Halcyon H75P + Halo (weird?) cranking effort

[Geo7]

It seems this issue comes up to puzzle us again, and again...

Can't remember the verdict. But if even a Balanced-Adjustable with no venturi control will freeflow on full purge, then I would want to achieve the same with a G250V on max venturi.

I had two G250V that did not go into freeflow. Love those simple bulletproof regs, but you need a @buddhasummer to supply you with a range of springs, levers and fresh orifices etc to make it all work.

 

[stuartv]

It seems this issue comes up to puzzle us again, and again...

Can't remember the verdict. But if even a balance adjustable with no venturi control will freeflow on full purge, then I would want to achieven the same with a G250V on max venturi.

I had two G250V that did not go into freeflow. Love those simple bulletproof regs, but you need a @buddhasummer to supply you with a range of springs, levers and fresh orifices etc to make it all work.

As soon as I get my TFX and my Halos are fixed, I'll be selling my Halcyon setup and not looking back. I've never had a single issue with my SP Mk25EVO/G260s, one minor issue that I fixed myself with my Atomic M1s, and never an issue with the Atomic Z2s I had.

The constant issues with my Halos is well... there is just nothing about them to make me prefer them to the SP or Atomic regs. No reason at all for me to keep them (once I receive my TFX).

I bought my Halcyon regs because my shop sells tons of Halcyon gear and was not selling Atomic and I wanted to try and use what the shop sells when I am in front of students. Well, we sell Dive Rite now and I think we're going to start offering Atomic, too. So... bye Fel...Halcyon.... you had your chance.

 

[crofrog]

This is a brand new old stock halo / H-75P

As an aside it will not ever free flow with a mouth piece on it.

@stuartv I agree with your assessment of the G260s. I have quite a few of those and have had zero issues. It sounds like less of a haylcon issue and more of just a these are some of the issues with the design issues with 250V.

That being said I've experienced significantly more unintentional free flows with the G260s than I ever had with the Halos, so I think there is a balancing act between to be had around the likelihood of free flow vs ease of breathing and on a well adjusted Halo even without them free flowing I've not experienced any issues with them providing enough gas or any WOB issues even on working dives.
Things like scooter prop wash causing necklace free flows or flow, etc.

 

[stuartv]

Just to be clear, MY issue with the Halos has been that they start off breathing fine. After not too many dives, they develop a weird "pop" on inhale - like something is sticking. I inhale light and slow and it's a bit hard to inhale. I inhale a little harder and it gives a pop sensation and gas comes in like it should after that. Until the next breath...

 

[crofrog]

Just to be clear, MY issue with the Halos has been that they start off breathing fine. After not too many dives, they develop a weird "pop" on inhale - like something is sticking. I inhale light and slow and it's a bit hard to inhale. I inhale a little harder and it gives a pop sensation and gas comes in like it should after that. Until the next breath...

Well, that's exactly what I experienced with the 2 that are getting serviced. So we'll see what new parts do...

 

[Geo7]

I wonder if that could be the poppet o-ring issue mentioned somewhere? Meaning basically that out of spec o-rings increased friction of the poppet in the balance chamber (hence the stickiness and pop)? I have experienced this as a transient issue with various brands when I am not rinsing regs during a 4-dives-a-day-gear-constantly-wet-for-10-days trip. Went away eventually. Perhaps @rsingler can shed more light on this? Ideally in a new thread...

 

[stuartv]

Well, that's exactly what I experienced with the 2 that are getting serviced. So we'll see what new parts do...

I've had my serviced 2 or 3 times now. The first time, I was in High Springs and took them directly to Halcyon HQ. I think they actually had them done at Extreme Exposure. I picked them up a couple of days later. After that time, someone at my shop has worked on them (I think) twice now. At least one of those times, they installed a new lever that Halcyon sent because they said they had a bad batch of levers.

Every time, they seem to be fine when I first get them back. But, very few dives later (I mean, I really don't dive single tank very often or for very long - mostly, helping with OW classes in the pool or lake every month or two), they start doing the same thing again.

From all that the folks here have posted, I'm suspicious that it's a spec issue on the poppet O-ring. My own little pet theory is that the O-ring is out of spec. But, when it's first serviced and freshly lubed, it works well enough that no problem presents itself. But, after a bit of use and the lube does whatever lube does, then the symptoms of the out-of-spec O-ring start to present.

 

[crofrog]

I've had my serviced 2 or 3 times now. The first time, I was in High Springs and took them directly to Halcyon HQ. I think they actually had them done at Extreme Exposure. I picked them up a couple of days later. After that time, someone at my shop has worked on them (I think) twice now. At least one of those times, they installed a new lever that Halcyon sent because they said they had a bad batch of levers.

Every time, they seem to be fine when I first get them back. But, very few dives later (I mean, I really don't dive single tank very often or for very long - mostly, helping with OW classes in the pool or lake every month or two), they start doing the same thing again.

From all that the folks here have posted, I'm suspicious that it's a spec issue on the poppet O-ring. My own little pet theory is that the O-ring is out of spec. But, when it's first serviced and freshly lubed, it works well enough that no problem presents itself. But, after a bit of use and the lube does whatever lube does, then the symptoms of the out-of-spec O-ring start to present.

Are you talking about part number 30?

 

[stuartv]

Are you talking about part number 30?

I don't know what I'm talking about.

LOL!

But seriously.... there was discussion about an out-of-spec O-ring. On the poppet (I THINK it was). I am not sure exactly which O-ring was being discussed. It sounded reasonable, at the time.

Y'all are getting me curious now, though. Curious enough that if the latest round of work on them (by someone else) doesn't fix them, I might just try experimenting on my own.

I.e. verify the problem occurs. Then disassemble, lube the poppet O-rings. Reassemble. See if the problem is still there.

If just lubing the poppet O-rings makes the problem go away, then I may try sourcing a geniune ScubaPro service kit for the G250 (V?) and replace just the poppet O-rings and see if the problem stays gone.

I don't know. I'm curious. But, I'm also sick of dealing with them...

 

[Nemrod]

Yes, I know. But this is not my experience with the G250V regardless what manual says.

I'm interested what percentage of G250Vs actually do this

Might do a poll.

Certainly with every G250 it will behave as manual states, 100%.

My two new G260 would not free flow per the SM. They also breathed stiff. I fixed that and they both now are very sweet and definitely will free flow when the purge is depressed in Dive/Max condition.

IMO, if the second stage, just about any second stage, that will not at least try to free flow when the purge is depressed in Dive position, there is something not right quite yet. But could be wrong . I just try to stick to the manuals.

A funny, @Couv was showing off his 156 to me and how it would easily free flow if he plucked it from his mouth or pushed the purge ( he gave me that 156 later). I then deflated him a little by pushing in the purge on my lowly little Titan LX and it went into free flow with a bigger woosh . Take that you silly 156!