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Post by SeaRat on Jun 9, 2005 19:50:20 GMT -8
Chuck,
I had given up on that DA Aqualung regulator, but after reading your input, I think I'll try it again. Thanks. I will have a unique one, as I have exchanged the top box with a DA Aquamaster top box, which switches the orientation so that the oriface is directly aimed at the intake hose. This is the way the old Dacor Dial-a-Breath regulator was (their original), and it was a really good breathing reg too. Like I said above, I saw one on e-bay that was that way, and these are the only two I know of. It will make a nice experiment.
John
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Post by Broxton Carol on Jun 10, 2005 2:42:18 GMT -8
John, what ORAFACE" are you speaking of. The old da aqualungs only release air from the second stage into the cans at random. Position of the release is near the center of the cans. I believe this is to keep the diaphragm from collapsing while in operation. The air just then is drawn/flows up the intake hose until internal pressure, and surrounding outside perssures are equal, returning the diaphragm to nuetral position. Im a stickler, and use my old regs in their original configuration. Ill dive my 56 DA NAVY TYPE this weekend. No these dont flow like a ROYAL, but they are more than adequate for the old timer like myself who enjoys the thrill of diving eaar I only dreamed of having back in the 1950's. Best regards, Chuck
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Post by Gomez' echo on Jun 10, 2005 10:13:09 GMT -8
Just to weigh in on this topic. I have been diving my Snark III because of the ease in breathing. But after discussion with Bryan, I had him "tune" my Royal. Now it is a regulator!!! I could not be happier. However in my journeys this week, I am visiting Bruxton Chuck of "banjo" fame. I brought along my DA (Pico) to have him take a look as I felt it should breath much better than it did. After an hour on his porch, with me watching in amazement, he had repaced a lp seat, set the internal pressure, cleaned, replaced mouthpiece valves and clamps. Putting it on a tank, he said "here try this". Wow. At this point it was fabulous. If all goes as planned, Chuck, Rob and I will be diving this Sunday in Blue Spring, IN and I will be using the "tuned" DA and Royal. I just can't wait. We are indeed fortunate with such great technitions to work on our vintage regs. If anyone is available for diving, we will be at Blue Springs, IN this Sunday.
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 10, 2005 10:57:14 GMT -8
Chuck,
I was talking about the LP outlet, where the horseshoe's seat is. Normally, this is "pointed" or "oriented" with this outlet against the wall of the box. The air then has to travel completely around the inside of the box, and then up the intake tube. The one I saw on e-bay had this reversed, and the LP outlet was adjascent to the intake hose instead of opposite it. This would allow a bit of a venturi effect to occur. I repositioned the LP outlet by removing the valve body from the box, and replacing the top box for the Aqualung with the top box of the DA Aquamaster (which has the asymetric oval in the opposite direction as the DA Aqualung's top box). To do this, I needed to file off the fitting tab on the DA Aquamaster top box.
My regulator was not in good shape, and I felt that this actually did not improve the regulator much. But after listening to your description of the need to replace worn parts, I am re-evaluating this, and may be upgrading the DA Aqualung with the upgrade kit.
John
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Post by Broxton Carol on Jun 10, 2005 11:09:59 GMT -8
I understand what your saying now. I still think that would create a lack of consistant air pressure in the opposite corner of the regulator body, tending to let the diaphragm collapse from that side. The reason the orafice is where it is, is likely to have a more constant air density across the entire internal area of the boxes. Dont forget, the aquamasters have small holes in the holder to shoot air BACK into the regulator body. This was for a REASON. I use mine as it was designed, and have had absoloutly no trouble. Always remember to get the right diaphragm in there as I explained. Your reg will make you proud. Chuckl
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 10, 2005 13:42:58 GMT -8
Chuck,
I've seen this elsewhere. As mentioned above, the Dacor Dial-a-Breath functions in much the same way as what I've done on me DA Aqualung. Also, the older Healthways SCUBA regulator had quite a lot of air directed toward the intake tube.
The way the seat and LP outlet are, not too much would actually go down the tube, as it would spray around quite a lot. Anyway, it will be an interesting experiment, and if it doesn't work, I can always switch it back. I'll keep you updated.
