Factory defective piston

[buddhasummer]

Hi there,

I live in Japan and recently bought from a private owner a brand new, never been wet MK25 EVO I paid just over $200. Long story short couldn't get it to perform properly, my LDS took the 1st stage apart and there is a very noticeable flat edge on the piston as though it has been hit on one side with a hammer, given the reg is brand new this is obviously (?) a manufacturing defect.

They contacted SP Japan, SP Japan won't sell them the part as apparently they don't order enough. SP won't look at the reg as I didn't buy it from a shop and cannot prove it was purchased on Japan soil. I would have thought even it was never registered the serial number should prove country of origin sale.

I find all this rather alarming as the fact remains I have a brand new SP MK25 first stage that is defective from factory (?) but it seems SP is not interested in doing anything at all. It's not a clone it's SP, it came from SP.

I don't speak Japanese so cannot talk to SP directly.

Any assistance or advice you can give to help in solving this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[tstormdiver]

Just a suggestion,... either you or they, send the regulator back,... for a simple factory service, if nothing else. Scubapro will service regs. Hopefully, like you, they will not be able to get factory settings on it & be forced to change the piston. Tuck a note inside stating the issue & contact info. May cost a little extra, but then you may get your issue resolved, since your dealer & Sucbapro seems to have left to you dry. I just read,... since you are not the original owner, there are likely not to be any warranties.

 

[buddhasummer]

LDS spoke directly with them, they have asked I send complete reg set to them to look at. I'll send it back next week, I've asked they do nothing except find the cause of the problem. They keep going on about my use of the 5th port and a long hose and say if I use other LP ports I'd likely have no issue. WTF?

 

[buddhasummer]

All you cave divers out there using MK25 with 7' hoses take care eh...

 

[tstormdiver]

The only difference in using the bottom port is the potential of smoother air flow, since there is a direct path, vs some turbulence from the air taking a right angle turn. That can cause some 2nd stages to free flow.

 

[buddhasummer]

The only difference in using the bottom port is the potential of smoother air flow, since there is a direct path, vs some turbulence from the air taking a right angle turn. That can cause some 2nd stages to free flow.

Thanks, does that mean using the 5th port can cause a second stage on another port to free flow? The 5th port reg doesn't free flow, but causes any reg I attach to another port to free flow violently if purged, it also then causes the 5tn port untouched reg to free flow simultaneously. What is the cure for this?

 

[buddhasummer]

If I plug the 5th port there is no apparent issue. Seems like a fault to me?

 

[buddhasummer]

So is it possible the issue I'm experiencing is actually nothing faulty but a by product of the MK25 5th port usage?

 

[buddhasummer]

This is very interesting Tamny, so there may actually be some truth to what SP Japan are saying. Gosh, I'll feel silly if there is no problem considering the noise I'm making.an apology to SP might be coming.

 

[tstormdiver]

There can be a variety of things to cause it. My first guess would be to check the intermediate pressure. Look for it to be higher than 145psi (normal is 125- 145psi- some do 150psi). Also look for considerable creep (IE: going from 125psi to 145+ or rising more than a few psi in a relatively short period of time). If there is an IP problem, it could be the HP seat assembly, Stem Oring assembly or a problem with edge of the piston. If that checks out, then look to the low pressure side & the larger piston Orings. If no issues there, then look to see if 2nd stage may he tuned to be too sensitive.