Dive with healthways SCUBA

[spirou]

Hello guys,

I like to try regulators, when I dive, especially double hose It is like diving In history,  

Today I try for the first time a regulator that I purchase to Phil in April 2020, it was the first regulator, that I purchase to Phil, and my second American double hose, (the first was a DAAM) few weeks before.

So the scuba , was immediately dismantled and checked when he arrived in my hand, but as the exhaust systems seems to be  uncertain, I preferred waiting until......today.

To fixed the issue of what I think a lack, I place  a mushroom valve just in the entry of the exhaust pipe of the box.

So the SCUBA that I used was a bit modified, I also use a modern SILICONE  diaphragm, and a moderne bleu silicone loop , with a hourglass mouthpiece.

Few weekends ago i tested a R2,  compared with the DACOR I fell the Scuba more comfortable, I don't need to pull, to have air like with the DACOR. The exhalation is a bit harder with the scuba.  I  just keep sometimes water from the dry chamber, due to the bad assembly of the exhaust rubber sheet. I wait some pieces for that. So I must cleared  few times the loop.

Next step try the R2 and scuba in there original confirmation, to which was the best in end 50's,  sure the daam, and the mistral were much better, but just for the fun a R2 vs SCUBA, in future.

Cheers 

Fred 

[spirou]

Few photos

IMG_3672 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

IMG_20240714_131552_752 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr


IMG_20240714_132344_022 by Patrick Michel, sur Flickr

[spirou]

I made a little video,

Enjoy


youtu.be/vWr-aQ3uqPQ?si=Euo8uUH8yyF36IIH

[vance]

That’s a gnarly looking exhaust diaphragm Fred!

When you get the new style exhaust diaphragm parts installed you probably won’t need the mushroom valve. That will improve the exhaust effort by a lot. Love the video!

[spirou]

Jul 14, 2024 8:27:30 GMT -8 vance said:

That’s a gnarly looking exhaust diaphragm Fred!

When you get the new style exhaust diaphragm parts installed you probably won’t need the mushroom valve. That will improve the exhaust effort by a lot. Love the video!

I agree, i'try something, and test, it was not the good idea,🙄 the clamp, tightened not enough the thin silicone sheet, so I almost immediately, heard it the sound of water inside the dry chamber of the reg😤 .  

A good reason to practise  the "clear the loop"😅,  but I really enjoy this dive, with lots of fish. 

When the pieces arrived, I immediately place it , and try to go dive with the upgrade.

I think the mushroom valve, may be should stay, it was very efficient, and I fell the exhale effort was not  high,  same feeling than a 🦆 bill.   
R2,3,4 with the big mushroom are very comfortable. 

Happy that you like my little video

Cheers 
Fred

[SeaRat]

Fred,

I have been diving the Healthways Scuba regulator since I started diving in 1959; it was my first (used) regulator, bought with money I earned picking strawberries and beans for an entire summer. I picked it over the U.S. Divers Company Mistral and the Dacor R-3 (it was too expensive). I liked the smooth breathing. Here are two of mine:

IMG_0749 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
These are two I got off EBay.

I have a few suggestions for you to improve the breathing of the Healthways Scuba. First, the exhaust.

The original Healthways Scuba did not have a backup for the exhaust diaphragm. But after testing, they found out that the exhaust diaphragm did now work well when the diver was in a head-down position, as it allowed water into the exhaust hose (the "dry chamber" that you refer to). I've used my Healtthways Scuba without a backup exhaust duckbill or mushroom valve. It breaths wonderfully, except when head-down. Then you simply have to blow out forceably to remove the water that trickled up into the hose. It is not hard to do, and you don't need to remove the mouthpiece to do it. Here's what the original configuration looked like:

IMG_0778 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Note both the exhaust diaphragm, which I reconditioned with silicone grease, and the orientation of the levers.

For best inhalation breathing, the two levers need to be rotated to a 90 degree angle to the intake horn. There is then a slight Venturi action due to the orientation of the outlet air coming from the valve.

Healthways Scuba Hybrid5 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Note that most exhalation tubes have holes drilled as an "auxillary exhaust" if the neoprene-impregnated nylon exhaust diaphragm got stuck. This needs to be covered with a rubber band, as it is exposed to outside water.

