second stage substitute ?

le triton

Hello
I use my CK in cave diving and the second stage DSV is very breakable.
I would like to replace by another.Which model can be appropriate?
Regards

RAL

I know what you mean. I found the Paragon to be less than adequate for the serious role it plays as the first option to go to when things may be going south.
The good news is it's quite easy to mount something that is a bit more up to the task. I was able to modify a Scuba Pro G500 to fit perfectly in the DSV. It breaths great & there is no need to switch to yet another reg if the breather can not be sorted out. The only thing the diluent bottle suppies is the ADV. I have the left sidemout bottle hooked up to the manifold so I am not limited to the diluent for the DSV/OC reg.
I did not want to mess with the fine machine work on my breather so the only mods I made were to the regulator itself. I think I had about 3 hrs labor in the project. You will need to cut file & sand the mouthpiece mount on the replacement reg to match the one on the paragon, take it slow as you can not put material back on. I used the G-500 because it is a fine regulator that is not too large & the size & shape of the mouthpiece mount was not much different than the Paragon. I was quite surprized at how much difference there was in the second stages I looked at. Some looked good but the material was too thin & would not have enough meat left after you cut & sand it. The point is if you use a different reg than the G-500 look it over good before you start or you may end up with nothing you can use.
After you carefully size the mouthpiece mount you will need to make a flange for the top of the reg. I used a small piece from an old ABS plastic backplate that was maligering on my garage wall. I put the reg in the DSV then made a templet out of thin cardboard. Then I used the templet as a guide for cutting the flange out of the plastic. Just like with the reg take your time with the final fit up.
Once you have the flange perfect you will want to drill the mounting holes. Take 2 Q tips & cut them down till just the tip barely sticks out of the screw holes( you are using the same holes that the paragon bracket used). Put some paint on the Q tip ends. With reg in the DSV place the flange you made on top of the reg & push it against the Q tips this should give you the proper alignment. Take your time & make shure the reg is fully seated in its hole & that the flange is sitting as it should on top of the reg. After you are shure the line up is good drill the two holes in the flange.
Now all that is left is attaching the flange to the top of the reg. I used a two part epoxy designed for plastics (sorry I can not recall the brand but there many good adhesives). You need to make shure that no epoxy comes in contact with the DSV itself. I cut a hole in a sandwitch bag & pushed the reg through it, then put the reg with plastic in the DSV. Hold the plastic up & put in two holes for the mounting screws. I mixed the epoxy & put it on the bottom edge of the flange where it makes contact with the reg. Pushed it in place & screwed in the 2 mounting screws. Make shure the plastis bag is is protecting the DSV from the epoxy.Let it cure.
This worked great for me, it may not for you, use this info at your own risk!!!

le triton

Hello RAL
Thank you for your answer
Have you some photographs to illustrate your thread ?
Regards

RAL

I am not at home now. I will post some pics when I get home hopefully in a few days.

Roger

fredrik

Are you home yet?

RAL

Sorry to say I am not. We've not had any exended periods of rough weather so I slave away still. I see that I forgot one step though. The access cover on the exhaust T must be removed & a small amount of material needs to be removed from both sides. This is so the reg sets flush & square with the front of the DSV. Forgive me but I did this a couple years ago & I do not have the unit in front of me to jar my battered memory.
The first thing I will do upon my arrival home is to post a few pics, well maybe the second thing.

Regards RAL

lof

Have you considered substituting the entire unit? Few Kiss divers are going this way:
http://www.golemgear.com/pc-244-15-r...-threaded.aspx

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Jakub
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www.golemgear.com

Scott M

Has anyone put any thought into using a Poseidon? Can you reduce the IP and still work well I think some of them run at 145. Just thinking the exhaust port might work out well.

RichClark

Hi Jakub,

Have you thought about a mod to your BOV so that it could be used with a Draeger Full Face Mask?

Cheers

Rich

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WalterRoss

You can try the C2 Mouthpieces, they are custom made for alot of second stages.

Walter