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Post by vance on Jan 3, 2017 23:14:50 GMT -8
Phil, those old neoprene diaphragms can be realllllly doggy! I would swear I saw some silicone ones in your box of gear that would work, but we didn't find them when we looked that second time. These small exhaust ports need all the help they can get: the exhalation resistance is greatly reduced by the newer material! One thing you should know though: they need to be shimmed:  otherwise the reg will breathe wet. I can give you some tubing I use to make the shims. The shim is held in by dynamic tension, it won't go anywhere, it will stay on the stem of the valve. JB The mushroom on my Scubastar is very flexible and in very good condition. I inspected it pretty closely. However, it might be just as well to replace it anyway. I noticed that the ones I have (Healthways DH mp mushrooms) are both a bit too big in diameter, and the relief in the stem is too wide for the Scubastar's metal wagonwheel, being made to fit in thicker plastic ones. I may have to use a collar, like you've shown, on my Calypso since the new valve is also a bit loose on it. Good idea, thanks! Phil |
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 4, 2017 9:05:53 GMT -8
John, thank you for carving that down to something digestible: there was no way my brain could handle that much raw information!
Phil, I've found that even though they are flexible, they have lost much of their elasticity... they just don't work as well as they used to. My original model-1665 and 1664 have the old neoprene mushroom valves, ¡no es bueno! but my second generation Scubair-300 has the silicone mushroom, ¡muy bien!
JB
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 5, 2017 17:26:35 GMT -8
What is it that seals, and yet won't allow an adjustment of the interstage pressure:  You've guessed it...my original Healthways Scubair! But, I've figured it out. I kept talking to myself, saying "What the hell can do this? Everything is set correctly, the seat is seated and not leaking, but I cannot get the interstage below 140 psig. Why? What's happening? It doesn't make any sense." And with that frustration, I went to sleep. Somewhere in the night, I figured it out. And today, I confirmed it with an experiment, one which also told me why this regulator was malfunctioning when I got it with bubbles coming out where they should not be. This regulator was last manufactured in 1961. If my math is correct, 2016 - 1961 = 58 years old. This regulator is 58 years old. Remember when I got it home, and it was leaking, I tightened the Scubair bonnet (part #1665-23), then put my interstage gauge on it and it pegged the gauge! Well, in that 58 years, that wonderfully thick diaphragm Jaybird talked about has thinned at the edges. The bonnet, when screwed down tight against the diaphragm, leaves no room in the dome for the diaphragm spring/pressure adjusting disc, and they now press down on the diaphragm as if the spring is already tightened very tight. I confirmed this by taking the bonnet off, then putting it on only hand tight. The result--and interstage pressure of about 120 psig. I then loosened it more, 1/8 turn, and the pressure went down to about 110 psig. I loosened it more, with a reduction to 100 or so psig. One more time, and it was at 90 psig, but leaking! Leaking just as it did when I dove it two weeks ago, through that bonnet's ambient pressure holes. Whoever had adjusted the interstage pressure, wanted it at 90 or so psig so badly that they loosened the bonnet enough that it leaked! Well, now that I've diagnosed this, what do I do about it? The answer is obvious; I need a spacer in there. A 3/4 inch O-ring for a tank is just the right size, but too large in diameter. I went to my ACE Hardware store, and they did not have a washer the correct dimensions. So far, the only answer is to manufacture one. I'm going to try cutting some plastic up to get my spacer (probably two or three of them), to put between the diaphragm and the bonnet. Wish me luck! John |
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 5, 2017 18:05:16 GMT -8
John, PM sent...
So, um, I have to ask: do you have the adjuster backed all the way out? I more often than not, back mine out until I have no pressure on it... Just brainstorming here...
JB
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 5, 2017 18:16:03 GMT -8
Jaybird,
Yes, I had the adjuster screw all the way out. I do think it is the old diaphragm.
Now, about my 1685 Scubair Sonic...
Thanks,
John
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 6, 2017 15:38:08 GMT -8
Well, I thought I had that adjusting screw all the way out, but it wasn't. So I did another check, and with the bonnet hand-tight got 90 psig. When I wrenched it down, it was at about 120 psig. That's too high for a tilt valve, but it will have to do. I got the ORV to stop leaking, and everything is a "go" for a water test in the pool this Sunday, if snow allows. I also put a very old Sportsways Sea-View Gauge on the regulator, and it works too.
John
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 7, 2017 16:43:11 GMT -8
1685 Scubair Sonic
That is a pretty-looking regulator, with the squared off internal yolk, and the second stage is reconfigured with a smaller, Scubapro-like diaphragm, but retaining the double exhaust valves. I bought two exhaust valves at the LDS, but they would not fit so I had to reconfigure it with only the original one. It breathes on inhalation very nicely. I'll get some photos up soon.
