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Post by vance on Nov 12, 2017 16:02:34 GMT -8
That'll work!
The German guy who has a mod blog about this kind of stuff mentions drilling and machining a 3/8 UNF port in the LP plug that fits in the hole that fat end of the adapter is screwed into. I MIGHT do that, instead of this tube arrangement that goes into the op port. I'm fighting with myself over cutting up an original plug (which would be the simplest solution), but I don't like making permanent modifications to vintage stuff. If I had a loose plug that I could drill out, that'd be great. But drilling out the plug on a complete, stock reg is very much against the grain. It does make the regulator more usable and safer, but it isn't OEM. The other issue is I'm not comfortable with the thickness available for threading. There'd be scant threads holding the thing in place. The answer is probably to make a new plug with a 3/8" UNF port on it out of brass. Then, I can be sure the plug is thick enough to carry sufficient threads to hold it all together safely. This will require further adapters to get the right angles for hoses 'n stuff, and to multiply the port, but adapters are commercially available.
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seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
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Post by seabob on Nov 12, 2017 16:23:30 GMT -8
I took an 18mm bolt, cut the head off and drilled it through the center (more or less) then drilled and tapped the unthreaded end for 1/8 npt and screwed in a gauge to test ip. You could probably doe similar but tap it for 3/8 for an access.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 12, 2017 16:27:31 GMT -8
Phil, I'm not trying to change your mind, only remind you: these aren't rare by any means... They were produced in the multiple thousands! Eventually I'm going to tap a new port into my Scubair-300 so that I can run a BC hose, yep, over the serial number too-- EEE-GADZ! Yeah, rarer than some, but not unique: but my port will make it simpler to deal with in the long run for whoever gets it after me: I really hope that person is my niece! JB
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Post by vance on Nov 12, 2017 18:46:22 GMT -8
Phil, I'm not trying to change your mind, only remind you: these aren't rare by any means... They were produced in the multiple thousands! Eventually I'm going to tap a new port into my Scubair-300 so that I can run a BC hose, yep, over the serial number too-- EEE-GADZ! Yeah, rarer than some, but not unique: but my port will make it simpler to deal with in the long run for whoever gets it after me: I really hope that person is my niece! JB The multiple thousands argument holds some water, I agree. Why not modify when there are so many unmodded examples out there? Still, it causes me more than some hesitation and concern. I don't have thousands, and eventually, there won't be thousands. We're keeping these things alive, but they are growing rarer by the day. When we rebuild/restore one of these old things, we extend its life by decades. but there aren't that many of us doing that. When the multiple thousands hit the landfill, that will be that? As for your 300, I'm not sure why you'd do that when you can just put a 3 way adapter on it? I have these on several single hoses, including my original Scubastar tdqk and Calypso. You can run a BC and 2 seconds off of one drilling. It works fine! If there's a good reason not to use a 3 way, please let me know!
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Post by vance on Nov 12, 2017 18:50:31 GMT -8
I took an 18mm bolt, cut the head off and drilled it through the center (more or less) then drilled and tapped the unthreaded end for 1/8 npt and screwed in a gauge to test ip. You could probably doe similar but tap it for 3/8 for an access. Good idea! Was it stainless?
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 12, 2017 19:34:42 GMT -8
Phil, I see it as I do my Buick... I've made upgrades to it because I like it better that way. I'll let the other guy drive with stock brakes. I like the clean lines of the '300 and adding a splitter just kinda gunks that look up. Yeah, I know, I'm a terrible horrible person! JB
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seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
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Post by seabob on Nov 15, 2017 6:42:12 GMT -8
Ho-oo-no, ohhhh, no ya don't! You gotta give us some pictures... This is starting to sound like recess at grade school, "W'll this weekend, we went to the baseball game an' we met Carl Yastrzemski, an' then he sez, hey, ya wanna met Ted Williams...." Stop hoggin' all th' glory Sincerely, the little crippled boy who can't dive no more... Here's the tank with Snark attached. Hard to recognize. Also picture of the team in my younger days. I'm in the red jacket. Looking back at our survey map, I found it at 250'
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 15, 2017 8:36:13 GMT -8
Bob, excellent--thank you! That thing is so wonderfully messed up: a patina for the ages JB
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Post by vance on Nov 15, 2017 9:14:00 GMT -8
What is the gunk all over the reg in your picture? It cleaned up pretty well for once looking like that!
