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Post by Terry on Mar 22, 2008 14:20:45 GMT -8
Just received a Healthways Scuba Star in the mail that I won on ebay the other day. YEAH; I know it's a single hose; but it's just like the one which was my very first reg back in 1962; so I just had to have it. If possible I'm looking for any schematics and info regarding dissassembly / re-assembly and adjustment of this reg. If I can get it up and running I might just take it out for a few dives; if not I've got a really nice wall hanger. Thanks! Terry
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 22, 2008 18:04:27 GMT -8
Hi Terry,
My second regulator was a Scuba Star, and I did the same thing you did, bought one off ebay. This is a very simple regulator, with a piston first stage and a upstream tilt valve second stage. It probably does not need much to get it back into the water, but remember that you need to ensure that the overpressure relief valve on the first stage remains there. The overpressure relief valve is the way that excess pressure is bled off the hose system if there is a first stage leak. Because of this (I'll have to look on mine later tonight) I don't think there is an available LP port for any other LP devices with this regulator. I know that I did not use one in my diving in the 1960s with it. You should open up the first stage by putting a CO2 cartridge (many don't know that the thread diameter of the CO2 cartridge and the LP port of old regulators was the same thread size), use it as a handle, and with a large cresent unscrew the top cap. Take out the piston and check the O-ring, as it may need replacing. The seat should be just fine, as it doesn't see pressure unless there is HP air in the regulator. I would not pull the tilt valve assembly apart though, unless it is leaking. The circlip ("swivel retainer" according to Healthways terminology) that holds it together may either break or distort.
Performance of this regulator is undeniably bad. It has a tilt valve second stage which is hard to breath, and the diaphragm is not too flexible (at least, mine was not). The exhaust is also very small and restricted. I took mine into the pool, and decided I would make it a wall hanger after that--it was not as impressive as when I was 17 years old.
This regulator, with parts diagrams and a trouble shooting guide, is in Fred Roberts' book, Basic Scuba[/B]. According to Fred Roberts, the Scuba Star, which came out in 1960, represented the second regulator to come out with a piston first stage. The first was a very rare double hose called the "Airmaster," by DESCO, which had a manufacturing tolerance problem that "caused early extinction of the "Airmaster." I don't think I've ever even seen a photo of that regulator. So there is a place in history for the Scuba Star. But I would not take it into open water, due to its inherent limitations.
John
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Post by Terry on Mar 22, 2008 18:50:20 GMT -8
Hi John: Thanks for the info. I looked through my copy of Basic Scuba (1960 edition) earlier this evening but didn't see anything regarding the Scuba Star. I'll have to take another look so I can read up on it before I tear this reg down. Like yours; mine will most likely wind up on the wall; but I would at least like to try it out in our pool this summer. I'll most likely be surprised when I use this reg in regards to it's ease of breathing. Having just turned 61 yesterday might also convince me that it breated much easier at 17. Aah; those were the days! ;D If I'm able to get the time off from work this summer I'd like to make it to Wazee again this year; but if I'm not able to make Wazee then I hope to make it to Portage. I hope to see you at one of these events; it would be great to be able to get in some dives with you - DOUBLE HOSE of course! Thanks again! Terry
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 22, 2008 20:29:49 GMT -8
Terry, That probably explains it...mine is the second edition of Basic Scuba[/B]. The Scuba Star came out in 1960, so the first edition of the book would not cover it. Also, having just turned 62, I relate to your statement. Here's a photo of me with the Scuba Star in probably 1962. I did look at my Scuba Star, and it has only the one LP port, and that is for the overpressure relief valve. This was when a single hose regulator was a single hose regulator, unless you put a gauge on it. By the way, the Scuba Star usually came with a "K-restrictor" orifice just under the sintered filter, which was the Healthways way of providing a reserve function to their regulators. If so, you will find it with a very tiny hole in the center, the restrictor. If you use the regulator on a J-reserve valve with the "K-restrictor" orifice, be sure to have the J-valve in the "down" position (no reserve), as it will interfere with the operation of the K-restrictor orifice. John
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Post by vintagefrank on Mar 23, 2008 0:24:09 GMT -8
Hi Terry,
give me your email adress and I send you a copy of the 62 Healthways catalog - it covers the breakdowns of the regs by 62 including your reg.
best regards frank
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Post by Terry on Mar 23, 2008 5:50:14 GMT -8
Hi Frank: Thanks for your offer and help. My email address is: tjrss@coslink.net Happy Easter! Terry
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Post by Broxton Coalition on Mar 23, 2008 7:16:49 GMT -8
hi terry, that healthways project looks fun. single or double it doesn't matter. good luck with it and i hope you will get out and dive it this year. that is the fun of all this: working equiptment restoration! see you at wazee with that relic! john, thanks for every one of the pictures you have posted on this site. where was the photo taken in this thread? looks like you were after the big snapper with that gun! mike
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 23, 2008 12:06:59 GMT -8
Well, Terry I'm going to eat my words on the Scuba Star. I took it into the pool today, along with my Healthways Scuab and Scuba Deluxe regulators, and a USD Mistral. I had a thoroughly enjoyable dive, and the Scuba Star performed reasonably well.
Mike, the photo was taken, probably in 1962 at an unknown dive site in Puget Sound, Washington. The speargun I was using was a Champion Deluxe with a weighted head that was said to penetrate just about anything. I was hunting for ling cob, if possible, but found a cabazon and took a shot at it. It was a huge cabazon (a very large salt water sculpin with a huge head). I aimed between its eyes to get a killing shot, and pulled the trigger. After that, there was a huge cloud of silt as the fish whirled away and went under the pilings. My spear, which hit is where I aimed, had bounced off the creature's skull. So much for the weighted head helping. So I didn't get the fish that day.
