither of the two above were. They were done at the same facility and the US Divers even has the notorious E6498 stamp. See below: Dacor #1  Dacor #2  US Divers PIC #1  US Divers PIC #2  'Ol thickneck  |
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Post by SeaRat on Sept 22, 2015 9:49:04 GMT -8
Don, Since visual inspections are an industry recommendation, there are no Compressed Gas Association or Department of Transportation regulations about what they must include. Each fill facility has its own policies for what they require when filling a tank. The only federal regulations from the CGA/DOT cover the requirements for hydrostatic tests. I'd have to check my notices at work to see when eddy current testing was added to hydro test requirements, but that test is now required for 6351 aluminum cylinders. Of course, hydros are good for 5 years. The recommendation to include an eddy current test with an annual (or sooner) visual inspection is a good one, but not a law. I use an Optical Plus magnifier to view threads at 4x magnification during visual inspections. During the 90's I caught a number of early cracks with a dental mirror and pocket magnifying glass. As usual, informed divers make safer divers. Good Dives, Charlie PSI# 155 Charlie, I have my UDS-1 unit currently out of hydro, as the test facilities do not have an eddy current tester for the thread size of these unusual cylinders. I even talked to PSI-PCI and they said they would find something, but then did not answer me back on anything. I must have about the only set of these cylinders out there, as no one seems interested in getting them back to service. That is why I found your comments on optical inspections very interesting. Is that possible for my UDS-1 cylinders? John |
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Post by cnotthoff on Sept 22, 2015 13:29:35 GMT -8
John, I followed your earlier posts about the UDS-1 unit with the unusual thread size. You did a lot of research beyond my knowledge base. I use the Optical Plus as a visual inspection tool. I'd have to look at the CGA regs about testing for sustained-load cracks to pass hydro. They may require electronic eddy current tests. Our shop is too small to run our own hydros. The hydro facility we use does eddy current tests on all affected aluminum cylinders. They stamp them with the VE like what Don got on his tanks.
Don, I'm also surprised that the USD cylinder didn't get an eddy current test. Maybe they tested it and forgot to stamp it. The other cylinder with the massive neck was made by either Norris Industries or Walter Kidde. They never used 6351 aluminum, so don't require an eddy current test to pass hydro.
Good Dives,
Charlie
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