Also, I have removed the original valve, and replaced it with the valve from the Healthways Gold Label, and call it by hybrid Healthways Scuba regulator.

Now, here's my comments on the home-made exhaust diaphragm; you need to replace the silicone sheet with a thinner materias. In this photo, I'm using sheet latex from a surgeon's glove. I have since upgraded this with a sheet made from a surgeon's nitril (blue) glove. This works extremely well. I use the origanl wire clamp, but also have Shoe-Goo to ensure a seal around the sheet nitril. To ensure that the nitril sheet remains intact, my hybrid Scuba regulator has a double layier of the material over the exhaust.

Now, if you wish to have no water come up into the exhaust, what I have done is to save an old duckbill from a U.S. Divers Compayn double hose regulator (DA Aquamaster/Mistral) that has deteriorated, and used what is left to cut down the duckbill to fin insed the exhaust horn. It doesn't have to be perfect, as all it is doing is inhibiting water entry into the hose from outside. So the openings can be much larger (keep the end intact though).

IMG_2688 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is a cut-down version of a duckbill from a DA Aquamaster that I have used in my Healthways Scuba regulator.

With these modifications, the Healthways Scuba performs much better, and the Hybrid Healthways Scuba performs as well as, or better than, the U.S. Divers Company Mistral (which is saying a lot).

I made some calculations on the Healthways Scuba exhaust, which I've already posted on other threads here. But here they are again:

Healthways Scuba Exhaust Calcs by John Ratliff, on Flickr
This calculation shows that the exhaust effort is about 1.9 ouces, which is very low.

SCUBA vs Aquamaster001 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
This diagram shows that the difference between the U.S. Divers Company exhaust (DA Aquamaste/Royal Aquamaster & Mistral) and the Healthways Scuba are about one inche of water pressure better for the Healthways Scuba regulator's exhaust.

Enjoy,

John

[cg43]

Hello Fred


John writes:

Note that most exhalation tubes have holes drilled as an "auxillary exhaust" if the neoprene-impregnated nylon exhaust diaphragm got stuck. This needs to be covered with a rubber band, as it is exposed to outside water.

I hope your reg. has this holes as it is important for your safety .
This "auxilary exhaust" has to open in 3 cases .

1.) as John writes if the exhaust diaphragm sticks to the big exhaust horn orivice .
 2.) If the inhale one way valve in the mouthpiece don't close properly the exhause pressure generated
by your lung goes on both sides of the diaphragm . The can side has the greater area and closes the exhause .

Both cases are no danger because you can breath out through your nose ore lips .

3.) The first (and only) stage don't close , a serious freeflow occurs .
The pressure in the can in combination with the greater area inside the can close the exhaust properly .
Without the auxilary exhaust valve the diver is feed with pressure and may be injured .

Without this auxilary exhause valve i would not breath this reg.
It is easy to test this valve .
Remove or block the inhale valve in the mouthpiece in the way that the valve is open all the time .
This lesds to case 2.) You can keep the tank valve closed .
Try to breath out . This must be possibel , not too easy and not too hart .

Greetings    Rainer

[spirou]

Jul 14, 2024 17:02:35 GMT -8 SeaRat said:

Fred,

I have been diving the Healthways Scuba regulator since I started diving in 1959; it was my first (used) regulator, bought with money I earned picking strawberries and beans for an entire summer. I picked it over the U.S. Divers Company Mistral and the Dacor R-3 (it was too expensive). I liked the smooth breathing. Here are two of mine:

IMG_0749 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
These are two I got off EBay.

I have a few suggestions for you to improve the breathing of the Healthways Scuba. First, the exhaust.

The original Healthways Scuba did not have a backup for the exhaust diaphragm. But after testing, they found out that the exhaust diaphragm did now work well when the diver was in a head-down position, as it allowed water into the exhaust hose (the "dry chamber" that you refer to). I've used my Healtthways Scuba without a backup exhaust duckbill or mushroom valve. It breaths wonderfully, except when head-down. Then you simply have to blow out forceably to remove the water that trickled up into the hose. It is not hard to do, and you don't need to remove the mouthpiece to do it. Here's what the original configuration looked like:

IMG_0778 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Note both the exhaust diaphragm, which I reconditioned with silicone grease, and the orientation of the levers.

