Moderator: Greg Barlow
Herman wrote:A minor correction/clarification. There were 2 versions (at least) of the HW diaphragm, they both work in most all HW regs but are totally different in design. We are talking about the later silicone (? or some soft rubber) and not the original one made of a much stiffer material. The later design is also a lot different and IMO a lot better than the original design. I don't think the HW seconds will be super great but experimenting with the different diaphragms, the later version performs much better than the original and I suspect the reproduction will work even better.
Yes, the later version....The ones I have I believe to be silicone. The later second stages with the downstream valve and larger exhaust valve are pretty much the same as a SP 108 and should do just fine with the new diaphragm The early diaphragms are manufactured from clay based rubber and everyone of them I have ever seen has been beyond repair despite the claims that some magic shoe goo or silicone lube will rejuvenate them. I guess if you just want to prop your Healthways up and take pictures or scuba dive on the innerweb they would be fine but for actual diving they are garbage.
I have always loved the small HW Scubastar first, the one in Bryan's blog. I pair it with one of the early AMF Swimaster MR12 second stages (with a modern Abyss diaphragm) for a really small, cute but at the same time good performing reg. If any of you have one and are using the tilt valve second stage, the OPV is critical if you don't have a down stream second stage as well. If your OPV is defective, new ones are available in the $6 range.
I'll be stocking new OPV's sometime next month
As for the super secret squirrel project....well it might interest some of you. It promises to be a vast improvement over what is currently available. ....that's all for now.
$22 is not that unreasonable considering new diaphragms for most 2nd stages made from 1990 and forward are as much or more.Bryan wrote:First quotes on reproducing the Healthways diaphragms came back higher than I thought.....What I read here and on VSS is that most Healthways owners prefer to service their regulators with jury rigged parts as cheaply as possible. Not sure if the market would support diaphragms that would retail for $22.00 or that I would ever be able to sell enough of them to recoup my investment.
I've asked the manufacturer to re-figure the mold as one for single use which may bring the cost of the mold down but I don't think it will change the retail that much.
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