My Rebuilt Mistral...

[fishb0y]

I really wish I had taken some before photos of my Mistral before I started to rebuild it.

When I got it, the original duckbill had liquefied onto the exhaust can and exhaust hose. With some elbow grease, a wire brush, WD-40 (yet another use) and some time in my ultrasonic, I was able to remove it all from the can.

For the hose I used some terry cloth and WD-40 after I turned the end of the hose inside out. Hopefully the hose's integrity hasn't been impaired by the WD-40. If it has, then it is no lose, as the hose would have been donated to Gomez for his next dive.

All I need now is a couple of those fancy silicon diaphrams and a band clamp... and I think she would be done.

[standingup]

LOOKING GOOOD--if its not classified info - where did you obtain the reg from ?
I just picked up a single hose from ebay and I need to post a disclaimer before using it as an octopus --that I don't treat my equipment this way it was done be a prior owner.

[fishb0y]

It was a lucky eBay purchase. Nothing classified there.

[duckbill]

That turned out really nice, fishb0y.
What U.S. Divers label address/yoke length did you end up with?

BTW, for future reference I don't think WD-40 is a good choice for hoses or any other "keeper" rubber parts.

[standingup]

just a small future reference - when I worked rebuilding adding machines ( the ones that used gears and such not chips) we found wd 40 would first free things up but on really intricate parts in time became a sludge that would bind everything.

[fishb0y]

The hose is going to be replaced anyhow. I couldn't think of any other way to remove the gummed up duckbill out of the hose. After an hour of picking and rubbing, I went with the WD-40, although I used more muscle and less WD-40 on the hose than I did on the can. One way or another I felt the hose was ruined. I figured this way if it worked, even for a sort time, I could use it maybe until I pickup some yellow hoses .

The address is West Pico and the yoke is the smaller yoke, but the yoke screw does say US Divers. I'm too cheap/lazy to look for a longer yoke, so I am looking forward to Bryan's thin banjos.

[21]

WD 40!

That is oil based..

Are you aware of LIPOID PNEUMONIA?

Suggest that you have a set down conversation with your flight surgeon about oiling a regulator and oil causing respiratory destress--It is called Lipoid (Oil Like) symptoms creating a pneumonia, which requires long term treatment

21

[Bryan]

To the best of my knowledge I've never run across a duckbill that would not come off of the hoses...I have spent way too much time removing them from the exhaust can side where they tend to weld themselves to after many years.
MEK http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/product.php?pid=33 takes the stubborn chunks of old duckbills right off. DON'T GET IT ON PAINTED LABELS!!! Follow the MSDS carefully and rinse thoroughly with water!!! Lowes, Home Labyrinth, ACE etc all carry it.

Diaphragms, Phoenix nozzles, a secret part and thin banjo's in that order are in the works. I¡¦m talking with a small machine shop in Colorado who's owner may become my new best friend! GOOD THINGS ON THE HORIZON.

[swimjim]

She looks good! I'll second the band clamp. I just put on on my Mistral when I put a new duckbill in it. I kept the box clips for if I ever decide to sell it.
By the way Bryan, thanks for the stuff with the order! Especially the foam drink holders. I may order a bunch of those and use them as prizes at the dive club I belong to. I'm looking forward to the slim banjo's too!

Jim

[fishb0y]

Suggest that you have a set down conversation with your flight surgeon about oiling a regulator and oil causing respiratory destress--It is called Lipoid (Oil Like) symptoms creating a pneumonia, which requires long term treatment

After using the WD-40, all parts got a thorough cleaning in warm soapy water followed by some time in the ultra-sonic. The hose went through the same treatment but without the ultra-sonic. I am not worried about any residual oil.

From my time on a submarine, I am sure that I have/will breath in more oily air than I ever will out of my regulators. One of my least favorite jobs when I was a nub was cleaning off the air filters. The oil would drip out the bottom of them. While it was nice to see that they caught some of the oil, I'm sure I was filtering just as much.

[Nemrod]

I learned about MEK and it's slightly less toxic buddy MPK when I was covering a fabric airplane. The MEK was the solvent for the "glue". I think I lost several of my rare brain cells during that event.

Actually, I use the MEK also to remove the melted duckbills. Do not as Bryan said get it on any paint or rubber parts. Also, use some gloves and ventaltion. It is not thta bad, justdon't drink it. I got some splashed in my eyes, after that, I wore safety glasses. It is a powerful solvent.

Your regulator makes me jealous, that is a beauty, you lucked out there.

I don't think I would use WD40 anymore though

[fishb0y]

I've now been shamed enough to throw away the WD-40. For future reference, what would be the best way to remove melted Duckbill from a hose?

[fishb0y]

I think I lost several of my rare brain cells during that event.

Think about your braincells as antelope and the MEK (I prefer beer) as a lion. All the lion does is eat the weaker, slower brain cells. In fact you should be getting smarter now.

[Creed]

I've now been shamed enough to throw away the WD-40.

They can have my WD-40 when they pry from my cold dead hands. It was the only thing I had on hand that would touch the black goop people used to seal the exhaust diaphragm on Healthways doublehose regs. Of course, the case got a very good cleaning afterwards, so I am unconcerned about oil contamination.

[fishb0y]

Diaphragms, Phoenix nozzles, a secret part and thin banjo's in that order are in the works. I¡¦m talking with a small machine shop in Colorado who's owner may become my new best friend! GOOD THINGS ON THE HORIZON.

So can we guess what the secret part is?