Original Scubair
I forgot to mention that I put a newer, very flexible diaphragm into it, and it makes a world of difference. It's not a bad breathing regulator for a tilt valve now. I'll try it out tomorrow if the pool's open.
I'm looking out my upstairs window, at the cou-de-sac (sp?) and the snow drifting down onto mostly white blacktop. The sky is grey in the evening light, and kids are sledding and skateboarding (yes, skateboarding on ice and snow) out of their driveway, and now playing basketball in the snow. Church is cancelled tomorrow morning, and a Blazer basketball game has been postponed until tomorrow evening, so I don't know whether I will be in the pool tomorrow or not--probably not.
John
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 8, 2017 9:34:09 GMT -8
I'm workin' on a Scubair-1675, so I'll get an image of that up soon. Gotta pick up some o-rings for it at the hardware store t'morrow while we have a lull in the storm that's poundin' the West Coast. Might go down to the seashore and see what's whippin' up out there--WHOOOOO-HOOOOO!
JB
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Post by vance on Jan 8, 2017 17:55:01 GMT -8
I'm workin' on a Scubair-1675, so I'll get an image of that up soon. Gotta pick up some o-rings for it at the hardware store t'morrow while we have a lull in the storm that's poundin' the West Coast. Might go down to the seashore and see what's whippin' up out there--WHOOOOO-HOOOOO! JB Hey guys, Speaking of the hammering we're getting... I was on the beach in Monterey all day yesterday and half of today playing beach petanque. It was surprisingly warm and un-rainy for the 6 hour competition yesterday between me and my nemisis. I shut him out in the first game 11-0 and embarrassed him in the second round 11-3, but he proceeded to inch me out every time for the next 3 games, all within a 1-2 point margin. Dammit to heck! Today was wild out there with 50-60 mph winds and driving rain. Conditions were perfect for our second day clash. This is how we like to play, now and then. He beat me 4 games to 0 (grumble, grumble...) today, by the skin of his teeth, each time. Hey! It's his home field.... I call him the "Disruptor" because he'll throw a brilliant last ball that takes my 3 point lead away for a 1 point score over and over. Uncanny. Anyway, to bring this around to some tiny bit of relevance to the thread, no one was diving Monterey this weekend. Except the sea lions.
Regards to all, and Happy New Year!
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 8, 2017 18:33:45 GMT -8
So, this is the French version of bocce then? Glad you are safe; I just let my wife at the airport tonight--GRRRRR! SIGH  JB |
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Post by vance on Jan 8, 2017 20:56:22 GMT -8
It is. Played with metal balls weighing about 1 1/2-2 lbs. Same scoring, but apparently petanque means something like "standing with feet planted". Some bowling, but usually a throw, often with some backspin, or a combination of both as in a thrown roller. Obstacles and other irregularities can be factored in with extra rules on the particular set, like, any ball that touches seaweed is out of play, etc. Lots of fun.
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 9, 2017 15:58:43 GMT -8
 The o-rings for the piston are 1 1/8" OD X 1" ID X 1/16" and 9/32" OD X 5/32"" ID X 1/16 I believe this configuration is from 1974, as denoted by the fact that they had gotten rid of the knob and began using the original style yoke screw. JB |
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 9, 2017 18:06:04 GMT -8
Jaybird,
For your 1675 Scubair (1975 model), what does the extension of the regulator body do for the regulator? Does it have a restrictor orifice setup, like the earlier Scubair? Or is that simply a reservoir of air to keep the interstage pressure from deviating so much during breathing?
Inquiring minds want to know.
John
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Post by nikeajax on Jan 9, 2017 18:39:52 GMT -8
John, it was specially designed so that the didactic-coefficient would be equilaterally crumudgulated to the ineptitude of the water's franistantial dohesian: or to put it in layman's terms, it helps with the diver's negative buoyancy. And yes, you can quote me on that fact!  Cornell Mustard couldn't find the candlestick in the library to use as a murder weapon, so he just grabbed a Scubair, no one ever figured it out... Really? It don' do nuttin'... perhaps someone at Healthways had a huge investment in copper and they wanted to use as much as they could; just like their Scubair-"B" it's a heavy sucker and both of these units have massive amounts of solid metal on them  It's my hypothesis they were just lazy and just used the same mold for their Scubair-J, Scubair-Sonic and this reg! Almost feels like a Soviet regulator, it's brutal and simple  JB |
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Post by SeaRat on Jan 9, 2017 22:35:53 GMT -8
Jaybird,
He, he, he, he...I have it figured out. Your Scubair is the Scubair Sonic without the sonic portion. If I were to take the Sonic Reserve off my newer Scubair Sonic, it would look the same as your Scubair 1675 above.
John
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