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Post by surflung on Nov 25, 2014 12:40:05 GMT -8
I Just Won This On Ebay...- A Chrome Voit VCR2 50 Fathom has been on my want list for awhile. Ever since I began diving the Blue Painted VCR2 50 Fathom I rebuilt a couple of years ago... That one breathes so easy and looks so cool... I hope I can get this chrome version working that well, too. - The story of my original Blue Painted VCR2 50 Fathom is on the VDH forum at 50 Fathom Downstream Nozzle Position. I got a lot of excellent advice from Greg Barlow and Allan Klauda and that's probably why my project works so well. I'm going to perform the exact same work on this 50 Fathom and hope for the same results!
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 25, 2014 13:33:00 GMT -8
Clean it up a bit and you'll have a beautiful unit. Congratulations! Is this the upstream or downstream version from AMF Voit?
John
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 25, 2014 13:36:11 GMT -8
I'm afraid those are too dangerous: I'll have to confiscate it for your safety... yeah, yeah, that it!
Very nice, I hope you got it for a good price. I still haven't had mine in the water yet--grumble, grumble, grumble... I'm looking forward to a comparison between my VCR-5, Healthways gold-label and my Nemrod Snark-III: the Snark-III has a manhole cover for an exhaust mushroom, as I remember it's about the size of a silver dollar!
Jaybird
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 25, 2014 13:38:57 GMT -8
Down-stream valve... I should point out that the only difference is the cans... Jaybird
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Post by surflung on Nov 25, 2014 13:58:47 GMT -8
- John, I believe the metal can 50 Fathom versions are all VCR2 which is downstream. The VCR5 is the same downstream mechanism only in the blue plastic cans like nikeajax. These are all called "50 Fathom". - The only 50 Fathom that wasn't downstream was the V55 model that had the same blue plastic cans as the VCR5. I'm no historical expert on this, I got my info from the regulator identification page at VDH. - Jaybird I can't tell if I paid too much for it. After losing a few auctions for similar condition regs, I figured I'd have to pay whatever it took to win the auction. These darned 50 Fathoms are prized highly and people always bid them up and out of the bargain price range. I paid $177
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Post by nikeajax on Nov 25, 2014 14:41:40 GMT -8
I think that's a more than fair price--good for you my friend! Yeah, people love to get all hot and bothered over Voit gear, so much so, you usually can't touch the stuff. I get irritated when people get too aggressive in their collecting: they delight in beating the other guy out, and this drives the prices up really high.
I like to think my Healthways collection is relatively harmless, as the average person doesn't even have HW on their radar, and most people can't get parts for them...
Jaybird
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Post by sitkadiver on Nov 25, 2014 19:21:05 GMT -8
Nice score Surflung. The label on that reg looks perfect!
I followed your Blue 50 fathom rebuild very closely and then referenced it numerous times when I rebuilt my Blue 50 Fathom. So you can imagine I am very much looking forward to following this 50 Fathoms re-birth.
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Post by surflung on Nov 26, 2014 7:35:42 GMT -8
- Thanks Sitka. I have a question about your 50 Fathom. How do you like the ease of breathing? - The reason I ask is because the entry and exit from the marketplace of the Downstream 50 Fathoms is kind of a mystery. Voit's advertising makes it out to be the easiest breathing regulator in the industry at a time when the US Divers DA Aqua Master was regarded as the easiest breather. The Voit 50 Fathom had great publicity from the popular Sea Hunt TV series. But it just disappeared from Voit advertising after only 2-3 years. - The breathing ease of my blue metal 50 Fathom is certainly up there with the DA Aqua Master in my opinion. And even when you factor in that it's supposed to get harder to breathe as the tank gets emptier... I actually tried it out underwater, breathing a tank down to empty. It didn't seem to lose any ease of breathing until it got well below 500 psi... Actually into the range of pressure where emergency reserve valves are operating. It never got actually DIFFICULT to breathe until the tank was virtually empty. - It breathes easy, looks exotic, and is a bonafide unique piece of Gagnan regulator genius. So, I ended up diving the blue metal 50 Fathom quite a lot... probably more than 30 dives so far. - But I wonder if I just got lucky or if other 50 Fathom owners are equally impressed...
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Post by SeaRat on Nov 26, 2014 9:28:06 GMT -8
I thought they pulled it because it breathed more easily than their more expensive V66 Navy (equivalent to the DA Aquamester). This 50 Fathom regulator is easier breathing if the large hole is pointed down the intake, rather than the smaller hole. I think we covered this before, but Voit made it so that the smaller hole was pointed down the intake, again to make it not as easy breathing. Their diagram in Basic Scuba by Fred Roberts also shows a lot of turbulence within the regulator during the inhalation cycle, which is not correct if the large hole is pointed down the intake horn. You weren't lucky; this is a wonderful regulator.
