Yawana Dive
Regular Diver
Diving the Solomon Islands
Posts: 45
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Post by Yawana Dive on Jun 5, 2021 20:10:38 GMT -8
Sportsways Navy Unit - my new regulator “du jour”. I’ve serviced the 1st and 2nd stages and the overpressure gauge. The SPG reads fairly accurately. I was a bit dubious about diving a 50 year old high pressure hose so I plugged it into a later model 1st stage at 3,000 psi and left it for a day, and it’s fine. (It’s got to be the heaviest hose I’ve ever known. The 2nd stage diaphragm was a bit stiff so I employed John’s technique of smothering it in silicon grease and leaving it to soak for a week. I put it in a ziplock plastic bag and every time I passed it in the workroom I gave it a little massage. Now it’s like new. I’ve “tuned” the OPG to trickle a few bubbles when the tank is low and the IP increases. The J valve mechanism looks like new but it doesn’t really kick-in so I’m not relying on it. This morning I was exerting myself as I was swimming carrying large table corals to replant on the reef in front of the house. I was working the regulator hard and it breathed just fine. The tilt valve delivers the goods. It never ceases to amaze me how gear this old still works well. I also think this regulator is a fine looking bit of engineering design. I hope that you agree. Now let’s see if this bozo can manage to get the photo to post ... B4EAD3CB-E5B4-48F2-8D3B-482BA7E05DB8 by Andrew Trahair, on Flickr flic.kr/p/2m3U8w2Cheers Andrew
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 5, 2021 22:17:18 GMT -8
Andrew,
I have two Navy Units, and their design is pretty good. The first stage is extremely well designed for the location of the hoses.
Now, about that SPG, I would hesitate to use it at 3000 psi. I inadvertently did that, and it burst, on my Sea-Vu gauge. I’ve got a photo somewhere, but what happened is that it was on my Sportsways Hydro-Twin II, and I put it onto my new twin 40 AL tanks, at 3000 psi. About two minutes later, it let go with a very loud “BANG.” And.I had only brought that regulator to the dive site at High Rocks on the Clackamas River, so I never got wet. When these gauges were new, the steel tanks were 2475 psi at max. Now, fifty years later, they may not stand 3000 psi even though the gauge goes that high.
Yes, the tilt valve works pretty well, but will not give high performances at depth. This is why Dick Anderson at Healthways decided to go with the downstream design for the Healthways Scubair/Scuba Star series. JayBird has more on this with Healthways.
John
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Yawana Dive
Regular Diver
Diving the Solomon Islands
Posts: 45
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Post by Yawana Dive on Jun 5, 2021 23:19:58 GMT -8
Yes John, I’m only pumping bottles to 2225 these days. I really want to keep this gauge. It a beauty! I’ve only taken this rig down to 40 ft but I think it breathes just fine. The tilt valves are definitely more noisy, I can’t imagine the stealth navy seals using this gear on midnight sabotage missions in the 1960s.
My OCD has really kicked in since I got my box of treasures delivered a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been working on these bits and pieces every day. I’m currently tackling a Waterlung 1st with a damaged seat. I’ll take some photos and post tomorrow.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post by nikeajax on Jun 6, 2021 6:49:52 GMT -8
Andrew, yeah, those are cute regulators, aren't they I'm quite envious of how you're using these regs, working: how romantic and adventurous of you Oh, what's the date on the hose tag, 1961? JB
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Post by vance on Jun 6, 2021 7:32:30 GMT -8
Andrew,
Still no luck.
Open your flikr image, click on the arrow at the bottom right and a white box will open that gives you the choice of share, imbed, or bb code. Select bb code option by left clicking on it, and when it is highlighted blue copy it via ctrl c or right clicking and selecting copy.
Go back to your post and paste it via ctl v or right clicking and selecting paste.
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Post by vance on Jun 6, 2021 7:36:34 GMT -8
Andrew, Is your damaged Sportsways first stage seat removeable? What model is it? Most are just pressed in with an o'ring seal. I probably have a replacement seat if you can use it.