For best inhalation breathing, the two levers need to be rotated to a 90 degree angle to the intake horn. There is then a slight Venturi action due to the orientation of the outlet air coming from the valve.

Healthways Scuba Hybrid5 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Note that most exhalation tubes have holes drilled as an "auxillary exhaust" if the neoprene-impregnated nylon exhaust diaphragm got stuck. This needs to be covered with a rubber band, as it is exposed to outside water.

Also, I have removed the original valve, and replaced it with the valve from the Healthways Gold Label, and call it by hybrid Healthways Scuba regulator.

Now, here's my comments on the home-made exhaust diaphragm; you need to replace the silicone sheet with a thinner materias. In this photo, I'm using sheet latex from a surgeon's glove. I have since upgraded this with a sheet made from a surgeon's nitril (blue) glove. This works extremely well. I use the origanl wire clamp, but also have Shoe-Goo to ensure a seal around the sheet nitril. To ensure that the nitril sheet remains intact, my hybrid Scuba regulator has a double layier of the material over the exhaust.

Now, if you wish to have no water come up into the exhaust, what I have done is to save an old duckbill from a U.S. Divers Compayn double hose regulator (DA Aquamaster/Mistral) that has deteriorated, and used what is left to cut down the duckbill to fin insed the exhaust horn. It doesn't have to be perfect, as all it is doing is inhibiting water entry into the hose from outside. So the openings can be much larger (keep the end intact though).

IMG_2688 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
Here is a cut-down version of a duckbill from a DA Aquamaster that I have used in my Healthways Scuba regulator.

With these modifications, the Healthways Scuba performs much better, and the Hybrid Healthways Scuba performs as well as, or better than, the U.S. Divers Company Mistral (which is saying a lot).

I made some calculations on the Healthways Scuba exhaust, which I've already posted on other threads here. But here they are again:

Healthways Scuba Exhaust Calcs by John Ratliff, on Flickr
This calculation shows that the exhaust effort is about 1.9 ouces, which is very low.

SCUBA vs Aquamaster001 by John Ratliff, on Flickr
This diagram shows that the difference between the U.S. Divers Company exhaust (DA Aquamaste/Royal Aquamaster & Mistral) and the Healthways Scuba are about one inche of water pressure better for the Healthways Scuba regulator's exhaust.

Enjoy,

John

Hello John,

In my mind the "dry chamber" is the chamber with the first stage, and lever. (Sorry I have not a perfect English   and sometimes it is difficult to find the good word) I  had no problem with the exhalation.  Water comes inside between the exhale diaphragm, and the box.
May be for different reasons, or one reason, I think the nitrile sheet is may be too thin, and also the clamp not enough tight.  The water arrives from the inhale side.

When I open the regulator, there are lot of water inside.

But next dive, the issue is gone be solved.

Thanks for your drawing, and explanations,  the SCUBA is very particular with the pipe in the same part of the box, and same level. I am asking myself if this design, was done to have no problem with the Cousteau Gagnan patent.


Cheers 
Fred 

[spirou]

Jul 15, 2024 8:22:02 GMT -8 cg43 said:

Hello Fred


John writes:

Note that most exhalation tubes have holes drilled as an "auxillary exhaust" if the neoprene-impregnated nylon exhaust diaphragm got stuck. This needs to be covered with a rubber band, as it is exposed to outside water.

I hope your reg. has this holes as it is important for your safety .
This "auxilary exhaust" has to open in 3 cases .

1.) as John writes if the exhaust diaphragm sticks to the big exhaust horn orivice .
 2.) If the inhale one way valve in the mouthpiece don't close properly the exhause pressure generated
by your lung goes on both sides of the diaphragm . The can side has the greater area and closes the exhause .

Both cases are no danger because you can breath out through your nose ore lips .

3.) The first (and only) stage don't close , a serious freeflow occurs .
The pressure in the can in combination with the greater area inside the can close the exhaust properly .
Without the auxilary exhaust valve the diver is feed with pressure and may be injured .

