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Post by technidiver on Jul 16, 2019 8:10:14 GMT -8
Never drove a Chevette either... I agree with you about the Mk.II. Funny thing is that I heard ScubaPro started as Healthways "performance line"? Comparing the ScubaPro Mk. II to my Healthways Scubair...I think the Scubair is the better performer, at least my opinion. I have not dove my Healthways Scuba Star since last year, but I'd guess I would put it over the Mk. II as well? Anyway...maybe I need to adjust the demand lever in my Mk.II?, or I could just leave it as is? It is not going to be a regular diver. Still had fun with it and that is all that matters. Mark Mark, would you be able to chuck on a US Divers second stage and try it sometime? I have a feeling that the SP second stage is where the issues are. Maybe the demand lever is too low? Or maybe it was just a crappy design for a second stage? TD
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Post by SeaRat on Jul 16, 2019 8:23:54 GMT -8
Never drove a Chevette either... I agree with you about the Mk.II. Funny thing is that I heard ScubaPro started as Healthways "performance line"? Comparing the ScubaPro Mk. II to my Healthways Scubair...I think the Scubair is the better performer, at least my opinion. I have not dove my Healthways Scuba Star since last year, but I'd guess I would put it over the Mk. II as well? Anyway...maybe I need to adjust the demand lever in my Mk.II?, or I could just leave it as is? It is not going to be a regular diver. Still had fun with it and that is all that matters. Mark Mark, would you be able to chuck on a US Divers second stage and try it sometime? I have a feeling that the SP second stage is where the issues are. Maybe the demand lever is too low? Or maybe it was just a crappy design for a second stage? TD I have a feeling that the difference is in the diaphragms. Both the Healthways Scubair and the Scubapro Mk II should perform pretty well. The USD second stage (provided it is their downstream version, not a tilt valve) would also perform very well. But changes in the diaphragms make a huge difference in inhalation performance. All these older second stages (the initial ones from each of these companies) have higher exhalation resistance because of smaller exhalation openings. The Healthways use of duel exhaust diaphragms really upped their exhalation resistance in order to become drier breathing regulators. USD finally, in their third version, got huge exhalation openings and a mushroom which opened mostly in air (due to the bell design under the valve), which greatly lowered exhalation resistance. Scubapro opened up their exhalation openings, but did not have the "open in air" bell design; but Scubapro went to the Pilot, and then the AIR I designs whereby the entire diaphragm became the exhaust valve. That really put them on top for exhaust/exhalation resistance. John
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Post by nikeajax on Jul 16, 2019 9:47:06 GMT -8
I remember I tried to warn Mark about that double exhaust really killing the performance on these regs, and he still wanted to use it that way.
From those I've seen those SP diaphragms are actually very nice, very, even if they aren't silicone (am I confusing this with the interchangeable HW's from 1969?). Even the first style HW diaphragms are pretty good, IF you can get one that not all dried out.
John, I recall you saying that your first SH was a HW Scuba Star, and at the time you thought it was pretty good: this is not surprising now that I'm thinking about it. Granted the new silicone "blue tortillas" really help a lot, but them old ones wasn't too bad atoll (at all).
JB
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Post by tomcatpc on Jul 16, 2019 16:33:00 GMT -8
I'm not going to put much effort into this one. It works, not great but it works. If I have time in the Winter I might see about adjusting the lever, but in the meantime I have a lot of other regs to dive. Mark
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Post by SeaRat on Jul 16, 2019 16:49:29 GMT -8
I remember I tried to warn Mark about that double exhaust really killing the performance on these regs, and he still wanted to use it that way. From those I've seen those SP diaphragms are actually very nice, very, even if they aren't silicone (am I confusing this with the interchangeable HW's from 1969?). Even the first style HW diaphragms are pretty good, IF you can get one that not all dried out. John, I recall you saying that your first SH was a HW Scuba Star, and at the time you thought it was pretty good: this is not surprising now that I'm thinking about it. Granted the new silicone "blue tortillas" really help a lot, but them old ones wasn't too bad atoll (at all). JB (emphasis added, jcr) JB, Yes, my first single hose was a Healthways Scuba Star, here seen during a dive at Hood Canal while I was in high school. HoodCanal by John Ratliff, on Flickr Note also the orange-colored USD Champion Delux dive mask, and the speargun. On that dive, I poined that gun at a cabazon, and nailed it right betweent he eyes with a weighted head and fairly sharp spear point. It bounced off! I was simply enjoying being underwater, and had only one other regulator to compare, the Healthtways Scuba double hose regulator. Because of positioning differences, I enjoyed the Scuba Star regulator. I then went to my second single hose regulator, the AMF Voit Forty Fathom (Voit's version of the USD Calypso), which was a really great regulator. John
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Post by tomcatpc on Jul 16, 2019 16:55:31 GMT -8
Come to think of it...I think my Voit 40 Fathom did better than my Mk. II? The exhalation was not bad, just did not get the air flow I wanted. Odds are it is the lever needing adjusting? If I can find the time, I will play with it more, but been busy so not sure when I will mess with it. Mark
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Post by tomcatpc on Aug 25, 2019 15:07:59 GMT -8
I spend another 40 minutes underwater with my ScubaPro Mk.II today. I think I could change my mind about this one and spend some time delving into tuning the 2nd stage. I got a glimpse of promise about this reg today. Mark
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Post by tomcatpc on Aug 25, 2019 19:05:27 GMT -8
Did a quick adjustment on the demand lever and it seemed to make a big difference? It breaths so much better, but I still need to test underwater. Got the feeling I might have gave this reg a bad rap on the first dive and it has redeemed itself? Mark
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Post by tomcatpc on Aug 28, 2019 5:27:38 GMT -8
I must be starting to like this reg because I just located and ordered a vintage ScubaPro SPG to match this reg? Photos when it gets here... Mark
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Post by tomcatpc on Sept 1, 2019 15:07:03 GMT -8
I was able to take my ScubaPro Mk.II down for a short test dive today. What a difference between today's dive and the first time i dove it!!! I think this reg will see it's share of dives in the future! Well pleased how it turned out! Mark
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Post by tomcatpc on Sept 7, 2019 19:37:56 GMT -8
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