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Post by sharkman4928 on Apr 3, 2013 1:33:30 GMT -8
Hi, I am new to the whole double hose regulator thing....I use a lot of other vintage dive gear but have never dealt with the vintage regs before and I have a couple of questions.
Can you hook up a SPG to a double hose reg?
Can you hook up a power inflator hose to a double hose reg?
I wanted to buy a double hose reg and get it serviced and back into use but I have a nice Dacor horse collar BCD with the power inflator that I also want to use and I am not sure if they will work together. Also, I am not real keen on the idea of not knowing how much air is in my tank so I wanted to add a pressure gauge. Thanks in advance for your help.
SM
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Post by John Lundy on Apr 3, 2013 6:51:23 GMT -8
You have some options. If you have a regulator with a Hookah port, adapters are available so you can use an inflator hose for your BC. You can use a banjo fitting (fits between valve and regulator) for a SPG. A banjo fitting can be attached to any regulator, but you need a "long" yoke so there is room between the reg and valve. There are some vintage valves that have HP ports too. Another option is to have a Phoenix unit (custom 2nd stage) installed on a two stage regulator providiing both LP and HP ports. With that you can use an SPG, BC inflator, and a Octo. Regs that I know of that can be adapted with a Phoenix are the US Divers Royal Aqua Master and DA Aqua Master, and the Voit Navy. I hope this helps. Some of us grew up with double hose regs - there are some basics that you need to be aware of and practice, like "buddy breathing". Hopefully Sea Rat will jump in as he is an expert on vintage gear, and will have more options and ideas for you.
John
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 3, 2013 13:02:30 GMT -8
Well... one of the ways around that is to get'cherself a Sherwood-manifold like this'n I saw on the Pensacola fishing Forum:  That way you can have an nice old single hose reg as your octo, SPG, etc.: I know that's what John does; John gave me one too ;D I want to use it for my Healthways gear, using ALL Healthways gear. Apparently Sherwood made most of the first stages we dive with, for lots of different brands: I've read this in more than a few post while trying to research my stuff... Oh, you run your DH off the middle post and your SH off the post on the right... Or, you can find a "Y-valve" if you want to do a single tank! Jaybird |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 3, 2013 15:36:59 GMT -8
SM, does your BC look like this (this one's mine):  If it does, PLEASE check the rubber on the CO2 detonators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure it's pliable and won't crack: um, this may sound counter intuitive, but pull the bladder and pinch the skirt of the valve, where it attaches to the bladder, together: SEE IF IT CRACKS!!!!! You don't want to find out if it's going to fail when you REALLY need it not to... I restored one, man, crazy amounts of work, but I'm a sick-o, I love to do that kinda stuff... Jaybird |
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Post by sharkman4928 on Apr 4, 2013 1:33:35 GMT -8
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Post by sitkadiver on Apr 4, 2013 5:44:22 GMT -8
Since you guys are talkng about Dacor, let's not forget that you can find a HP port on many Dacor valves. Look for the ones with the metal knob, since they are most likely to have the port. There is a Sportways Dual Air on E-Bay right now, but it's starting bid is $ 299.00. I'd like to have one, but that will have to wait until after taxes. The Sportsways DH regs all had HP and LP ports. The Sportsways regs are hard to get parts for, however, and finding diaphragms is difficult. Internally they use the same HP seat as a healthways, but everything else is hard to find. If you're looking to upgrade a DH reg with a new first stage, then a Mossback or Pheonix are hard to beat. I haven't heard where Old Mossback is on the Mk IV, so finding a new one is going to be tough. And loast I checked VDH was out of Pheonix valves. The DA Aqua Master, Royal Aqua Master and Voit Navy all have the hooka port for your lp inflator. Combine one of those regs with a Dacor valve or banjo and you're set. Here's a photo of that exact setup, only with a cheater bar and a second tank:  As far as restoring a reg yourself and doing routine maintainance, the 2 stage Aqua Lungs and Viot are the best option due to the parts availability. |
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Post by sitkadiver on Apr 4, 2013 6:10:12 GMT -8
Well... one of the ways around that is to get'cherself a Sherwood-manifold like this'n I saw on the Pensacola fishing Forum: That way you can have an nice old single hose reg as your octo, SPG, etc.: I know that's what John does; John gave me one too ;D I want to use it for my Healthways gear, using ALL Healthways gear. Apparently Sherwood made most of the first stages we dive with, for lots of different brands: I've read this in more than a few post while trying to research my stuff... Oh, you run your DH off the middle post and your SH off the post on the right... Or, you can find a "Y-valve" if you want to do a single tank! Jaybird Jay I have the plain Jane version of that manifold, without the extra post, and it's a solid design. I have it setup on a couple of 72's and a plastice backpack. Unfortunately, I need to lower the bands in order for a DH reg to fit. Of course, that means the reg will be up behind my neck. So far, I've only used it with single hose regs. |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 4, 2013 8:33:33 GMT -8
