How to restore a Scubapro Mark VII Honker

[happy-diver]

Can't describe this incredibly detailed invaluable thread, for honkers, honk honk!

 

[raftingtigger]

A Honker? You can pick one up on eBay for $40 on a good day.

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It was introduced around 1971

I can narrow that down for you quite a bit. When I bought mine in August of 1971 the design had been on the market for 6 months. My dad didn't like depending on new designs, but felt his 14-yo daughter was better off with a new design, rather than depending on the problematic J-valves. SPGs weren't really common or even affordable at the time.

FWIW, the 2nd stage I bought (109-A) at the same time is still my PRIMARY 2nd. I have a whole fleet of the 109-As, but my original is the one that is breathed from the most by far.

I tried over the years (in a pool) to see how long I could stand hearing the honker and the best I could ever do was just shy of 60 seconds. Part of my pre-dive checks was to 'test' the honker by just cracking the tank valve. Mine always started to honk when the SPG I had eventually gotten read between 500-600 psi.

When my somewhat inattentive son got certified at the age of 17, I got him a heavy yoke MKVII. He graduated to a non-paper weight (3-1/2# plus another 1# or so on port expanders) when I was convinced he was checking his gauges often enough. Actually, it only took one dive with him on the deep side of a steep drop-off to make the change.

 

[rsingler]

Terrific information! And a great story to boot!
Thank you, @raftingtigger