John
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Post by Terry on Mar 23, 2008 12:48:23 GMT -8
Hi John: Well; we've had a quiet and enjoyable Easter Sunday at home, and I've been studying "The Vintage Bible", and found some interesting info regarding a Sportsways Waterlung. In the 1st edition of "Basic Scuba"Fred Roberts states on page 139 in regards to the Waterlung: "The regulator was designed by Sam Lecocq, who also developed the Healthways Scuba regulator". That was all the info I needed to take a closer look at The Sportsways Waterlung, and by carefully studying the schematic on page 141 it appears to be very similar to The Healthways Scuba Star. The only main difference that I can see is that The Waterlung has an adjusting screw (part #27) which is for the purpose of adjusting the I/P; but The Healthways Scuba Star does not have any such screw. Which leads me to the next question - How does one adjust the I/P on The Scuba Star. By the way; you really did'nt need to rub it in that you got into the pool today ; ours is still covered with ice and snow on the winter cover. Terry
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Post by SeaRat on Mar 23, 2008 16:50:09 GMT -8
Terry, The second stages of the Sportsways Warterlung and the Scuba Star are very close to identical. The first stage of the Sportsways Waterlung is a spring biased diaphragm, much like the Scubair, but not at all like the Scuba Star. The Scuba Star is much, much simplier, with only two moving parts, the piston (with its O-ring seal inside the cap), and a HP spring. As with all piston regulators, there is no easy way to change the I/P of the Scuba Star. The only way is to decrease the space inside the body, and with the Scubapro regulators, that is done with stainless steel washers (~5 psi increase per washer). This may work with the Scuba Star, but it is doubtful, as the interior of the housing would need to be the same diameter. This may be correct, as the Scubapro regs were also, I think, designed by Sam Lecocq, but I have not seen anything saying this would work. However, with a tilt valve second stage, the I/P is not critical. It will seal with whatever IP the spring provides, and that is set by the spring's initial characteristics. I don't think it will change over time either, so what it was, it probably will continue to be. I never did measure the I/P of my Scuba Star, although that is easy to do. If you feel okay going into the Sportsways Waterlung reg with those tools, you will find the Scuba Star relatively simple in comparison. Remember, the Scuba Star was the first piston regulator out, so it probably was not covered too much (piston first stages, that is) in Fred Roberts' first edition of Basic Scuba[/B]. My wife and I enjoyed our Easter day. I went out to church this morning, then to the pool (sorry to say it again, but I really enjoyed it ), while my wife went out for about a 9 mile run in the rain. John
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Post by Terry on Mar 23, 2008 17:46:50 GMT -8
John: Thanks for all the info; it's been very helpful. Your comments have confirmed what I thought the situation might be when it came to the I/P on this reg. Looks like I'll be tearing into this reg pretty soon. Thanks! Terry
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Post by Terry on Jul 18, 2020 18:45:48 GMT -8
Aah there it is; I knew I had this old thread in here somewhere. Thought I'd revive it to see what info there is out there in regards to compatible diaphragms for this reg, or if there are any repros available. While I've been messing around with my Healthways Scuba in the pool this summer I've also been trying out this ole Scuba Star. I had a very minor leak with the overpressure relief valve but got that quickly resolved. When I had this reg apart I noticed that the 2nd stage diaphragm was somewhat stiff and was causing a freeflow problem. I gave it the silicone treatment and let it set in a sealed zip loc bag for a couple of weeks and that seemed to soften it up some; but nothing that I was satisfied with. During the 2 week treatment I placed it outside in the sun hoping that warming it up would also help the silicone to be absorbed into the diaphragm and help with the softening. It helped some; but I think a new diaphragm would greatly improve this regs performance. SO; what have you guys done to resolve this problem with your Healthways 1961 Scuba Stars?
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Post by tomcatpc on Jul 19, 2020 4:57:48 GMT -8
Glad to see some interest in Healthways single hose regulators!
I have a Scuba Star (actually two) that I dive once in a while, mainly to just "kill off" a tank that does not have enough air for a serious dive, but not low enough to get refilled yet, if that makes sense? I have not dove my Scuba Star regs for a "serious" dive in a while, although I have in the past and they did alright.
When I dive single hose, most of the time my go-to regulator is my Healthways Scubair (the circa 1962-1967 era version with downstream 2nd stage). The performance between the Scuba Star and the Scubair is quite startling, or at least to me it was.
My Scuba Star has been retro fitted with a downstream 2nd stage and it still is not the best performer. In defence of my Scuba Star, I have not spent much time trying to adjust the demand lever at all like I have with my Scubair and Scubair 300. I might take some time later and see what I can do? I basically took it apart, cleaned it and put it back together. There is little to go wrong with these regs.
I can't offer any help about the tilt-valve part, I get the impression that they either work (don't leak air), or they don't (leak air)?
Anyway, great to see interest in Healthways Single Hose Regulators, or any other single hose regulators for that matter, even if it is an old topic brought back to life. Mark
I'm sure that Jay Bird will be by soon enough to have a lot more info that I could give.
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Post by tomcatpc on Jul 19, 2020 5:48:19 GMT -8
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Post by nikeajax on Jul 19, 2020 7:26:30 GMT -8
Hi Terry, PM sent.
JB
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