John
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Post by sitkadiver on Nov 26, 2014 17:04:33 GMT -8
I haven't had a chance to get my Blue 50 fathom in the water yet. I have bench tested it and seems to breathe just fine. I left mine in the origianl configuration. I'd say my Blue 50 is about on par with an Aqua Master, and if anything, maybe a little smoother.... And what I mean by 'smoother' is that it starts to flow air as soon as you draw on it and the air supply continues to grow throughout the breathing cycle. I may have to adjust the lever height a bit.
Last night I realized that I have not put any photos of the reg on photobucket yet, so I will get to that very soon. Coincidently, my blue paint is rubbed off in the same pattern as your reg.
Also, I enjoyed working on it and playing with the adjustment. The slide was new to me, so it was a real novelty to get back together and mess with the small allen screws.
I'll try to get some photos uploaded this evening or tomorrow while my turkey is roasting.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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Post by surflung on Dec 1, 2014 11:51:45 GMT -8
Initial Inspection and Confirmation...- I just received my Chrome VCR2 50 Fathom at work so, not enough time for an in depth inspection. BUT, I had enough time to look into the inhaling hose side of the regulator and can confirm two things: 1. It is definitely a VCR2 Downstream 50 Fathom mechanism and not a Mistral disguised as a 50 Fathom. 2. The mechanism is oriented incorrectly with a pin-hole secondary port pointing into the inhaling hose rather than the main large Venturi port. I will definitely be rectifying THAT little Voit Factory detune. - External inspection reveals this to be in EXCELLENT condition. No dents, holes, or other damage. Corrosion is much less than the original Ebay photos looked like. Even this photo is deceptive in that regard. The corrosion in the horn is more like surface fuzz... You can see good, intact chrome under it. And the label is pristine... No scratches or corrosion. Internal mechanism looks very clean. - Hoses are shot but the mouthpiece is good and there are two genuine Voit hose clamps. I already have new hoses, wagonwheel valves, diaphragm, and duckbill. This thing could be cleaned up, tuned up, and in good operating condition pretty quick.
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Post by diverdon on Dec 1, 2014 12:19:43 GMT -8
Initial Inspection and Confirmation...- I just received my Chrome VCR2 50 Fathom at work so, not enough time for an in depth inspection. BUT, I had enough time to look into the inhaling hose side of the regulator and can confirm two things: 1. It is definitely a VCR2 Downstream 50 Fathom mechanism and not a Mistral disguised as a 50 Fathom. 2. The mechanism is oriented incorrectly with a pin-hole secondary port pointing into the inhaling hose rather than the main large Venturi port. I will definitely be rectifying THAT little Voit Factory detune. - External inspection reveals this to be in EXCELLENT condition. No dents, holes, or other damage. Corrosion is much less than the original Ebay photos looked like. Even this photo is deceptive in that regard. The corrosion in the horn is more like surface fuzz... You can see good, intact chrome under it. And the label is pristine... No scratches or corrosion. Internal mechanism looks very clean. - Hoses are shot but the mouthpiece is good and there are two genuine Voit hose clamps. I already have new hoses, wagonwheel valves, diaphragm, and duckbill. This thing could be cleaned up, tuned up, and in good operating condition pretty quick. I hear the ice is almost thick enough in Crystal for a trial run Sounds like a good initial inspection. And now I know who has all the Voit parts on this board. Nice Score! Don
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Post by surflung on Dec 2, 2014 8:10:53 GMT -8
The Inside Looks Very Good...- This stuff should clean up real easy with a little diluted vinegar and an old toothbrush. Hoses, Diaphragm, and Duckbill are shot...- I have new gray hoses, gray diaphragm, and wagonwheel valves from Rob at The Scuba Museum. Got some authentic "Voit" nylon hose clamps over there, too. Got a new duckbill from Dan at VSS. Now I just need some time to myself to sit down and enjoy restoring this regulator.
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Post by surflung on Dec 3, 2014 10:05:20 GMT -8
Strange Factory Port Positions- With the aid of excellent gunsmithing clamps, I got the VCR2 mechanism unscrewed from the can and found the can actually configured with two locator pin holes. I expected the second hole would point the large venturi port into the inhaling hose. But instead it points the non-ported end into the inhaling hose. So, neither factory locator pin points the large venturi in the direction that EVERYBODY who knows these regulators says it should point. The effect of these two factory settings is to de-tune the potential breathing ease of the Voit 50 Fathom regulators.
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Post by SeaRat on Dec 3, 2014 17:50:16 GMT -8
surflung,
That's really interesting. I did not know that they de-tuned the Voit 50 Fathom to that extent! But when that large port is oriented down the intake horn, it really is a great regulator design.
John
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