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Post by tomcatpc on Nov 17, 2019 20:08:35 GMT -8
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Post by crabbyjim on Nov 18, 2019 6:49:55 GMT -8
The mouthpiece looks to be in good shape. Is your regulator in divable condition? I have two of those, An Aquamatic from US Divers and the Voit clone, the Explorer. I think Searat rebuilt his in the not too distant past so it is doable.
I had the same setup as you and sold it to Fish n Beer. he wanted it for his grandson.
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Post by tomcatpc on Nov 18, 2019 12:00:26 GMT -8
At this point...I don't see attempting to rebuild this one, but that is not written in stone. If there was a way in the future to find a diaphragm, etc., then I might be more open minded. Right now, the one or two times I put it on a tank and turned the air on, the 2nd stage free flowed. I did not push the issue too much to see what is wrong, I bought it on the assumption it was just a neat thing to have. I think the 1st stage has a "family connection" with the Voit 40-Fathom?, of which I have one and dive it time to time. That one is a fun little reg to play around in shallow water with. Mark
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Post by scubalawyer on Nov 18, 2019 12:16:04 GMT -8
Here's mine. I'd love to use it but the diaphragm is shot. I am aware of several folks who have built do-it-yourself diaphragms from pantyhose and silicone. Haven't been brave enough to try yet. M
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 18, 2019 15:58:14 GMT -8
The mouthpiece looks to be in good shape. Is your regulator in divable condition? I have two of those, An Aquamatic from US Divers and the Voit clone, the Explorer. I think Searat rebuilt his in the not too distant past so it is doable. I had the same setup as you and sold it to Fish n Beer. he wanted it for his grandson. Yes, I have a USD Aquamatic, but although I rebuilt the diaphragm, the non-return valve gave up the ghost. I cemented it back in place, but that restricted breathing so much that I won't take it into the water. I did dive it, but in the pool, and only in the shallow end where I could stand up. The diaphragm is made of flexible rubber, which is held over the sealing surface (the end of the first stage and the housing for the exhaust) by that rubber ring. Jacques Cousteau originally thought the best second stage had to look like the Cylinder of the Kleer-EZY mouthpiece of the Mistral and Aquamaster, and so the engineers built the Aquamatic in that manner. I also have a Professional Aquamatic, which uses the same first stage, but a first generation Calypso-like second stage (lever system is different and more complex than the Calypso). This one I've dived in the Clackamas River under rather arduous dive conditions, and it worked well. The Aquamatic first stage is the only first stage which is a diaphragm downstream design ever produced, I believe. John
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 18, 2019 17:21:23 GMT -8
Mark, or someone else, can you tell me about the "Vigo" tank: what makes it such? Is it a 38: how is it different from: JB
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 18, 2019 17:38:56 GMT -8
First, let me say that some modern divers think that the pony bottle is a modern invention, but it is not. This thread shows that the pony bottle was already available in the 1950s! The one TomCat has is probably about 10 cubic feet, while Jaybird's Healthways tank is most probably a 38 cubic foot tank. They are two different sizes, and the one TomCat has is a very small, portable tank that could easily be used as a pony bottle. Now, about the Aquamatic. I found the photos of my Aquamatic, and will show them below: IMG_2446 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This is my Aquamatic set up on my twin steel 52s. IMG_2432 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here is a closeup of the rubber closure ring that holds the second stage together. IMG_2436 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Take that rubber ring off, and you will see the main diaphragm for the second stage. IMG_2439 by John Ratliff, on Flickr This is the cone that activates the diaphragm levers, yes plural, as there are two diaphragm levers. IMG_2444 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here is the exhalation valve, a primative mushroom-type valve (without the sealing cone) in the center of the second stage diaphragm. IMG_2448 by John Ratliff, on Flickr The two actuating levers for the second stage valve are shown, and that diaphragm cone's point must be between these two levers. If they are not, the regulator will not breathe well (very, very hard) and may leak too. IMG_2437 by John Ratliff, on Flickr The diaphragm, with the non-return valve, is back in place, awaiting the cover and rubber clamping ring. IMG_2447 by John Ratliff, on Flickr About two years ago, I took the diaphragm apart, and the non-return mushroom exhalation valve parted from the diaphragm. I can probably replace it, but I decided to glue it back, as I don't plan on diving this regulator. IMG_2449 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here is the result after the glueing of the exhaust valve to the diaphragm. These are all original parts, so I don't want to try to make a new diaphragm or get it into diving condition. John
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 18, 2019 17:48:32 GMT -8
Here is the Professional Aquamatic: IMG_2471 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Front view, Professional Aquamatic. IMG_2472 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Back view, Professional Aquamatic (note the resemblance to the Calypso). IMG_2473 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Professional Aquamatic with the cover off. Note the levers are different from the Calypso, but the diaphragm is the same, basically interchangable. IMG_2474 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Here is the complex lever system of the Professional Aquamatic. It probably has a better lever advantage than the Calypso, but because of the complexity, was quickly nixed for the Calypso design, which then became (with a change in orientation) standard for USD second stages and actually for the industry. John
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Post by crabbyjim on Nov 18, 2019 18:53:57 GMT -8
Mark, or someone else, can you tell me about the "Vigo" tank: what makes it such? Is it a 38: how is it different from: JB The tank is 19 cf. The outfit that Mark posted was originally marketed to smaller women and children.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 19, 2019 8:01:38 GMT -8
The tank is 19 cf. The outfit that Mark posted was originally marketed to smaller women and children. Excellent, thanks buddy! JB
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Post by crabbyjim on Nov 20, 2019 9:17:05 GMT -8
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Post by crabbyjim on Nov 20, 2019 11:39:54 GMT -8
After reading this, I went out to the garage and pulled my Aquamatic and its Voit clone, the Explorer, to take a look at them. I also re-read an older thread on the Aquamatic. After soaking the second stages in hot water (thank you JB), I removed the end cap from each.
The Aquamatic was toast so I reassembled it and put it away. By contrast, the rubber parts in the second stage of the Explorer were in good condition so I reassembled it and put it on a tank. It leaked a bit so after lunch I am going to look at the first stage to see if I can get it working.
Thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 20, 2019 13:16:49 GMT -8
Hee-yikes--that's a pretty stiff price!
JB
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Post by vance on Nov 20, 2019 17:36:48 GMT -8
This is the new trend. Old crap is asking (maybe getting?) huge prices and rebuilds get nothing.
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 20, 2019 18:32:25 GMT -8
After reading this, I went out to the garage and pulled my Aquamatic and its Voit clone, the Explorer, to take a look at them. I also re-read an older thread on the Aquamatic. After soaking the second stages in hot water (thank you JB), I removed the end cap from each. The Aquamatic was toast so I reassembled it and put it away. By contrast, the rubber parts in the second stage of the Explorer were in good condition so I reassembled it and put it on a tank. It leaked a bit so after lunch I am going to look at the first stage to see if I can get it working. Thanks to all of you for sharing your knowledge and experience. Before you go looking at the first stage, be sure to look at where that pin on the inhalation cone is located. It must be between the two levers, or it will leak. The diaphragm position is also critical to this regulator not leaking. You can determine whether it is one of these two problems by taking the diaphram/cone assembly off, and pressurizing the regulator. If the second stage does not leak without the diaphragm/cone assembly, you'll know these are the problem. I opened mine yesterday, and found that I had worked on it, with some silicone and a new, silicone diaphragm. It still doesn't breath well, but now I know I have tried. John PS, the diagram on the E-Bay Aquamatic is not for the Aquamatic, but rather a later Gagnan design.
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