New acquisition - Healthways

[wcleeuwenburg]

Was just giving an old Healthways double hose (serial # 36206) by my old diving instructor that originally certified me 40+ years ago. My plan is a complete rebuild, including re-chroming the can with new decals. As you can see in one of the photos, the hose barb on one of the can halves is deformed slightly. Any thoughts on how to rework the barb without breaking the metal? Although this regulator has been sitting for 40+ years, the interior components are not all that bad as the unit was disassembled easily, although the exterior of the orifice body is a little nasty (see photo). I've been reading on the forum posts regarding ultrasonic cleaning. Jewelers do this but is this equipment that is affordable enough to be bought and used personally as I fear I feel a whole new addiction coming on! My intention is to give this unit back to my old diving instructor in cherry condition once project has been completed.

Please everyone, be patient with me as this is my first total rebuild!

[Herman]

Looks like a Deluxe, they are fairly easy to get back in operation. Rob at the Scuba Museum has reproduction diaphragms and I think he may also have NOS HP seats if you need one. He use to have 1 inch hoses as well, not sure if he still does. The only other internal part you will need is the oring on the HP orifice. It is a 011- 90 durometer, I think I have a bunch of them if you need a few.

[sitkadiver]

Rob also has the nozzle/can gasket, but if he doesn't I can send you a spare I have.

Do you have the original mouthpiece and hose assembly? Or are you going with USD hoses?

[wcleeuwenburg]

Thanks - I'm going to have to use USD-type hoses - the original hoses were shot although the mouth piece / wagon wheels are fine but won't work with the larger USD-sized hoses. So if anyone on the forum needs a Healthways mouthpiece, you're welcome to mine.

[Herman]

I assume it's a rubber Healthways one and not the light tan colored with black rings on each end Hope Page. The HPs can be restored fairly easily.

[antique diver]

If you can't get the horn straightened out I may have an extra can for that... maybe both pieces. If you post a full frontal photo of the cans I can check my box of stuff.

You might check with Harbor Freight for reasonably priced ultrasonic cleaners. That's a tool you will be glad to have.

[Herman]

I forgot about the US cleaner. The Harbor Freight large one does a good job, I have been using one for 4 or 5 years. If you keep an eye on their sales papers it goes on sale fairly often and most of the time there is a coupon as well.... there is a HF in Wilmington just a few miles up from the battleship on 421/76.

[Herman]

If you can't get the horn straightened out I may have an extra can for that... maybe both pieces. If you post a full frontal photo of the cans I can check my box of stuff.

You might check with Harbor Freight for reasonably priced ultrasonic cleaners. That's a tool you will be glad to have.

The reg is a Deluxe (round blue label), there are horns on each can side just like the USD regs. A Gold Label can would work as well.

[wcleeuwenburg]

Thanks everyone! Harbor Freight is running a sale this weekend so I've got my eye on the large ultrasonic cleaner - Will be about $85 on sale. The mouth piece is black rubber and is in excellent condition along with the wagon wheels. To keep the unit as authentic as possible, I'd like to replace the hoses with the same size smaller diameter hoses rather than use USD hoses / mouthpiece. Here is a photo of the cans - the unit is a Deluxe. I've got a friend that is a metal sculptor / artificer and may be able to apply some heat and work out the kinks. Again, everyone thanks for your input and assistance.

PS - Not sure why buy my photos are not uploading to this post correctly so here is a link to an array of photos in an online folder: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pytp03rsmlevr4w/dx5A1UK_4z

[Herman]

I am pretty sure the mouthpiece uses 1 inch hoses, Rob has them as well. http://www.thescubamuseum.com/products/ ... 20pics.htm When you dissambly the mouthpiece, measure the valves, odds are Bryan has a modern one that will work.

The HP seat of those regs can be a little bit of a bugger to get out but it does come out. You have to reach through the push pin hole at an angle and press from below. A small piece of brass rod in a plastic or wood handle makes good tool for the job. Just be careful not to scratch it when you do, it is reversable so you do have a second chance. If it does not want to come out, a soak in hot water always seems to make reg parts more cooperative.

[wcleeuwenburg]

I had good luck disassembling the unit - Everything came apart with no issues. Hope everything goes back together as easily!

[Herman]

I just looked at your photos and you still have one more part to remove. The HP seat is still in the body. In photo 9 I can just barely see it down in the bottom. If you look into the main body you will see a concave surface, that is the HP seat, the actual bottom of the body is machined flat. You need to remove it as well.

One other modification I make to regs like this that I intend to dive is to remove the restrictor orifice and replace it with a spacer. It is the metal disk with the small hole in it just under the filter. It's purpose was to restrict air flow which caused the reg to intentionally breath like crap when tank pressure got low. If you are using a J valve, a valve with an SPG or some other method of monitoring air pressure it is not required, the req will work better without it. Many of the old regs that used this idea actaully came with 2 options for the part, one if you dove it without a J valve (like this one) and one with a larger opening if you did use a J vavle or SPG

[Herman]

You got me curious so I went and looked at some information I have on the regs, the restrictor in this reg did come in 2 options, a "J" and a "K" option.

[wcleeuwenburg]

Thanks Herman -

Just to ensure I understand the removal process, it should be tapped out from the bottom? I'm worried about damaging it as you mentioned in an earlier post. So I'll go ahead and give it a soak in hot water before attempting a removal.

[antique diver]

I keep wooden chopsticks from Pei Wei and various Sushi bars around for just such purposes. The slender tips fit into small places to act as harmless punches which might be perfect for driving that seat out. I think I have a few of those seats just in case yours is not reusable.