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Post by nikeajax on May 31, 2018 6:47:01 GMT -8
So John-R, let's do a checklist just as you would with your PJ-gear:
First stage locks up * HP-diaph. checks out Push-rod checks out Second stage locks up LP seat checks out * Second stage pointed in correct direction Second stage lever at optimal height * I've put stars next to the ones that you need to pay special attention to: never take anything for granted, just because it's new or still looks good doesn't mean that it is  JB |
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Post by SeaRat on May 31, 2018 15:45:00 GMT -8
JB, That's a good checklist. I'll look into it, probably next week. The interesting feature of the lever on the second stage is that the diaphragm is at an angle, which means I probably don't need to do any bending, but I'll give it a check too. So far, it's been set at the factory height, by tightening down the retaining screw until it just barely needs movement to lift the stage.  John |
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Post by vance on May 31, 2018 17:39:16 GMT -8
Thanks for posting that schematic, John!
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Post by vance on Jun 4, 2018 7:09:00 GMT -8
Walrus John,
Have you tried to fit a Healthways diaphragm in the HTII? I think it'll work, but am not sure about the diameter. I may try one in my HTII just for fun when I replace my HP plunger. I would be nice to know if the silicone replacements for HW cans will work since there's no more HT diaphragms around.
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Post by waldenwalrus on Jun 4, 2018 8:02:58 GMT -8
The one in it is a little crispy, but not too bad. I have it encrusted in silicone grease right now. The reg has other issues as well. I see another twin II in the display case at my LDS he may let me check that for parts, he will never rebuild it again but wants it in the display case. I will try to mic out the diameter and post it.
I remember my father saying he used to patch the holes in his healthways diaphragm with rubber cement and condoms. I don't think I want to trust my life to a product that is designed to prevent life.
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Post by waldenwalrus on Jun 4, 2018 10:40:59 GMT -8
I put this up on the NED Single Hose thread I will put it here too
This is not a post about the NED regulator, it is about NED and my memories of it. I apologize if I have a few facts wrong please correct any if you know they are not right.
I haven’t been diving as long as SeaRat (perhaps nobody has), but acquiring a New England Divers DH regulator pleases me a lot. I have lived in Massachusetts since I was 7 and my father was a diver starting in about 1960 in central Ohio. When we moved to Massachusetts in 1965 NED was one of the first weekend trips for my brothers and I so my father could get some new gear for the ocean and an upcoming trip to Florida.
Back then NED was located pretty much on the harbor front of Beverly, MA. As I remember the store was possibly a repurposed two-family home. It had a pool on the ground floor and the showroom per se was a series of hallways and small rooms. I remember posters of Sean Connery and the upcoming movie “Thunderball” posted all around. I also remember seeing lots of spearguns for sale and we thought they were so cool. There was only one other store at the time around here and it didn’t have the stock that NED had.
The other memorable thing that always made the trip there worthwhile was the pet piranha they had in the tank there. Holding your finger up to the tank and watching him try to bite it through the glass was great fun. I remember a Sea Hunt episode when Mike Nelson runs into a school of piranha and was glad he had his wetsuit on so they couldn’t bite through it. I am not sure if that was true but it was Sea Hunt and it was still cool. I won’t be testing that theory.
I got my first snorkeling set there, I think it was a Dolphin Brand kit. The fins had molded eyelets and a place to slice the foot pocket to add laces when you out grew them (they became my little brothers before that happened) also an oval mask with real glass that was clear, not orange and plastic like so many others of that era. The snorkel was a basic J with round rubber bite posts, which I haven’t seen on any snorkel since. That set got a lot of use until I out grew it.
I didn’t get certified until about 1975 when I was 17. At that point there were several dive stores in the area, so the 50 mile trip to Beverly wasn’t needed. NED moved at some point to Tozer Road in Beverly to a bigger facility. Unfortunately I never made it there before it went out of business. It is very hard to run a dive store in this area, especially away from the coast. NED was a big outfit and probably was the equivalent of Abercrombie and Fitch back when they were hunting/fishing and safari outfitters. They rebadged a lot of gear with their label, as it was a very well respected name in the diving community.
We are pretty much back to just a handful of Dive Shops in the area. A few more bit the dust in the past few years. Hopefully they will survive and thrive. It will be tough to get air on line.