I have it all fixed and working except for the broken clip in the nozzle. I fixed up an old exhaust mushroom that has the rubber retainer broken off. I punched a hole in the center where the nub broke off, and slipped a plastic screw with a washer on it through the hole from the inside. I finagled the mushroom on and put a washer and plastic nut on to hold it together. Works fine!
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seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
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Post by seabob on Nov 15, 2017 10:53:13 GMT -8
It is a combination of mud and mineral deposits. It was valve/regulator down as you can see the bottom of the tank is rusted but more or less clean. The water has very high mineral content.
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 15, 2017 10:55:45 GMT -8
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seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
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Post by seabob on Nov 15, 2017 14:08:23 GMT -8
Thanks for the link. Didn't know about vintage divers in Turkey. I have been in Bodrum and Kas as diving supervisor for Yasamine Dalkalic while she was doing record setting free diving.. Love Turkey, its people and diving. Spent several months there.
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Post by vance on Nov 16, 2017 18:00:28 GMT -8
I just scored a bunch of Snark III parts! I got several exhaust valves, a couple main diaphragms, some springs, an HP body, a couple HP seats, and a bunch of other cool pieces for other projects. So, the 250ft Snark is up and running with an adapter that gives me a safe second and a bc inflator hose. The Silver is done, but the blue label continues to elude me. No matter what I do, the op blows. The black label Super still works great. I'll try to get the c clip out of the old HP body at some later date.
Edit: It needed another phenolic washer to back the adjuster body away from the diaphragm just a bit more. Now it works fine. I had to grind the circlip in the middle with a dremel and then snap it in half to get it out. There's a bit of ground away hp body, but nothing that will affect its operation. I've replaced it anyway, since I happened upon one.
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Post by vance on Nov 16, 2017 22:39:42 GMT -8
So here's a rundown of the USD parts that can be subbed/modded for use in a Snark III:
Conshelf HP pin (cut down); phenolic washers for the HP diaphragm; phenolic washer for the nozzle; HP seat; HP seat spring; HP seat spring carrier; HP pin support (on HP diaphragm); HP spring carrier (on HP diaphragm); main diaphragm; case retaining ring; top cans can be swapped between Snarks and Mistral/DA and probably some others which I have not tried.
The 250ft Snark has the Conshelf pin, HP seat, HP seat spring, HP seat spring carrier, single stage main diaphragm, (all USDivers parts), AND a "call it close enough" LP seat spring all up in it. It is fitted with the brass adapter for the safe second and bc hose. It also has a NOS exhaust valve I just got, replacing the modded one I described above.
It's ready for its pool test! I think I'll take off the adapter and put the op valve back on for the first try-outs.
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Post by surflung on Nov 17, 2017 7:16:08 GMT -8
Snark-A-Master... - My buddy Rich acquired a new Snark III Silver fireman's regulator. It is identical to a diving reg except it has no exhaust hose inlet... The front can is almost flat against the diaphragm. - All this reg needs to be converted to underwater use is a front can with exhaust capabilities. But, Snark III cans aren't that easy to find for sale as just the cans. - Since the Snark III works with a Mistral diaphragm, we thought maybe a front can from a Mistral or DA AquaMaster might fit. - So last night we took a DA AquaMaster front exhaust can from one of my unfinished projects, put a new duckbill on it, and fit it on the front of the Snark III... And it fit fine. We put a double hose loop on it... Used Voit gray hoses and mouthpiece just to include as many brands as possible... And tested it on low and high pressure tanks. It seems to work like the virtually brand new regulator that it is. - We're going to try it out in the High School pool on Sunday...
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