Royal Mistral Redeux...
Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2018 10:26 am
Royal Mistral Redeux...
Something Special for my Newest Little Diving Buddy
- I restored this regulator from a DA AquaMaster that had a beautiful, shiney chrome back can and mechanism but a front can that was badly pitted from leaning against something corrosive in storage. (That front can got a full sized Nemrod sticker from Rob that covered up the corrosion and converted Rich 50,001 Questions FireFighter Snark III into a diving Snark III.) The back can and mechanism were like new except for having a brownish film inside... Looked like a rust but had no pitting. It cleaned up to reveal BRIGHT shiney chrome on all internal surfaces!
- I ordered one of Bryan's DA AquaMaster kits and replaced the HP seat, HP diaphragm, and gaskets. Also, I installed the HPR 2nd stage... Which replaces the LP seat and converts the regulator to use Mistral diaphragms. To this, I added one of the new super sensitive silicon diaphragms.
- Next, I pulled the "Royal Mistral" front can from a "Faux Royal Mistral" set I wasn't using and installed the DuckBill Eliminator exhaust valve. And finally, I installed a hose loop of rare Argonaut Kraken RED hoses with a black Voit hourglass mouthpiece.
- Adjustments: I set the IP to 140 psi with the regulator mounted to a 300 psi tank. Herman's IP gauge sure makes this easy. Pressure held steady with on/offs of the tank and press/release of the lever... No leaks. I set the lever height right up to the diaphragm and then backed off to where heavy breathing is just below where Venturi free flow gets induced. (I know Louis has a better method on this but I haven't looked it up yet). Last but not least, I set up the HPR second stage to have a strong Venturi by completely blocking one of the secondary ports.
Pool Testing: This regulator was given a test dive last Sunday at the local public pool and it worked perfectly. Breathed easy. No leaks.
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Where To Get Red Hoses? I expected this would be the first comment/question so here's the answer. They come off Argonaut Kraken regulators from the first production run. They are extremely rare and valuable. I built this regulator up for my one and only grand daughter and it had to be color coordinated to match her red 18 cf scuba tank I converted from a CO2 fire extinguisher. Last Summer she dove her little tank to depths of 5 feet and stayed down 15-20 minutes until the tank ran out of air. She's 5 years old and she loved it. She has captured Boppa's heart, so she gets the precious red Argonaut hoses.
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To Zip Tie or NOT to Zip Tie... As you can see in the photos, I used zip ties on the regulator horns. I bought a really good zip tie installer... Squeezes them really tight and has a cut off lever. It's fun and quick to use and the low profile zip ties don't usually look bad. But they look a little off on this regulator. What do you think?
Something Special for my Newest Little Diving Buddy
- I restored this regulator from a DA AquaMaster that had a beautiful, shiney chrome back can and mechanism but a front can that was badly pitted from leaning against something corrosive in storage. (That front can got a full sized Nemrod sticker from Rob that covered up the corrosion and converted Rich 50,001 Questions FireFighter Snark III into a diving Snark III.) The back can and mechanism were like new except for having a brownish film inside... Looked like a rust but had no pitting. It cleaned up to reveal BRIGHT shiney chrome on all internal surfaces!
- I ordered one of Bryan's DA AquaMaster kits and replaced the HP seat, HP diaphragm, and gaskets. Also, I installed the HPR 2nd stage... Which replaces the LP seat and converts the regulator to use Mistral diaphragms. To this, I added one of the new super sensitive silicon diaphragms.
- Next, I pulled the "Royal Mistral" front can from a "Faux Royal Mistral" set I wasn't using and installed the DuckBill Eliminator exhaust valve. And finally, I installed a hose loop of rare Argonaut Kraken RED hoses with a black Voit hourglass mouthpiece.
- Adjustments: I set the IP to 140 psi with the regulator mounted to a 300 psi tank. Herman's IP gauge sure makes this easy. Pressure held steady with on/offs of the tank and press/release of the lever... No leaks. I set the lever height right up to the diaphragm and then backed off to where heavy breathing is just below where Venturi free flow gets induced. (I know Louis has a better method on this but I haven't looked it up yet). Last but not least, I set up the HPR second stage to have a strong Venturi by completely blocking one of the secondary ports.
Pool Testing: This regulator was given a test dive last Sunday at the local public pool and it worked perfectly. Breathed easy. No leaks.
------------------------------------------------
Where To Get Red Hoses? I expected this would be the first comment/question so here's the answer. They come off Argonaut Kraken regulators from the first production run. They are extremely rare and valuable. I built this regulator up for my one and only grand daughter and it had to be color coordinated to match her red 18 cf scuba tank I converted from a CO2 fire extinguisher. Last Summer she dove her little tank to depths of 5 feet and stayed down 15-20 minutes until the tank ran out of air. She's 5 years old and she loved it. She has captured Boppa's heart, so she gets the precious red Argonaut hoses.
------------------------------------------------
To Zip Tie or NOT to Zip Tie... As you can see in the photos, I used zip ties on the regulator horns. I bought a really good zip tie installer... Squeezes them really tight and has a cut off lever. It's fun and quick to use and the low profile zip ties don't usually look bad. But they look a little off on this regulator. What do you think?
