Healthways single hose regulators

[nikeajax]

Phil, this unit doesn't need a pressure relief valve: the TDQK is a down-stream valved second stage. The very nature of the downstream will bleed any over pressure. A 1/4" wrench should take care of any free-flow, as you probably don't have the second stage adjusted right. I think I have seen images of the TD and TDQK with relief valves, but I think they had them as a way to just get rid of these excess parts. Yes, a tee will work very well on them, but seeing as you're a carburetor expert, it wouldn't take you long to put another port into the body:





If you can't fix the second stage flow by adjusting it, please call Jim, I know he has the HP-seats. BTW, you can't push the HW seats out from the other side of the piston, you need to pull them out, thus destroying them with a taker-outer screwy-thingy. Please ask more questions if you have them: I really enjoy helping people get their HW gear working, call it a crusade if you will!

JB

EDIT: Your TDQK should be a pretty good breather too, it does have the larger exhaust valve

EDIT-2: You wouldn't have a relief valve on a high pressure port, as the relief valves are set to pop at a slightly higher than IP pressure: you would have it popping as soon as you cracked the air!

[diverdon]

Nov 11, 2016 14:16:19 GMT -8 nikeajax said:

Healthways had yet another surprise for 1969: the “Airflo”! This is a rather peculiar little regulator in that it needed a special tank valve to use it. 


Actually my Airflo came with a yoke adapter.

[nikeajax]

WOW: that one's "high and outside"! It kinda defeats the whole purpose... doesn't it? Very cool all the same though, and thank you for sharing that truly rare piece of diving history

JB

[vance]

OK, they're not tilt valves like I thought I'd read.

Confusingly, the Scubastars, pre '67, have a overpressure valve on them, but the Scubastar TD and TDQK, '67 and later, don't. At least, this is what the diagrams show. My TDQK had a solid plug (which I just found rolling around at the bottom of my old scuba bag). This is confusing, since the first stages are virtually identical, excepting a couple of small differences like a J or K valve restrictor orifice under the sintered filter, and an internal retaining snap-ring in the older version.

Does this mean the older versions had an extra lp port for the relief valve, not an hp port like the TD/TDQK? Both versions are downstream valves.....

I won't modify mine by drilling an extra lp port. I don't plan to dive this one, most likely. If I do, it'll just be with an spg.

Are you referring to the teflon seat as the one that is damaged when removed?

Thanks!

Phil

[vance]

Cool Airflow! I've heard of these, but never saw one. That adapter has got to be rare! But looking at it, I'm wondering if the thing is just a normal yoke that threads onto the Airflow with a standard yoke nut? At least, an adapter nut wouldn't be hard to make!

[nikeajax]

Nov 26, 2016 11:02:10 GMT -8 vance said:

OK, they're not tilt valves like I thought I'd read.

Confusingly, the Scubastars, pre '67, have a overpressure valve on them, but the Scubastar TD and TDQK, '67 and later, don't. At least, this is what the diagrams show. My TDQK had a solid plug (which I just found rolling around at the bottom of my old scuba bag). This is confusing, since the first stages are virtually identical, excepting a couple of small differences like a J or K valve restrictor orifice under the sintered filter, and an internal retaining snap-ring in the older version.

Does this mean the older versions had an extra lp port for the relief valve, not an hp port like the TD/TDQK? Both versions are downstream valves.....

I won't modify mine by drilling an extra lp port. I don't plan to dive this one, most likely. If I do, it'll just be with an spg.

Are you referring to the teflon seat as the one that is damaged when removed?

Thanks!

Phil

Phil, yes, it's just a plug, not an over pressure valve: the very first Scuba Stars had a port to accommodate these valves, and no HP-port.

It's my understanding, and I may be wrong, that the HP-soft seat is nylon: but yes, to remove the HP-soft seat from the piston, you need to use a screw in extractor that taps into said seat. Sorry, for the verbiage on my earlier response: I was having a dyslexic moment and was unable to come up with the word "extractor"

JB

EDIT: Phil, in this image, you can see the HP soft seat sticking out of the end of the piston: it's the little white bit pointing to the right...

[vance]

Thanks! I took mine apart again and saw it sticking in the end of the shaft. I was wondering if there was some sort of mystery seat (like the one with the o-ring in the Scuba HP valve), but then saw what you were talking about.

BTW, I speak "thingy, lifty-part, taker-outer fing" lingo. It makes perfect sense to me!

I got my second stage to stop hissing at me. Now I'll need to fine tune it, since it seems to be a bit hard on the inhale.

All this got me going, and I took my Calypso apart as well. All looks good but the exhaust mushroom. Are those similar to any easily obtained mushroom, like the Healthways mouthpiece mushrooms? I'll have to take a mouthpiece off and measure it.

Thanks for all the info!
Phil

[nikeajax]

Which model Calypso? If it's the first and second gen. then you'll want a 23mm, thirdd gen uses a 28mm, just like the TDQK: if you haven't replaced them with silicone, I would highly recommend doing so, as the exhalation effort is reduced exponentially!

JB

[vance]

It looks like mine is a 23mm if the choices are 23 or 28. It measures as 21-22mm give or take, but it's pretty dried out.

[nikeajax]

Phil, these are snorkel mushroom valves, or at least this is what you are going to tell EVERYONE when you go to buy them. You can try Jim, but he's usually sold out of them, poooo! Try Bamboo Reef in "The City" (San Francisco for those not from the Bay Area): and for (expletive deleted) sake, don't tell 'em what yer gunna use it for

JB

[SeaRat]

Jaybird,

I just "found" in Photobucket my White Stag diagrams of their regulator, which may be much the same as the late Healthways:











John

[vance]

Thanks for the info! I have the diagrams for both pre- and post- 1967 Scubastars that I downloaded from the very comprehensive VDH library. I would post them here, but hesitate to do so without permission. If anyone wants them w/o having to search VDH,or sign up for their host site, PM me and I will send them to you.
So, the diagrams show the seat is teflon, and that the older versions had a oprv. What was that for, if downstream 1st stages don't require them? Innerestin'.
Off topic again, I know, but I looked at my Healthways mp mushrooms, and they seem to be a perfect fit for the Calypso. Any reason not to use one?
Phil

[nikeajax]

If the shoe fits...

JB

[diverdon]

Nov 26, 2016 11:04:25 GMT -8 vance said:

Cool Airflow! I've heard of these, but never saw one. That adapter has got to be rare! But looking at it, I'm wondering if the thing is just a normal yoke that threads onto the Airflow with a standard yoke nut? At least, an adapter nut wouldn't be hard to make!

The adapter is one piece, not like a nut/yoke combo. I show it as a youtube response on Alec's video if you care to see it.

DD

[nikeajax]