John
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 10, 2005 20:09:55 GMT -8
Chuck, I've checked my DA Aqualung, and you are correct--it has a highly indented LP seat. I will probably be ordering the kit soon to upgrade it. And, you will be happy to know, I'll get another duckbill and restore the DA Aqualing bottom box to it's rightful place. I have one valve I can fit the yolk onto, an older USD twin manifold that I have set up on my twin 50s. So the experiment can begin again. I will keep the DA Aquamaster top box, just to see how this modification works. For those of you who don't know what we're talking about, here's the DA Aqualung regulator: I used to have a photo of the reg I saw on e-bay, but I must have deleted it in an attempt to coax a few more months out of this poor computer I'm using. John
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Post by BroXton Chuck on Jun 11, 2005 6:55:16 GMT -8
Great picture................ look at that yoke........................ its a " BROXTON AQUA LUNG"!!! ;D
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 20, 2005 12:52:20 GMT -8
Chuck, Bryan just put the DA Aqualung I was talking about above, with the reversed top box, up on e-bay for bid. It's at: cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16056&item=7164549823&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVWNote also that the bottom box does not include a removable exhaust valve. It requires the newer exhaust valve. Bryan states that this was the last run of the DA Aqualung before the DA Aquamaster, and I think it is actually a hybrid, using the same internals as the DA Aqualung, but with the different box orientation. I will be ordering the parts for my Broxton DA Aqualung from Bryan shortly (probably via mail tomorrow). John
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Post by Bryan on Jun 20, 2005 15:53:43 GMT -8
The regulator I have on E-bay was made in 1957 and was the 1st in the non riveted DA series of regulators. It is serial # 56869 and the estimation is that the blue label series ran to #58xxx In April of 1958 U.S. Divers announced the introduction of the DA Aqua-Master series of regulator. Two months later they announced the DA Navy Approved series would be discontinued. Seeing as how my regulator has a high serial number and the regulator was discontinued less than a year after is was manufactured I would say with all confidence that my regulator is indeed one of the last of the DA Aqua-Lung series of regulators. Internal the regulator is 100% the way it came from U.S. Divers. It is not a hybrid of parts at all. I know this to be a fact as I have 2 others just like it that are identical. In 1957 the bodies were changed from cast to die forged and the exhaust horns were silver soldered on just the same as the intake side.
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 20, 2005 16:16:37 GMT -8
Hi Bryan, When I said "hybrid," I was talking about the orientation of the LP outlet nozzle to the intake hose, a "hybrid design" if you will, or maybe I should have use the words "evolutionary design." This regulator is oriented with the inlet adjascent to the intake hose, whereas other (Broxton) DA Aqualung regulators have this orientation to the opposite side box. When did USD change the orientation? The "hybrid" to the DA Aquamaster was a reference that this is the orientation of the top box on the DA Aquamaster. I was not talking at all about someone else doing this to it other than USD. Take a look at the Broxton photo I have above, and it shows the opposite orientation I was talking about. What I'm saying is that the DA Aquamaster design evolved from the DA Aqualung, and one of the things that they did was to re-orientate the LP nozzle to adjascent to the intake hose. It now appears that a few DA Aqualung regulators were manufactured in this manner too. I hope you don't mind, but I've copied your photo for this presentation (if you do, I'll remove it): Again, it is the orientation only that I'm talking about, and I think this realization that this is a separate, evolutionary design by US Divers makes the regulator more valuable. John
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Post by Broxton Carol on Jun 21, 2005 4:02:43 GMT -8
I have us divers da navy number 58712 sitting here on the bench with the clamped blue label. I have owned a dozen of these, and I remember having them in the 50.000 range with the clamped, non rivited label. I mean to say 50,xxx on up range. Bryans regulator looks "right", EXCEPT that the air passage boss is not correctly positioned. It is normal to have it directly opposite the inhale horn. The early broxtons could rotate around and end up anyplace!!
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Post by Broxton Carol on Jun 21, 2005 4:06:18 GMT -8
Kick me, I cant even see the picture right. It is correctly assembled. I havent had my coffee yet. Chuck
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Post by Broxton Carol on Jun 21, 2005 4:08:21 GMT -8
I know..................... SHUT UP! I was correct the first time. From now I will not read this page until after my coffee, has my brain working.
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Post by Bryan on Jun 21, 2005 4:33:13 GMT -8
Perhaps I should raise the reserve on my auction.........
BTW, I have a CHROME bottom box for a DA Aqua-Lung. It got mixed up with some other items I was sending to the plating guy. It is for sale if anyone is making a CHROME Broxton or DA Navy Approved. It's a mistake I wish I would not have made.
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