Identify this vintage Scubapro first stage...

[RobK1965]

Hi, This is my first post here. Could anyone identify this vintage Scubapro first stage and tell me whether it is still possible to get spares for it?

Are there any technical documents available for it for download? Stuff like specifications, materials, date of manufacture, identifying marks, (especially) "exploded assembly drawings" and overhaul procedures? Any info would help. The clamp screw has "3000 psi" and "Scubapro" stamped into it, and the HP ports are marked "HP", but there are no other external markings with text or numbers on it. There are two HP ports, and 4 LP ports around the circumference of the LP end, plus one blanking screw in the very far end of the LP side (see the photos). The top of the turret rotates.

Many thanks,

Rob

 

[DA Aquamaster]

It is a Mk 5. It is in fact one of the later ones (late 70's or early 80's) with heavy 3000 psi yoke (that will work fine up to 3500 psi), the 5 LP port turret, dual HP ports (should be 7/16") and SPEC system swivel cap. It is an excellent first stage that was sold by Scubapro through the late 1980's and was also sold under licence by Tusa and Oceanic through the 1990's and was marketed by several other companies as well. It is one of the most copied designs in scuba reg history. If the Mk 10 is the AK-47 of regulators, the MK 5 is the SKS - simple, rugged, reliable and performs great.

Scubapro still stocks the Mk 5 annual service kit with upgraded concave seats, and oxygen/Nitrox friendly EPDM o-rings. The current SP yoke knob will also fit. Scubapro and Trident both sell DIN conversion kits for it.

The metal "hard" parts are harder to find as they are no longer produced, but they basically do not wear out unless abused so it is a non issue.

You may encounter some dealers tell you that you need a new reg, but that is not due to performance as the Mk 5 was nd continues to be a high performance workhorse of a first stage. However a downside to making a first stage that performs great and lasts forever is that eventually it cuts into sales of new regs. Consequently, some SP sales reps tend to put pressure on SP dealers to sell new regs rather than continue to service 30-40 year old regs.

I do personally recommend that the occassional Mk 5 be retired as some are truly worn out. Eventually enough wear occurs that the tolerances reach a point where leaks occur despite new o-rings and/or the reg can no longer be made to perform to the required specifications. Wear in the high pressure piston stem o-ring groove/piston stem or the swivel cap to low pressure swivel port junction are the areas that most often result in a Mk 5 needing to be hung on a wall somewhere - but most of those are a lot older and in a lot worse conditon that your appears to be.

 

[Couv]

Hello Rob,

Welcome to Scuba Board. DA is the resident ScubaPro guru.

That MK V was the SP workhorse and I suspect from the types of dings and
scratches it was in someone's rental fleet, but chances are it is still fine.

Most soft parts are easy to come by on eBay, the HP seat is the same as the MK 10 and the o-rings are generic.

See this thread I think at the bottom of post #6 I listed a few sites where you can find the manuals you are looking for.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/261800-sp-mk10-annual-kit.html

Good luck,

Couv

 

[halocline]

Yep, late model MK5. If you don't want to risk your life diving with it, I'm happy to take it off your hands for a reasonable charge, okay I'll do it for free.

The two things I can think of that might spell trouble for it would be excessive corrosion in the ambient chamber and any nick or other problem at the edge of the piston stem. Both of those are pretty unlikely. What's the 2nd stage?