Snark III Sliver ringing like a bell

[Bronze06]

Hey Folks,

I took the old Snark Silver III out last weekend for a little fun in the drink here. I've pool tested it and it breathed fine, no anomalies found. I dropped it onto a 3000 psi tank out at the Kyal dive site and went on in. After a depth of 15 feet it started to make a shrill bell like sound when I breathed in lightly. I got good air, but kept on getting this shrill sound. It sounded like a bell ringing. If I breathed in rapidly and fully, I would not get a continuous sound but a short squeak at the end. I am wondering if it is a 2nd stage seat, lever issue, or both. Even though it made this sound throughout the dive, I got good air flow. Any ideas as to what the hell might be going on?

Thanks, Russ

[antique diver]

Were you using a tank with reserve valve?

[captain]

Some J valves when in the up position will cause the ringing sound.

[Bronze06]

No J valve, just a K.

[Herman]

Some HP seats will sing. I have a new version MR-12 that squeals some times.

[antique diver]

Some HP seats will sing. I have a new version MR-12 that squeals some times.

I ran into that a few times on new ones right out of the box around early 90's. Additional lubrication on the seat stem stopped it.

[Bronze06]

I'll give that a try. I just get the gut feeling that it IS a seat issue. The seat seals fine and I've got an IP of 115 with a TP of 3000 which is dialed in just right.

[antique diver]

I'll give that a try. I just get the gut feeling that it IS a seat issue. The seat seals fine and I've got an IP of 115 with a TP of 3000 which is dialed in just right.

If all else fails you might try changing the IP. I know that may seem strange, but found it helped a couple of times on MR12 diaphragm first stages. I don't have any experience with Snarks.

[swimjim]

A couple years ago when I rebuilt my Snark I got parts and advice from Enrique Dauner from Spain. He told me the IP should be set around 142 psi. At least that's what the number worked out to after I converted from bar. You might try bumping the IP up a bit and see what happens.
I really like my Snark and it almost always comes with me to Vintage dive events.

[Bronze06]

Hey Antique D,

I know the manual says 125 with a bump up to 150 to get the OPV to pop. I will go back into it and see what the IP is running at now. I rebuilt it back last November and didn't dive it until March in the pool. The first real dive was the week before last. Once it got down to 30 feet it started whistling/ringing. It might be that it has too much IP. My other problem is getting a good seal to check IP on the OPV port area. What is it that you do?

Thanks Russ

[Bronze06]

Got it fixed right. Made a hose adapter for the OPV port so I could get a good IP read. Set it at 135psi using my twin 80s at 3200psi. Take a breath and IP in the up-stream chamber sets in at 75psi. Turned around and placed it on a 300psi tank and got same IP, but with an IP of 125 after breathing in the IP chamber. Squeak is gone and it breaths great.