AL Mikron 1st Stage Question

[buddhasummer]

And a happy new year to you too.

 

[buddhasummer]

3mm Allen key, simple enough, thanks.

 

[Zef]

Regarding the tool you mentioned and linked to, if you want to spend the money on the tool and shipping then go for it, but the manual calls for using the yoke dust cap…all the plastic tool is doing is substituting for the dust cap.

-Z

 

[buddhasummer]

Regarding the tool you mentioned and linked to, if you want to spend the money on the tool and shipping then go for it, but the manual calls for using the yoke dust cap…all the plastic tool is doing is substituting for the dust cap.

-Z

Cool, I'll pass.

 

[buddhasummer]

Yoke Legend/Core/Titan/Mikron are all but identical to service.

 

[buddhasummer]

Hey All,

Just got a new AL Mikron Regulator package for the holidays and I have a question about the first stage.

What is this metal cover on the yoke? Is this the ACD?

View attachment 761349

Congrats by the way, a very nice reg set.

 

[buddhasummer]

I do like how environ end cap on the legend just unscrews by hand. AL really do make nice first stages. But boy the legend is a beast.

 

[buddhasummer]

I guess to stop rambling wasn't one of my New Year's resolutions

 

[Geo7]

The ACD quietly acquired that ridge as a result of three cases of gas shutoff DURING a dive. Aqualung never admitted a design flaw, but posted an advisory about shutter valve torque.
What apparently happened is that a loose shutter valve smooth face occluded a 6mm DIN insert in a tank valve. The new ridge now prevents total face contact with the insert, allowing continued gas flow even if the shutter valve loosens.

See this thread:

Aqualung Legend LX First Stage Failure at depth

My first stage failed at about 100-110 feet salt water. The regulator (Aqualung Legend) had about 50 dives (slightly less than a year) from factory new. I spearfish so after the initial descent my dive buddy and I split up-I was solo with a first stage failure. I had about 1500 psi left in my...

scubaboard.com

When I first heard about the ACD, a chill went down my spine. I did not trust it and thought it is an unecessary complication and IMHO a poor trade off to save divers from putting on the dust cap. Then Divers Alert Network published an incident and confirmed my worries.

I am surprised no official recall was issued, because if anyone gets into trouble with the old design, there now is proof that the manufacturer knew about the risk by the original design. Perhaps by issuing the torque specs, they put the burden on the tech that touched it last, when in reality it is (IMHO) an unwise design choice in terms of risk vs benefit. I guess careful techs may treat this like recall and upgrade to the new ridged design before releasing such a reg out of their hands...

 

[Zef]

When I first heard about the ACD, a chill went down my spine. I did not trust it and thought it is an unecessary complication and a poor trade off to save divers from putting on the dust cap. Then Divers Alert Network published an incident and confirmed my worries.

I am surprised no official recall was issued, because if anyone gets into trouble with the old design, there now is proof that the manufacturer knew about the risk by the original design. Perhaps by issuing the torque specs, they put the burden on the tech that touched it last, when in reality it is an unwise design choice in terms of risk vs benefit. I guess careful techs may treat this like recall and upgrade to the new ridged design before releasing such a reg out of their hands...

Your post makes me think I will leave my Franken-Core that I purchased from Simon the way it is. He built a Core from individual parts but opted to make it Non-ACD so that servicing it would be simpler as it just requires an 8mm Allen key to remove the yoke fitting…similar to the current Titan.

I was thinking about converting it to DIN to make it a proper Core with ACD, but now I am having 2nd thoughts…I need to research if the non-ACD Titan DIN conversion kit will work with it.

-Z