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Post by rikdog7 on Sept 29, 2020 16:06:59 GMT -8
So after several hours of reading suggested threads and looking at my new gear collection I am taking advice from both threads that I started. I am going to attempt to put into service the twinset with Sherwood valves and start rebuilding the U.S. Divers regulators. I am going to buy one of the rebuild books. Still deciding which one to buy first. I am a details kind of guy that loves to know how things work, but I also like it when someone just tells me how to do something sometimes.
Then I will work on rebuilding my Voit. Once it is operational it will get the center spot and I will put a multi-port regulator on the outer post and learn to dive double hose.
And eventually I will oil up in a vintage wetsuit and pretend to be a vintage diver. Thanks for the loads of comments and inspiration. Rick
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Post by james1979 on Sept 29, 2020 16:46:42 GMT -8
Rick,
For the USD regs, it looks like you have a Conshelf XI, a Calypso IV, an Aquarius, and a Deepstar. All the USD seconds in that picture are the same internally (even the plastic bodied one). Different size exhaust valves likely on some of them, but diaphragm, lever, poppet, seat, and inlet fittings are all parts interchangeable.
I personally don't trust that generation of plastic USD seconds (the black yellow Conshelfs in the picture)... they are prone to cracking around the inlet fitting. Make sure you check close for hairline cracks in those plastic bodies there. I tend to just strip them for parts now.
Look on Vintage Double Hose... at the bottom of the page is a link to manuals and catalogs. There is a wealth of info there. The whole USD Conshelf series of first stages is parts interchangeable inside, so I just use the Conshelf XIV technical manual for all of them. I'm a pretty big fan of the Conshelf! I also have a pretty good stock of parts for Conshelf seconds, and rebuild parts for the 1st stages. Let me know if you have any trouble finding something.
I'm not up to speed on the Calypso IV or DeepStar 1st's, but I've rebuild a couple of the old Aquarius', and like them. Simple, reliable flow by piston. Not balanced, but stupid reliable.
Respectfully,
James
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Post by cnotthoff on Sept 29, 2020 17:25:24 GMT -8
Rick, I noticed in the picture of the Mares pneumatic speargun, that the shaft is loaded in the gun. Unless all pressure has been bled from the gun, that thing is loaded. On top of being dangerous, storing a pneumatic gun that way leaves the barrel exposed to the elements and subject to corrosion. The gun should be stored with the shaft out of it. I once found a customer had loaded a speargun in our store and was asking me how far it would shoot. I responded that it would go out to the end of that string then right back at him. Be very careful unloading that gun. Good Dives, Charlie Wow, thank you! That is a good selling point for why you post pictures and always, always, always treat a weapon like it is loaded. Because if you don't know any better, it might end in a bad way. So I aimed it into a clearing barrel, a.k.a. the grass in my backyard, and checked and it did not have any pressure thankfully. And to top it off, the safety was off. Being ignorant is not where I like to find myself. Thanks Charlie! Rick Rick, The shaft is propelled by a piston the seals the pressurized air and oil inside the gun. If nothing happened and the shaft is still in the gun, then the piston is at the bottom of the barrel. That leaves the aluminum barrel exposed to the elements and it will corrode. Then the piston seals will leak. It's actually ok to use that pump to put a few strokes of pressure driving the piston to the end. Then the barrel is only exposed to oily air. It's a nice gun. Take care of it and have safe fun. Good Dives, Charlie
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Post by snark3 on Sept 30, 2020 12:26:40 GMT -8
Rick- Once you go down the rabbit hole you'll find it's bottomless. I decided I wanted to fix the Snark 3 a neighbor gave me in 1977 or 78. Now I have 4 working DAAM's, 3 working Snark 3's (including the original one) a Sportsways Hydro twin II, a New England Divers rebranded Hydro Twin I. I have 5 or 6 more double hose projects, and I just picked up a New England divers rebranded Hydro Twin II. I also have a container full of old single hose projects, and a slew of vintage tanks. This stuff is just so cool, and gets lots of reaction from other divers when I use them.
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Post by nikeajax on Sept 30, 2020 12:54:33 GMT -8
I totally agree with Skip, but I like to diversify my depraved manias collections! I especially like old outdoor gear, fishing, hunting and camping, but now I've found myself making wild-crafted beers: no traditional ingredients!
