Mon Feb 11, 2013 8:07 am
Possible, yes it is, there just enough room for the hole but there is more to consider. With the body no longer offset, the tabs on the diaphragm are not going to align properly with the lever so you will need to replace the second stage and diaphragm with a HPR and a single stage diaphragm. The HPR does not use the tabs so alignment is less of an issue. The lever will no longer be centered on the diaphragm but is should be OK. The HPR may also solve a second problem. The spacing between the second stage and the horn is critical to keep the venturi assist feature of the reg working properly. Without the venturi working properly, the reg will supply air but there will be a very noticeable degradation in performance. Since the HPR has a fairly strong venturi flow if you set it to max, the flow may be enough to offset the increased distance. This is assuming you barely have enough venturi flow, I am assuming it will be close with the extra distance to the horn. If it proves to be too much, you can always detune the HPR some. In any case, you should keep the alignment of the venturi hole directly down the supply horn. This is a swag (SWAG - scientific wild ass guess ) based on playing with the HPR and the venturi in some other experimental regs but you will be exploring uncharted territory, if you decide to give it a try, take photos and keep us posted. I for one, love to see what others are doing.
A word of warning, DO NOT try breathing off a reg without at least 1 hose, mouthpiece and an exhaust valve installed. Overly aggressice venturis will slam the second stage open and will cause lung damage if it has no place to vent. Experimenting with the venturi of DH regs can be dangerous if you are not careful.
Cutting the cans is not the easiest to do free hand - I cut them for Rob on a mill with a special jig I made just for that purpose and a rotary table. If you are purchasing them new from Rob anyway you might as well get the precut ones, it will make your life easier.
Herman