Without this auxilary exhause valve i would not breath this reg.
It is easy to test this valve .
Remove or block the inhale valve in the mouthpiece in the way that the valve is open all the time .
This lesds to case 2.) You can keep the tank valve closed .
Try to breath out . This must be possibel , not too easy and not too hart .

Greetings    Rainer

Hello Rainer,

I am happy to read you

It's always interesting, to read your advise, and analysis.

My regulator had, the holes, and the rubber band ( auxiliary exhaust), to prevent the problem, that you explained.

I  hope to dive soon again. But after fixing the issue of water entry. I was not so much, I clear the inhale hose, and the dry chamber, 6 or 7 times, during the dive (40minutes).

I stay always ready to switch with the second regulator during the dive.

Cheers 

Fred 

[spirou]

Another thing,

During the dive. I breathe with different positions head up, down, roll on right or left , same behaviour than other DH.

[vance]

It is my opinion that the Scuba works best without a duckbill or additional in the horn or in the hose exhaust valves. Some water intrusion into the hose should not be a problem since it only happens head down. It does not always happen while head down, though.

Also, only the earliest Scubas did not have the auxiliary exhaust horn drillings. I have mentioned elsewhere that the excess cut from the end of a USD duckbill cuff is perfect for replacing the "rubberband" that HW used to cover the auxiliary holes. It's not easy to get on properly, and care must be taken to fit the band over all the holes.

In this photo you can see the band around the exhaust horn interior end. The duckbill is a hand dipped attempt at a functional part. It's a bit stiff.
IMG_5525 by Vancetp, on Flickr

[cg43]

Hello Vance

Found in your fotoscream that you did a lot of work with DIY duckbills in the horn .
Have you tested whether the duckbills restricted the airflow of the auxilary exhause valve ?

For testing :
Close the horn opening by removing the inhale valve in the mouthpiece  or fix inhale valve in position open .
Now exhale as quick and as much as you can .
The only way out for the exhale now is the auxilary exhause valve .
There should be no great difference in exhale resistance with duckbill or without duckbill in the horn .
Obviously nothing in the horn is best for safety .
Very good idea to use excess rubber from a duckbill for replace an old rubberband .


Greetings    Rainer

[vance]

A flexible duckbill that can "balloon" in the case of a stuck exhaust diaphragm could block the auxiliary valve. That would be bad, but not deadly since you can exhale around the mouthpiece or through the nose.

I spent a lot of time on Scuba mods including duckbills. I abandoned duckbills because they are unnecessary and very restrictive. The Scuba valve can be modded to provide GL performance. Using a duckbill in it is akin to putting a lawnmower muffler on a motorcycle.

There doesn't seem to be any point in improving the inhalation characteristics and at the same time increasing the exhaust effort to the point of unpleasantness.

[cg43]

Hello Vance

Thank you for sharing your great experience with the Scuba .


My warning of danger from a discharged exhalation referred to the case of a serious freeflow.
Something like this rarely happens, but at least in germany the tester of a single hose reg. was killed in this way.
The first stage did not close, the much too high intermediate pressure caused a strong freeflow of the second stage,
the exhalation valve could not release the pressure quickly enough, the tester did not get rid of the mouthpiece
quickly enough and died  from the consequences of the overpressure in the mouthpiece .


Why did the first version of the Scuba not have an additional exhalation valve ?

I guess Healthway took over the exhaust construction of the Scott Hydro Pak without realizing that the Scott
full face make itself acts as a very huge auxilary exhalation valve.
In any case, they have quickly fixed this security deficiency.

Greetings    Rainer

[SeaRat]

Jul 16, 2024 7:35:21 GMT -8 vance said:

A flexible duckbill that can "balloon" in the case of a stuck exhaust diaphragm could block the auxiliary valve. That would be bad, but not deadly since you can exhale around the mouthpiece or through the nose.

I spent a lot of time on Scuba mods including duckbills. I abandoned duckbills because they are unnecessary and very restrictive. The Scuba valve can be modded to provide GL performance. Using a duckbill in it is akin to putting a lawnmower muffler on a motorcycle.

There doesn't seem to be any point in improving the inhalation characteristics and at the same time increasing the exhaust effort to the point of unpleasantness.

I think if you ploce the duckbill in like I did, that it would be above those holes and would not, under any circumstances, block the axillary exhaust.

John