I hope to get the time to get my NED rebadged Hydro Twin II soon and start using it. I have a DA with a Phoenix that I like a lot and a Voit Trieste that breaths OK but not great. It will be interesting to see how a stock Hydro Twin II will stack up against the Phoenix.
Good Luck in restoring the NED single hose. The NED name is a respected name and did a lot for the sport diving industry.
John
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Post by snark3 on Jun 4, 2018 14:55:55 GMT -8
Waldenwalrus, I got certified at New England Divers in 1975. I bought my first tanks there. Maybe when you get that rebadged Hydro-Twin II usable, we can get together for a dive. I'll use my rebadged Hydro-Twin that is currently in the cleaning and reassembly stage, and one of my 72's that still has the New England Divers sticker on it and the "Free Air For Life" sticker on it.
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Post by waldenwalrus on Jun 4, 2018 17:58:36 GMT -8
We can do that. I have to get my 1958 Healthways hydroed this year. it was my fathers. It should still pass. We don't have to wait for that to dive though
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 4, 2018 20:31:29 GMT -8
Walrus John, Have you tried to fit a Healthways diaphragm in the HTII? I think it'll work, but am not sure about the diameter. I may try one in my HTII just for fun when I replace my HP plunger. I would be nice to know if the silicone replacements for HW cans will work since there's no more HT diaphragms around. There's bad news and good news about the Healthways diaphragm on a Sportsways Hydro-Twin (or Duel Air). The bad news is that it doesn't fit. The good news is that the Healtheays Scuba diaphragm is about 1/8 inch in diameter bigger than the Sportsways Hydro-Twin diaphragm, and that the inside bevel should match the Hydro-Twin can. So you'll need to shave just about an eighth inch off the new silicone Healthways Scuba diaphragm to make it fit. By the way, I now have my Hydro-Rwin completely disassembled, including the can from the valve body. It turns out that I only used clear neoprene cement years ago to repair the gasket. I will be making a new one out of material I already have which I used on my scoop fin desig. John |
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Post by waldenwalrus on Jun 5, 2018 3:19:55 GMT -8
I was thinking about some of the Permatex form a gaskets. they have a product "Great Stuff" that I have used for oil pans and water pumps. it just works. I am concerned that if I bang the dent out of the pan I may increase that small gap that a form a gasket won't work. I will take a tracing regardless so I can cut one out for a plan b.
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 5, 2018 8:20:52 GMT -8
The diaphragm for the Hydro-Twin measures 12.3 cm, vs 12.7 cm for the Healthways Scuba diaphragm. That's 4 7/8 inches for Sportsways Vs 5 inches for Healthways.
Concerning the gasket, just about anything will do as long as it seals. The five screws should allow a good seal on a reasonably flat surface for the can. And, there is always neoprene cement to fill in if needed.
John
PS, since I am having to make one new gasket, I could easily make two. Or, I could trace one out on graph paper and post it here.
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Post by snark3 on Jul 1, 2018 8:49:00 GMT -8
I'm putting my Hydrotwin back together I picked up a 1/32" sheet of silicone to make a body to can gasket. Is this material strong enough to make a replacement gasket/seal for where the second stage housing meets the body. The second stage seat needs to be replaced. It appears to have been "flipped" in the past so I think I need a new one. I think a USD is slightly larger, worst case maybe I can cut down a USD "button" Thanks for any thoughts and help
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Post by nikeajax on Jul 1, 2018 17:19:52 GMT -8
I'm putting my Hydrotwin back together I picked up a 1/32" sheet of silicone to make a body to can gasket. Is this material strong enough to make a replacement gasket/seal for where the second stage housing meets the body. The second stage seat needs to be replaced. It appears to have been "flipped" in the past so I think I need a new one. I think a USD is slightly larger, worst case maybe I can cut down a USD "button" Thanks for any thoughts and help PM sent... JB |
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Post by SeaRat on Jul 2, 2018 8:25:54 GMT -8
I just got my Sportsways Hydro-Twin back together, after a complete overhaul and cleaning. Here are some highlights:
--I switched LP springs with a White Stag regulator's second stage spring. That brought the IP down to about 140 psig.
--I made a brand new gasket between the case and the regulator stages.
--I did need to bend the LP lever arms up to give better breathing. It now breathes great at about 140 psig.
John
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Post by nikeajax on Jul 2, 2018 11:45:58 GMT -8
EXCELLENT!  JB |
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