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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 1:49:12 GMT -8
Post by time2dive on Nov 22, 2006 1:49:12 GMT -8
Today I tried my twin 38's. I had to build a new harness for the backpack, apparently I am a little bigger than divers in the 70's. With the manifold set up the way that it is, I can only use my Mistral easily, the hookah port gets in the way of the valves. So it was my Mistral for the first dive. I removed 3lbs for the difference between my steel 72's and my twin 38's, I should have only dropped 2 lbs.... that meant that I was neutrally buoyant at about 40' rather than 30'. The new backpack and harness worked well, a little heavy and uncomfortable out of the water, nice underwater. 70 feet, 55 minutes, 78 degree water. I normally dive my Mistral for one dive and my RAM for one dive. My RAM had a slight high pressure leak, so I dove the Mistral for the second dive. My Mistral actually breaths better than my RAM at pressures below 1500 PSI and depending on attitude (head up or down) breaths as good as my well tuned modern single hose. I will have a look at my RAM on Friday and figure out the leak. Maybe I will dive my DA and Mistral on Turkey day.
Tim
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Deleted
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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 6:01:07 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2006 6:01:07 GMT -8
Tim
Two things you might try with the twin 38's.......I presume you used your banjo with the RAM........that should have given you a fraction inch of cleareance.......if not, try rotating the reg just a tad so the port does clear the manifold.........are you using a splitter on the adapter?
Other method is to reverse the manifold so the orifice is up and the knob is pointing down...........I have seen many set up that way and often wondered why until I tried to use my RAM with the adaptor on my 38's.
Let us know how all this works out.............
Mossback
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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 9:32:19 GMT -8
Post by time2dive on Nov 22, 2006 9:32:19 GMT -8
When I dive my vintage gear I do not use a banjo or guages or a bcd. I know from experience about how long my air will last. I weight myself a little light on the surface so I am neutral at the beginning of the dive at about 40', I am a little heavy at 60-70' and a little light at 30-25'. I use the mooring line to help hold me at my 15' safety stop. I also plan my dive so that I am back under the boat with 5-10 minutes of air time left. Two of my setups have J valves for the extra margin of error. Maybe I will try reversing the manifold when I do visuals on the tanks.
Tim
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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 11:39:58 GMT -8
Post by nemrod on Nov 22, 2006 11:39:58 GMT -8
I have run into the same problem. The hookah ports hit the manifold. The Sherwood valve works OK but it still hits. My vintage USD does also. With the short tanks you can turn the valve up with little detriment to the regulators positioning. With steel 72s though it tends to be to high unless you wear the tanks really low--to low--if that can be. The banjo adapter helps the situation as does the soon to be released Phoenix conversion.
James
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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 12:58:34 GMT -8
Post by duckbill on Nov 22, 2006 12:58:34 GMT -8
The port interferes with my 3-piece USD manifold as well. A little slant doesn't really hurt anything. I'd rather have the reg as low as possible, which means having the yoke down as designed. It also means I can reach the valve fairly easily if need be. JMO
I'm surprised you had to take weight OFF for your twin 38s. I have to add four pounds to maintain the same buoyancy as with a 72. What is the working pressure on yours?
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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 14:48:32 GMT -8
Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2006 14:48:32 GMT -8
Tim
If you dive vintage, try using a banjo as a spacer, just plug the banjo threads with a std. 3/8 port plug and go from there..........no hoses. you can point the banjo down so it is not noticed and you still have the vintage operation.
Mossback
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Doubles
Nov 22, 2006 22:31:16 GMT -8
Post by time2dive on Nov 22, 2006 22:31:16 GMT -8
The working pressure of the doubles is 1800, since I fill them myself I cheat a little and give them a 10% overfill. The local hydro facility refuses to do a plus test on the steel tanks. I probably could have kept the same weight for the doubles as my 72's however I thought that they might be a little heavier.
The problem with my RAM was a loose yoke nut, all better now. Probably caused by the bozo that last worked on it..... oh wait, that was me.
I will probably get a Banjo soon, I need to get parts for my third Mistral and hoses for my snark.
Tim
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Doubles
Nov 23, 2006 1:42:53 GMT -8
Post by nemrod on Nov 23, 2006 1:42:53 GMT -8
I would think that a banjo is vintage. The SeaVue and banjos were available in the early 60s and divers of that era I assume used them, at least a few, I suppose. In any case, they do help but do not eliminate the interference. I agree, just let it sit a little crooked, it does not hurt.
James
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