One of the ideas I'm playing with is is to run the BC and alternate air-source off a pony-bottle, with two SPG's, one for the main tank, and one for the pony--yeah, I know, kind of a pain, but... I think that one is the dual-bladder, no? Hope you don't mind me posting your image:  I see from your picture the over pressure valves are attached the same way as on mine. One of the guys on here had one, I believe it's Nemrod, he LOVED it, but said it was a time-bomb, all the components went at once: rinse well both inside and out after each use. The salt attacks the plastic and makes it as brittle as a cracker. Just keep an eye on it... Jaybird |
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 4, 2013 10:15:09 GMT -8
Dave, one of these weeks I need to pick your brain: my wife's going to be in Fairbanks on business. I don't know anything yet, but thought I should ask you: will PM you when I know more... okay, back to the thread: Yeah, I noticed when I have this pack on:  a DH will sit really high unless I push it down a lot: this pack has a molded stop for the shoulders of the tank; it's made of high-impact-plastic. This one, made of aluminum, I think, doesn't have the stop or the nice handles:  Mike, not sure if you're hip to it yet, but a DH needs to be between your shoulder-blades for it to breath properly--we'll learn ya! Jaybird |
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 4, 2013 17:49:05 GMT -8
You know, there's always the ol' way--oral inflation. ;D
John
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Post by sharkman4928 on Apr 5, 2013 1:15:23 GMT -8
Jaybird, yes, it is a dual bladder bcd. I will be using it in fresh water (I am from The Great Lakes region) so salt will not be an issue right now.
I am going to shop around for a while before I buy a DH reg. I am already learning so much since I became a little more serious about buying one.....I had no idea there was so much to DH regulators! lol! Thanks again for the advice guys; keep it coming! =)
Mike
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2013 7:39:29 GMT -8
Ya know, there is a lot of information concerning Double Hose Regulators, that if not for the folks on this forum and (gadd I hate to write this) that other forum, this information would be lost.
I just realized how much correlation there was to DHR's and Old weapons, such as the Winchester 1873. Many folks do not or did not know how accurate or lethal that rifle was and still is today......much like the DHR's, many do not know or understand the beauty and ambiance not to mention ease of diving with a DHR.
Old technology? Of course, but Old does not mean obsolete! Our equipment we currently have is old, only because none new is manufactured now. But the technology is still sound, simple and with a bit of tweaking, functions as well as the newest high dollar single hoses.
Same with the Win. 73 except Uberti of Italy and Olin/Winchester are now producing these rifles; in the case of Winchester, again.
Someday, maybe there will be a New Traditional DHR out there that will continue the legacy.
Mossback
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 5, 2013 8:11:29 GMT -8
"Ya know, there is a lot of information concerning Double Hose Regulators, that if not for the folks on this forum and (gadd I hate to write this) that other forum, this information would be lost."BWAHAHAHAHAHA--SNORT!  ;D Ahem, giggle--that made me smile--thanks for being the one to say that...  Mike, we won't let you be in our-gang, unless you buy our official-rule-book (kidding), but seriously, get a copy of Basic Scuba (SECOND EDITION!!!!!!) by Fred Roberts, it has a whole lot of info you'll need, diagrams galore. One of the regs you might consider is a Healthways Scuba Deluxe or gold label: you can get them at a reasonably good price, very simple to work on, good breathers, AND... they've very recently started making repro-parts for them. The Scuba Museum, where you get those parts even has a Hope-Page mouth-piece to put on said reg: these are one of the best mouth-pieces ever, and if you get something like a Dacor, Sportsways, Spiro etc. you can use it on them too. Jaybird
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Post by nikeajax on Apr 5, 2013 8:29:10 GMT -8
Oh, I should have said also, it's simple so you can learn to service it yourself, and not depend on someone who is thousands of miles from you(saving your dive) or, more likely refuse to service it because they give you an excuse like, "Gosh, those are dangerous, and if you use them your brain will implode and kill everyone for a fifty-mile radius..."
Jaybird
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Post by SeaRat on Apr 5, 2013 17:53:48 GMT -8
To add to what Jaybird said, the Gold Label Healthways SCUBA has only six moving parts, and is very easy to service. It also will be almost maintenance-free and very reliable. But, it needs the Hope-Page mouthpiece or a US Divers hose/mouthpiece system to be a really good breathing regulator.
Jacques Cousteau switched from the DA Aqualung (the original Cousteau-Gagnan regulator) to the US Divers Mistral for the same reason--six moving parts and ease of maintenance, reliability, and very easy breathing.
John
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