seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
|
Post by seabob on May 22, 2019 12:27:26 GMT -8
I have a Sportsways Malibu Dive first and second stage. Cosmetically very good, but diaphragm is a bit dried out so am trying to soak it in silicone oil. Tilt poppet is pretty grooved. Any suggestions? Also like I dummy I somehow seem to have lost the spring. Options?
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on May 22, 2019 14:51:50 GMT -8
Hi Bob, what does the first stage look like: is it a piston or diaphragm? If it's a diaphragm, then you have one of the older models, and these require a specific type of second stage diaphragm. If it's a piston, then you can get a modern silicone diaphragm for it, it will make it much more responsive just measure it and do an eBait search for those specs. The reason why the new ones won't work on the older models is that the outer flange is too thick. Does your second stage look like this: or this: BTW, were looking at the exhaust portion to tell us the age: not the valve!Also, note in my image that I've shimmed the exhaust: they breathe wet if you don't because the newer valves are made for thicker plastic bodies... The springs are very hard to find as they need to be conical: I think they can be made from piano-wire if need be Jaybird
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on May 22, 2019 14:54:56 GMT -8
Oh, I'm pretty sure that the "Malibu Diver" is the same as the "Waterlung", just renamed...
JB
|
|
|
Post by vance on May 22, 2019 17:41:34 GMT -8
So, on this subject.... I posted to a thread where I described making these conical springs for the Sportsways tilt valve regs, but can't find it. JB has a couple of the ones I made, and I have a couple in my SW regs. No proof yet that they work perfectly, but there's no reason why they wouldn't. Maybe someonr could locate that thread? JB's pic shows them.
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on May 22, 2019 19:54:48 GMT -8
So, on this subject.... I posted to a thread where I described making these conical springs for the Sportsways tilt valve regs, but can't find it. JB has a couple of the ones I made, and I have a couple in my SW regs. No proof yet that they work perfectly, but there's no reason why they wouldn't. Maybe someonr could locate that thread? JB's pic shows them. I found it, and also brought it to the surface. vintagescuba.proboards.com/thread/4282/healthways-single-hose-regulators?page=14John
|
|
|
Post by vance on May 22, 2019 23:10:27 GMT -8
|
|
seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
|
Post by seabob on May 23, 2019 6:36:15 GMT -8
Thanks for the info. First stage is a diaphragm. Second stage valve looks like the first picture, but exhaust looks like the second. I still has a black rubber exhaust valve. Also has the original hose with a metal band on it that says "Tested 1963 by Sportsways Inc. I understand how spring can be made. What about the poppet?
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on May 23, 2019 6:57:35 GMT -8
So are you missing the tilt/needle valve too then?
JB
|
|
seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
|
Post by seabob on May 23, 2019 7:57:36 GMT -8
I have the tilt/needle valve, but the rubber seat seams grooved. Don't know if replacements are still available.
|
|
|
Post by SeaRat on May 23, 2019 8:10:24 GMT -8
I have the tilt/needle valve, but the rubber seat seams grooved. Don't know if replacements are still available. Being grooved probably doesn't mean much. You might want to just try it this way, and see if it holds pressure and breaths okay. I've found that these tilt valves regulators actually work pretty well, and that the main problem with breathing resistance is two-fold: 1. The diaphragms lack flexibility. Using a modern silicone diaphragm really, really improved performance. 2. The lack of a real Venturi. Most modern single hose regulators point the flow toward the diver's mouth. Tilt valves like this one simply allow the air into the second stage box, and with a large inhalation, sometimes that leads to blow-by into the exhaust rather than into the diver's mouth. John
|
|
|
Post by nikeajax on May 23, 2019 9:25:18 GMT -8
...Being grooved probably doesn't mean much. You might want to just try it this way, and see if it holds pressure and breaths okay... John Check to see if the seat was centering: if it's off-set/center you may have a problem getting it to seat again. I'm 95% sure they can be rebuilt if... you want to take the time to do it! The method I've envisioned is making a simple jig out of a piece of 1/8" steel, drilling a 1/16" hole into it. Next you want to remove the old seat from it, then create a new seat using 1/16" neoprene, with a hole centered in it. Finally with a very small torch, heat the valve end while it resting in the jig with the new seat on the stem: when it's hot enough push the two together against the metal... These seats were heat vulcanized to the valve. This should work! Jaybird
|
|
seabob
Senior Diver
Instructor Trainer evaluator through all OW and Tech
Posts: 59
|
Post by seabob on May 23, 2019 9:55:56 GMT -8
I will try the tilt needle as is for now. Also with a little patience and crawling around I found the spring. It is not conical, but a straight cylinder like a ball point pen. relaxed length is .5", o.d. is .234", idi is .196, wire is .016" numbers are approximate as I realize they don't exactly add up, but that's probably me trying to measure. If I can get and figure out photo bucket or something similar I will post pictures.
|
|
|
Post by vance on May 27, 2019 11:55:57 GMT -8
I will try the tilt needle as is for now. Also with a little patience and crawling around I found the spring. It is not conical, but a straight cylinder like a ball point pen. relaxed length is .5", o.d. is .234", idi is .196, wire is .016" numbers are approximate as I realize they don't exactly add up, but that's probably me trying to measure. If I can get and figure out photo bucket or something similar I will post pictures. Interesting....When mine sproinged across the garage, I crawled around and found a spring, also. It is as you describe, but I thought it was the wrong one because another of my Sportsways tilters had a conical spring. I did try the spring I found, but the valve wouldn't seat well.
|
|