JB
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Post by rikdog7 on Sept 30, 2020 21:22:30 GMT -8
You guys are spot on, and I can see now I am going to have to re-do my home office to make an appropriate work station so I can get busy rebuilding all of this stuff. My wife is going to trade me some furniture so I can have an appropriate storage/display case. I already broke most of the gear into pieces and have started evaluating which ones are for my own use and which ones I will pass on to someone else. I hope to have a list of available pieces up by next week. I leave tomorrow for a camping, full moon kayaking, and diving weekend, so this little project will have to wait until after the weekend. Safe Dives, Rick
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Post by DavidRitchieWilson on Sept 30, 2020 22:24:22 GMT -8
And eventually I will oil up in a vintage wetsuit and pretend to be a vintage diver. Rick Don't forget to accessorise with period-appropriate fins, mask and snorkel. No plastic or silicone basic gear if you want to look the real McCoy. No, I don't mean him, although I love the show. DRW
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Post by rikdog7 on Oct 2, 2020 17:25:50 GMT -8
Rick, For the USD regs, it looks like you have a Conshelf XI, a Calypso IV, an Aquarius, and a Deepstar. All the USD seconds in that picture are the same internally (even the plastic bodied one). Different size exhaust valves likely on some of them, but diaphragm, lever, poppet, seat, and inlet fittings are all parts interchangeable. I personally don't trust that generation of plastic USD seconds (the black yellow Conshelfs in the picture)... they are prone to cracking around the inlet fitting. Make sure you check close for hairline cracks in those plastic bodies there. I tend to just strip them for parts now. James, I really appreciate the help. I somehow missed your post in the middle of my investigation into my loaded spear-gun... I am not a fan of the plastic either and already found a crack in the yellow 2nd at the inlet. It is a display piece now. Well, it looks like I have a good product sample of USD regs. I also just found the VDH manual section today so I can start working on some inspections. I am beginning to better understand what I actually have. Now I feel like a little kid at Christmas, I don't know which one to play with first. I am looking at all of the possibilities... Rick
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Post by rikdog7 on Oct 2, 2020 21:16:56 GMT -8
Rick, For the USD regs, it looks like you have a Conshelf XI, a Calypso IV, an Aquarius, and a Deepstar. All the USD seconds in that picture are the same internally (even the plastic bodied one). Different size exhaust valves likely on some of them, but diaphragm, lever, poppet, seat, and inlet fittings are all parts interchangeable. I did a search on the forum and didn't see anyone posting where to get parts. Is this a good source for my rebuild kit for the Conshelf? www.silentexplorers.com/online-store/Aqau-Lung-Titan-09-%26-Conshelf-1st-Stage-Kit-900001-p96552497Thanks, Rick
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Post by scubalawyer on Oct 2, 2020 21:39:59 GMT -8
Rick, For the USD regs, it looks like you have a Conshelf XI, a Calypso IV, an Aquarius, and a Deepstar. All the USD seconds in that picture are the same internally (even the plastic bodied one). Different size exhaust valves likely on some of them, but diaphragm, lever, poppet, seat, and inlet fittings are all parts interchangeable. I did a search on the forum and didn't see anyone posting where to get parts. Is this a good source for my rebuild kit for the Conshelf? www.silentexplorers.com/online-store/Aqau-Lung-Titan-09-%26-Conshelf-1st-Stage-Kit-900001-p96552497Thanks, Rick vintagedoublehose.com/store/#!/Titan-&-Conshelf-First-Stage-Service-kit-SE3-SE2-SE-21-22-30-VI-XI-XII-XIV/p/14795217 They have 2nd stage service kits too.
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Post by james1979 on Oct 3, 2020 3:57:32 GMT -8
Rick, For the USD regs, it looks like you have a Conshelf XI, a Calypso IV, an Aquarius, and a Deepstar. All the USD seconds in that picture are the same internally (even the plastic bodied one). Different size exhaust valves likely on some of them, but diaphragm, lever, poppet, seat, and inlet fittings are all parts interchangeable. I did a search on the forum and didn't see anyone posting where to get parts. Is this a good source for my rebuild kit for the Conshelf? www.silentexplorers.com/online-store/Aqau-Lung-Titan-09-%26-Conshelf-1st-Stage-Kit-900001-p96552497Thanks, Rick As Mark said, VDH is a good source (not just for the Conshelf, Bryan also has kits for the Aquarius and most stuff for the Calypso).
I have new faceplates, box clamps, and inlet fittings for the 1085/Conshelf second stages.
respectfully,
James
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Post by nikeajax on Oct 3, 2020 9:48:51 GMT -8
Rick, how confident are you in your mechanical skills? What if you re-jet that Voit once you've played with it? You'll Phil, I mean fill the jet with JayBird-Weld (JB Weld) and drill a new one facing in the right direction... Just a thought! JB
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Post by rikdog7 on Oct 3, 2020 12:46:41 GMT -8
I try to not be overly confident, but I do have some mechanical skills I guess. I made a variable flow vent for my smoker way before Brinkman ever produced one with a vent on the lid. I designed one that I thought would give me a linear flow curve as I opened it. I was trying to fine tune the temperature using a wood fire. It seemed to work well. That was before electric and propane smokers were a thing in a regular store. I used to consider that as cheating, now I own one. Kind of like a dive computer I guess. Shorter answer, I have a good drill press and vice and I am not afraid to use it. I've been trying to figure out a way to make an adequate poppet valve tool because I don't want to wait to get one by mail. I thought about slotting a piece of copper pipe, but I might just order the proper tool You guys keep dragging me way down this rabbit hole... Rick
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Post by nikeajax on Oct 3, 2020 13:15:49 GMT -8
You guys keep dragging me way down this rabbit hole... Rick Glad we can oblige my good fellow Did you know that the tern "down the rabbit hole" comes from "Alice in Wonderland"? JB
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Post by james1979 on Oct 3, 2020 13:43:28 GMT -8
I've been trying to figure out a way to make an adequate poppet valve tool because I don't want to wait to get one by mail. I thought about slotting a piece of copper pipe, but I might just order the proper tool You guys keep dragging me way down this rabbit hole... Rick Rick,
If you're talking about the poppet tool for the 1085/Conshelf second stage, then I recommend getting the right tool eventually. It's pretty cheap, and pretty handy. In the mean time, I started out by putting a whittled down wooden chopstick up along side the poppet (from the inlet fitting side) to wedge it in place while I used a 1/4 inch box wrench on the poppet nut. Ghetto, but effective! If you lack the chopstick, any material softer than the chrome in the poppet bore can be suitable. Don't tell anyone, but I've used a small flat head screwdriver in a pinch.
Respectfully,
James
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