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 6, 2021 8:33:56 GMT -8
Here's what my gauge looks like now. _MG_8409 by John Ratliff, on Flickr Note the rusting on the wire webbing on this gauge. _MG_8408 by John Ratliff, on Flickr The reason I could not show it above is that I was working on my iPad, and I forgot my password for Flikr; so I could not sign in. Now, I'm on my computer, which has remembered it...I must be getting old. John
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Post by nikeajax on Jun 6, 2021 10:02:38 GMT -8
Andrew, as these diaphragms are impregnated with nylon, it's recommended that you massage them... a deep tissue massage! Twist, roll, scrunch, crumple, scrub and mash: it's nearly impossible to damage them doing this The idea is that the silicone will reactivate the polymers, but the massaging will help regain more flexibility too. Put on some music, or watch a TV show: half an hour is good, but an hour is even better, you don't need to be gentle either... JB
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Yawana Dive
Regular Diver
Diving the Solomon Islands
Posts: 45
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Post by Yawana Dive on Jun 6, 2021 19:20:42 GMT -8
This morning I successfully reconditioned the HP seat on my Sportsways Hydronaut. It had been damaged in it’s previous life, and there was a nick on the sealing part of the plastic seat at the point where it meets the stainless steel orifice block. It was too small to take a photo but here’s the regulator disassembled. 0C2A04E9-B986-4633-9186-80039354F5C7 by Andrew Trahair, on Flickr 6AA9DF88-095F-49D0-92D0-ADFD6FB523E9 by Andrew Trahair, on Flickr Following JB’s suggestion I set about putting the HP seat it in a drill to sand back the plastic, making a new sealing edge. His advice to use very fine sandpaper was noted, but unfortunately, one of the disadvantages of not living in the the civilised world is a noticeable absence of fine grit sandpaper. In fact hardware stores are a rare find out here in the pacific wilderness. So I used the inside surface of a clam shell (see photo) then polished it up on the blade of a stainless steel dive knife. (Something about the mother of invention....?) 27A462B3-BFB1-4380-B33C-98818ECFB187 by Andrew Trahair, on Flickr It took a couple of hours drilling, tweaking and rebuilding, then returning to the clamshell and Makita, but eventually I got the seat to lock up nicely. Here’s the Waterlung Hydronaut assembled before taking it for a dive after completion. I hope you like it as much as I do! C27600EC-A57B-4940-9879-EAA34BFA6304 by Andrew Trahair, on Flickr Cheers Andrew PS - thanks JB!
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Post by herman on Jun 7, 2021 2:05:58 GMT -8
I have not messed with one of these regs but based on the photos, the first stage appears to be balanced. If it is, there is another oring inside the round piece ABOVE the spring, the HP seat stem goes through it (part far right in the photos). It will be tiny (an 006 most likely) but it is very important. If it's bad, you will have IP creep at a minimum. The stem of the HP seat needs to be well lubricated to protect the oring. Also, I don't see a main spring in the photos, I assume you just forgot to put it in the shot.
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Yawana Dive
Regular Diver
Diving the Solomon Islands
Posts: 45
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Post by Yawana Dive on Jun 7, 2021 3:25:42 GMT -8
Hi Herman You are correct about the small oring in the piece above the spring (balance chamber?) I replaced it. The main spring is the piece third from the left in the main photo. It’s just difficult to make it out as it’s standing up.
Thanks for the feedback.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post by nikeajax on Jun 7, 2021 7:22:49 GMT -8
Dude, you totally rock: I'm always flattered when someone takes my advice, yet does me one better--BRAVO! JB
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Post by SeaRat on Jun 7, 2021 8:06:00 GMT -8
Using the shell was a brilliant decision. You've got a very nice regulator now. Happy Diving!
By the way, I have a Sportsways Sport Diver II, which a friend gave me some years ago. The exhaust "T" on it was the same as yours above, but had deteriorated as it is made of neoprene. So I substituted an original "T" on it and have now been using it. The original "T" will never deteriorate, and if you have that problem, you also have that option.
Photos later. Now, it's about time for me to head out and do a dive with my Aqueon in the Clackamas River.
John
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Post by vance on Jun 7, 2021 8:12:16 GMT -8
Andrew, Glad to see you are able to post your photos, and that your seat is ok now. I jumped to the conclusion the hard seat was bad. I happen to have the soft seats as well, should you need one down the line. That first stage is essentially the one used in the HydroTwin II, but the HTII body casting had a drilling and seat for the second stage and ears for the top box mounting screws. You might find this set up in some SW first stages as well,
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Post by vance on Jun 7, 2021 8:32:51 GMT -8
Interestingly, the first regulator of the SportsWays DH series, the DualAir, had a similar first stage, and used a tilt valve second stage. There are probably other double hose regs that used tilt valves, but I can't think of one, off-hand. The closest I know of is the Nemrod Snarks, which had an upstream second stage, but didn't use a tilt valve.
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