Tekna hubcap style 2nd stage

[adler_steven]

I discovered an old Tekna hubcap style regulator that I have never seen before.

I'm familiar with the 2100 series, still diving on a pair that are working fine, and would be interested in finding out further information on this model and whether there are any maintenance manuals and/or spare parts, in particular the poppet.

I've attached some pictures to help jog someone's memory.

My guess is that tuning the regulator would be performed the same way as you
would tune any other second stage that has an adjustment knob, using an
inline tool to adjust the crown (not shown in the photo, it is screwed
inside the valve body) and adjusting the set screw which is inside the adjustment knob.

 

[Jscubadive]

I remember seeing those at least advertised in SDM

I was diving a 2100 last year and could not keep the water out. Very wet. Was that normal on these?

 

[Nemrod]

If the Tekna was that wet something was wrong, either the case was cracked, the exhaust diaphram incorrect/damaged or some other type malfuction. Most side breathers do tend to breath slightly wet. I still am known to dive the 2100B and 2100 (metal case) and took a 2100 to 235 feet.

N

 

[DA Aquamaster]

It looks like a standard single adjustment balanced poppet second stage design and should tune and adjust the same way.

 

[Jscubadive]

If the Tekna was that wet something was wrong, either the case was cracked, the exhaust diaphram incorrect/damaged or some other type malfuction. Most side breathers do tend to breath slightly wet. I still am known to dive the 2100B and 2100 (metal case) and took a 2100 to 235 feet.

N

Hi Nemrod,

I was able to dive it but from other regulators that I am use to it was wet. Used the purge button more then once. It was the 2100B the black plastic housing with the silver metal ring, I think the 2100BX has the black plastic ring as well as housing? I saw a 2100 all metal that I bid on a few months ago but did not win.

My Cyklon 300 metal housing breathes wet also but only above 30 feet and more often above 15 feet but not on every dive. My last dive I hit 34 foot max depth and spent 54 minutes in the 10 to 20 foot range with not one wet breath, but the dive before was to 100 feet for 28 minutes and on that dive I got my first wet breath on my ascent at 50 feet then was ok till I hit 30 feet, by 15 almost every other breath was wet. I learned to lean my head to the left, so the hockey puck is lower then the rest like ur clearing your second stage, and this seemed to stop the wet breathing.

James

 

[adler_steven]

I have to agree with Nemrod. My Tekna 2100B (plastic housing, s/s valve body) is the first and only reg I bought, well over 20 years ago. While my only comparison has been rental eqpt in some places, I certainly would not describe my Tekna as wet.

Barring eqpt problems such as cracked housing, worn o-rings, damaged seal ring, inhalation or exhalation diaphragm, the only thing to be wary of is the mouthpiece.

The Tekna has a larger mouthpiece bore than many other regs, consequently the mouthpiece is larger, and the mouthpiece on the reg you tried may just not have fitted your mouth properly.

 

[Nemrod]

I am not sure the problem but it should not be that wet. Mine are not and I have a bunch of them. The all plastic 2100BX is a parts reg as far as I am concerned. The 2100B is a fine regulator within limits. It either has a missing O ring perhaps in the purge button assembly, water leaking around the mouthpiece (yes--that can happen on any reg) or there is a crack in the case. Also look for a missing O ring on the body assembly to the case. It should not breath wet!

I have been using these things since they came out and no regulator compares with them, especially the T2100--but--while I fully understand how they work, there is a certain amount of magic in them that refuses to yield to my limitied intellect. Some of them breath superb and some hardly at all and sometimes even upon very close examination and even new parts--they still don't operate correctly!

Did you know that the second stage was actually intended to never require any parts replacement, I was told that by a Tekna Rep long ago. In actual use however things do deform, wear etc. The little HP diaphram in the second stage body goes bad, the tilt valve assembly seal goes to goooo, those are the two main areas of degradation.

At 100 feet my T2100 out performs my wifes new top of the line AL Legend, it feels as if it is pumping air into you. There were never many pilot/servo assisted regs on the market. Never dive a Tekna without backup, another as an octapus or something, there are failure modes on them that could result in no air though I know of no such thing happening, I see how it could, if the HP diaphram fails to unseat to provide the main flow you would only get the air from the tilt poppet. If the tilt poppet failed thee is nothing to initiate main flow etc. The HP diaphram is strictly pressure differential actuated, there is no direct mechanical link to that diaphram!

BTW, the all metal T2100 is very rare, mine breaths super easy as I said, not many were made before shifting to the composite housing on the T2100B.

N

 

[Couv]

A water tight check is very easy to perform. Hook the first stage up to a tank and without turning on the air (if you have a good tight dust cap you can use that instead) draw a breath until you hear the second stage diaphragm retract. Will the reg hold vacuum? If so, it is probably water tight and vv.

 

[adler_steven]

Perhaps we should start another thread on the Tekna 2100 ? Although I've got about two sets of spare everything, about the only spare part that I can no longer source would be the pilot lever assembly. And in over 20 years of use, other than routine replacement of the 'O' rings, and one precautionary replacement of the main diaphragm, none of the other seals or diaphragms show any signs of damage. Perhaps it has just been the care I lavished on the regs.

In anycase, the problem with this Tekna hubcap reg I found is that the rubber seat on the poppet has worn out. Not surprising since on many other balanced second stages, the poppet seat is an annual replacement item. So if anyone has any idea where I could find a replacement poppet for this weird looking Tekna, or has a suggestion on how to replace the rubber compund that the seat is made from, it would be greatly appreciated.

One other thought is to find a complete poppet assembly and balance chamber from another brand of regulator (such as an Aqualung) that will fit inside the valve body. I would almost hazard a guess that all of the orifices & valve bodies are pretty much the same diameter.

 

[Rickg]

I dove Tekna 2100BX for years and loved them. I would still be diving them but I haven't been able to find anyone that will service them in San Diego. The only time I noticed them to be a bit wet was when I was in a vertical, head down position and then it was only a minor inconvenience.

In addition to the Tekna regulators I also picked up a Tekna BC on eBay a couple of years ago that I use as a travel BC. And I also have Tekna's version of a SpareAir that I have never tried but bought just for the hell of it.

Rickg