pony settups again

[Grin]

I'm slowly getting a settup together here. I went back and read a ton of info doing searches and want to ask a few questions here. I am to the first stage and regulator part of it now. I read a post by a couple spearboard experts that have me wanting to make sure I get the correct regulator. The post I read was about the regulator possibly dribble leaking the pony down and getting the correct reg and adjusting it correct will eliminate this issue. I'm wanting to make sure I get this right and don't have this issue. Any recomendations for the first stage and a good reg I can run with the pony valve open all the time would be appreciated. Of course I would like to not spend a fortune, but whatever it takes to get this job done correct is what I will do.

I am going to just get a 13 bottle and run it with straight air for emergency OOA. Almost all my dives are Nitrox dives to 70-80 ft with the occassional 100 ft dive, so unless someone would like to recommend getting the 19, I am doing the 13. Doesn't look like the 19 would be much more of a hassle over the 13, so I can be easily convinced to get a 19. I just figure a 13 will be enough and a little less noticable.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or info!

[Zack]

The weights are going to be about the same, and the 19 may be a better fit if you are going to be doing dives deeper than 60-70 fsw. I carry a 30 when I am scrubbing, and it is hardly noticable at all. Get the Zeagle Pony mounts. You wont be sorry. I bought them on reccomendation from Spearboard, and I could not be happier with them. They are VERY simple, yet totally effective and rock solid.
-Zack

[kitefisherman]

Originally Posted by Grin

The post I read was about the regulator possibly dribble leaking the pony down and getting the correct reg and adjusting it correct will eliminate this issue. I'm wanting to make sure I get this right and don't have this issue.

You can prevent this in two ways:

1. Mount your pony so that you can reach the valve to turn it on or off. I did this by mounting the pony bottle upside down on my main tank. Pressurize the reg prior to your dive then turn the valve off until you need it.

2. Use a Zeagle isolator valve (http://www.zeagle.com/index.php?subm...torAccessories) between your second stage and the hose. This will allow you to leave the tank valve on and turn the pressure on and off to the second stage at the second stage. Unless you have an additional second stage attached to the pony bottle first stage (unlikely), you must also mount a low pressure port safety relief valve (Zeagle part 330-4905) on one of the other first stage ports in case of a first stage failure as the pressure must have somewhere to go.

Zeagle also makes an excellent pony mount system that I use with my 2 tank strap BC. The system is simple, easy to use and priced less than most other pony mounts.

[Gary H]

I use a Sherwood 1st stage on my pony which should probably be the worst choice you could make. The Sherwood puts out a constant bubble leak "to keep water out of the 1st stage"

Anyway, leaving it ON leaking out the 1st stage all day doesn't lose enough air to care about on a 6 cf or 13 cf tank. So, what I'm saying is if you find a good deal on a Sherwood, I wouldn't let the 1st stage bubbler be the discriminating factor regarding using it.

One 2nd stage I wouldn't recommend is the Poseidon Odin. They tend to lose what sounds like a lot of air every time you turn it on.

[Grin]

I got a new Zeagle Reg for my new primary and my old Sherwood magnum is now going to be the Pony reg. I'll just keep an eye on the Sherwood leakage thing and change it out if neccessary. Got a 13 and Zeagle straps. I got a little screw in pressure gauge that is super cool, but cost $50. It is the size of a 1/2 ounce egg sinker and screws into the 1st stage and is virtually unnoticably hidden an unobstructed(no hose or anything). I'll try the rig without the Zeagle shut off valve first and get it if I see any issues. I guess the reason for this is possible unwanted freeflow, by accident, issues. I don't really undersatnd the pressure relief thingies? can anyone expand on that. I couldn't find them on the Zagle site either. The part # 330-4905s? Thanks for all info!

[kitefisherman]

Originally Posted by Grin

I'll try the rig without the Zeagle shut off valve first and get it if I see any issues. I guess the reason for this is possible unwanted freeflow, by accident, issues. I don't really undersatnd the pressure relief thingies? can anyone expand on that. I couldn't find them on the Zagle site either. The part # 330-4905s? Thanks for all info!

I sometimes get unwanted free flow when I get in the water. This is usually caused by water pressure on the reg's purge button. One way to prevent this is to set the venturri adjustment to the stiffest setting so that the reg breathes hard. You might also have the reg adjusted so that it breathes harder (more like a octo than a primary reg).

As I understand it, the low pressure port safety relief valve allows the high pressure air inside your first stage to escape if the first stage fails. Normally, it would escape through the second stage(s), but you've blocked that path with the isolator valve that prevents air from flowing from the low pressure hose into your second stage. I'm not sure what the worst that could happen is (the warning label mentions "serious injury or death"), but I guess that your hose could explode. The part number is correct. It's not on the Zeagle site, but I confirmed with ScottZeagle yesterday that they still carry them. You can order them through your Zeagle dealer.

A 13 isn't a bad pony to mount upside down so that you can reach the valve. You just need to make sure that you can reach and turn the tank valve on and off before you get in the water.

I do like maintaining constant pressure at the tank though (leaving the valve on). Once I pressurized the pony reg before my dive and then shut the valve off before I jumped in. When I jumped in the second stage free flowed just enough to release the pressure in the hose. During the dive, the lack of pressure allowed my DIN first stage to twist enough so that it was no longer fully seated. When I later tried to turn on the pony valve, I got a major leakage at the tank valve and no air in the second stage. I now often repressurize my pony reg at depth to make sure that my connection has not been compromised. The situation can be corrected at depth by closing the tank valve and giving the DIN first stage that little extra twist to restablish the connection. To do this, you will either have to be able to reach the first stage knob behind you or remove your BC so that you can reach it. I suspect that this isn't as much of a problem with a yoke first stage, but everything I have is DIN so that it is interchangeable.

[Grin]

Excellent! Thank you so much!