My New Royal Aqua Master

[CentralTxDiver]

While still waiting for news of my missing DA Aqua Master from Ebay I couldn't help myself and found I had to have one of Bryan's fabulous rebuilt Royal Aqua Masters he had for sale. Thanks Bryan, I even got it much sooner than I thought I would. I hooked it up today to one of my Al 80's and wow the reg breathes fantastic...I can't wait to dive with it. I am excited to be joining such a special group of divers. Thanks for being there.

Jim

[Nemrod]

There is no way to really go wrong with a Royal Aqua Master. Especially rebuilt by Bryan. It is the king of the hill. I think you have done yourself in now for anything else, the Royal will spoil you rotten. a good, expertly tuned RAM can hold it's own with just about anything and can perform any reasonable dive you might undertake. You did yourself good.

That said, I love my DA, it has become my most often used regulator. Hopefully yours will eventually turn up. I am glad I have thought better of selling it, that would have been a mistake, it is cherry.

James

[CentralTxDiver]

Nemrod...I remember you mentioned something about a swivel for your lp power inflator/octo hose before you had the phoenix. Can you explain and give me some recommendations on what to do. I was thinking of getting an octo/inflator like the Air 2 for my BC and use the banjo fitting for the SPG. I notice the hookah port is oriented in such a way that some swivel would be nice on the lp port there. What did you do? Even if I use a pony for a redundant air source I would like to run a lp hose to the power inflator without stressing it too much.

Jim

[BSea]

This is what I use.

http://www.tridentdive.com/Export15.htm

Look at part AA53. This is a 3 way splitter that swivels. There are a few different models, and they should all work. You may have to ask your LDS to order 1 for you. I think they are about $30.

[Nemrod]

You can do it like this, me, Luis and several others had been setting up similar to this. The new low profile FREE hookah adapters work great but picutred is the older style. The swivel is a three way LP swivel commonly available. The LP hose to the inflator does loop oddly back behind you--but--- ----if you use bike tube from a 700C wheel--per DIR methods and put two or three loops of bike tube on your BC inflator hose and then when you set your rig up for diving pull the LP inflator hose through the bike tube material you will find that suddenly you have a very sleek set up.I have also found it best to install a 40 inch hose with a ball type swivel(get a quality one) on to the second stage octapus thus allowing the octapus hose to route down undr your arm and then bring it up and bungee it with a break away bungee--DIR/Hog style. This allows you to quikcly yank it free--bring it up and over the double hose mouthpiece and right into your or to quickly donate it to a buddy in need. The bungee is tied around the mouthpiece of the second stage as if you were tying a square knot but instead inserted the mouthpiece. Yeah, it can fall out and if it does--no big deal. If you do not understand what I am saying let me know and I can try to explain it better.

BTW, while exploring about north central Florida--my old stomping grounds--I came upon HP swivels . YEAH. OK, well, these are very sturdy, I bought a single elbow swivel, a tee swivel. I had not seen these before but I think that OMS sells a similar type---I can research that if you like. The HP tee swivel works great for my LP hose and octapus in place of the LP three way. I also use the HP swivel on my Phoenix for an additional positionable LP port. They are 3/8ths so you have to use an adpter though but are available in LP versions as well.

James

[Nemrod]

OH, sorry, if you have an old Calypso with the snap side rubber necklace--guess what--it works better than the bungee and can be quickly unsnapped for deployment to your single hose buddys who insist on diving that unreliable plastic junk. Again, get a 36-40 inch hose and run it UNDER your arm and then up to your neckor if you inisist on clipping,tie a small bolt snap to the end of the hose at the second stage and clip it to a D ring or whatever you got in your center chest area.

James

[1969ivan1]

Nemrod also likes lots of D rings!

[JES]

Nemrod also likes lots of D rings!

He wouldn't be caught diving without at least one D-ring.

[CentralTxDiver]

Great info...

I managed to get a 3 way adapter for the LP ports through the hookah port and all is well with the power inflater hose and octo. In my infinate wisdom I din't think about the banjo fitting and what I needed to make it work with my new Zeagle SPG. I come home assemble everything on the LP side and then try to get the banjo to attach to the new SPG and it won't fit...its obviously a 3/8 threaded adapter...so I'm needing to get a HP female to 3/8 male adapter...any idea what the size I need to ask for? Is it a 7/16 female to 3/8 male adapter that I need? Also I notice two O rings included with the banjo fitting that Bryan provided for the banjo fitting...I take it I need to use these? I apollogize for being a vintage newbie...but I have never used a banjo adapter before...I know its supposed to be sandwiched between the tank valve and the reg nozzle. Any help and suggestions would be appreciated.

Jim

[CentralTxDiver]

I just ordered the following adapter from Leisure pro:

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/AQUHAC.html

Do you think this adapter will work for my new SPG with standard HP hose fitting for the banjo fitting?

Jim

[standingup]

http://www.vintagedoublehose.com/forum/ ... &&start=75
there is a photo at the bottom of this page showing the placement of the o ring. I think you are correct about the adaptor but haven't been able to prove it yet. The reason you need the adaptor is that the banjos were designed to work with the older SPG's 3/8 is correct for the male part of the adaptor but I have no idea what the size of new SPGs are

[Nemrod]

Bryan provided two O-rings for the banjo---one is a spare. Keep a little twist tie to drop through the banjo to keep from loosing them. If you have not figured it out yet---place one of the O-rings into the face--indented--recessed--area of the banjo (the female side) and then install the banjo as you install the regulator carefully aligning them and snugging the yoke screw. Do not over tighten the yoke screw---it is not required, just normally snug. Piece of cake. Make sure as you install the banjo that it is free of binding and that there is nothing on the valve in the area it will traverse that will prevent the banjo from installing correctly--lying nice and flush along the valve usually pointing outward from the center to a 4 or 5 o'clock position placing the the spg hose down your left side. Some valves, as has been discussed and pictured by myself and others will not work with a banjo or may require routing to the RH side etc. The best thing is to look at what you got and see what is needed. Most common valves will work just fine.

The adapter you need is indeed a 7/16 female to 3/8 male. These are commonly available. they alos make themgoing the opposite direction--lol--so get the correct one.

James

[duckbill]

I just ordered the following adapter from Leisure pro:

http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/AQUHAC.html

Do you think this adapter will work for my new SPG with standard HP hose fitting for the banjo fitting?

Jim

Jim, Ya done good. If it is 3/8"-24 male to 7/16"-20 female then it's the right one, and it looks like it is.

They are also available here (#RHAD, 3/4 of the way down the page):
http://www.vintagescubasupply.com/hoses.html

Install the banjo as per Nemrod's instructions. Just be sure to not tighten anything until you are sure everything is aligned. In a contest between stainless steel and brass there can be but one winner.

[CentralTxDiver]

Thanks a lot guys...you have been a great help. I was pretty sure that was the way the banjo fitting worked but thought I should ask.

Thanks again. Now waiting for the final adapter to come in to test the complete setup.

Jim

[Bryan]

Put a 3/8 port plug in the bottom of the banjo and you can test it now......

Just a suggestion.....You might want to try learing to use a double hose in the pool configured as they came...i.e. with no attachments.....JMO yours may vary...