Help reversing Scubapro R390?

[JahJahwarrior]

I know enough about what I'm doing to consider myself safe, but not enough about Scubapro regs specifically.

I want to reverse my R390 second stage so the inlet is on the left side. I need to remove the plug in that port, and remove the valve assembly. I'm having troubles doing both.

I've removed the plastic nut from the inlet, but it won't slip all the way out. There are wrench flats on the inlet, making me think perhaps it inscrews. I need to get a thinner wrench to fit on them, however.

The plug on the left hand side...does that screw together? I'm having trouble holding the inside bit while I turn the outside bit.

 

[rcs9250]

JJ,
The plug on the left side is removed by rotating it 1/4 turn and then pushing it out from the inside of the reg. You rotate it with the Scubapro universal tool. You could probably use a adjustable face pin spanner as well. I don't know wether you rotate Cw or CCW to remove it. It should be obvious by liightly trying to rotate it. The friction that holds it from rotating is an O rings squeeze.
Looking at the schematic makes me think it is not possible to make it a left side feed. All I have though is the schematic. Maybe someone else on the board has actual experience with the R390. The schematic shows the round portion on the left side as longer than the right side. That tells me no. But we'll see.

Your avatar shows you side mounting. What is your hose routing now for your left reg ?

 

[JahJahwarrior]

I've read in multple places that it is reversable and the tubes look identical.

Long hose on both tanks, run hose around head. Works, but I've been wanting to get a left handed reg, found out this one should be convertable, could save me some money

 

[rcs9250]

JJ,
I even went to the Scubapro site to see if they mention it in the specs section but don't. Nor does the service manual show that reassembly has the option. I'm curious. Good luck.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Got the plug out...that wasn't hard at all, I just coulnd't see it well enough in the dim lighting.

Now...how do I get the valve assembly out? It seems like I should push it inside of the reg, but it won't go more than about an eigth of an inch before it stops. Does the outside threaded tube unscrew from the inside bit?

 

[rcs9250]

JJ,
Looked at the R395 and it is supposed to allow left and right assembly. Betcha your R390 will.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

So you have a schematic of the reg? Can you tell me anything else about removing the inlet tube/valve portion from the reg? I think the inlet tube unscrews, but I don't want to apply excessive force and damage something.

This link suggests it is possible

 

[rcs9250]

I sent you a PM.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Figured it out, thanks for the advice!

Mine was just stuck together...I guess not rebuilding yearly gives more time for slight corossion to stick things together.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

For anyone else looking to switch theirs:

The plug pops out. Use needlenose pliers to twist it about 45* then push it out. If you look inside the reg, it'll make sense-- each side isn't a perfect circle, butmore like a square set on edge. You have to line up the end of the plug to push it through.

The inlet tube, take off the plastic nut and washer and oring and all, and you'll see some wrench flats. Use a 1/2" wrench, it has to be skinny, and it's not a perfect fit but close enough. Loosen this, it unscrews. Pull the valve bits that are inside, further inside. Don't lose the little plug in the bottom. Take it out, put it in the other hole, then flip everything around and insert this in the other side (plug should be facing down). Then, reassemble.

To put the front back together, you put in diaphragm, then that gray washer thing, with the tab sticking out, through a tiny slit in the side of the housing. Put the purge button piece in the screw nut piece all lined up, with the hole for the pin where it is supposed to be. Screw it together and it should end up pretty close, line it up and put the pin in.

And if you drown cause you did it wrong or I didn't explain it well...that's your fault. Regulators should always be serviced or worked on by trained regulator technicians...