Regulator Geeks: Scubapro Mk19EVO - teardown & discussion

[drakcheslav]

This almost looks like an invitation…

Feel free.
We also have cave's. And Budapest is 3hrs away on a good day if the border is OK. And with that it's the Molnar Janoš cave. And flooded mine.

Ohrid and 300m deep dives if you're into it is some 5hrs away, and Croatian coastline is 6-7hrs away.

We might not have any sea access, but that doesn't mean we don't love diving.

 

[HandsomeYoungPete]

As a few of you have requested, I'm going to host a Zoom discussion on the new Scubapro Mk19EVO.

Date: Tues, Jan 18th
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm PST (9p-10:30p EST)
Hope that works for both West Coast'ers getting home from work, and East Coast'ers going to bed.

We'll compare it with the Mk17 (and the Mk25).
We'll compare schematics and open up all three regs.
We'll look at the crispness of IP lockup, and also compare IP shift from full to empty tank.
We'll look at advertised flow numbers.

I'll do a reassembly demo, just to show ease of service, but this is won't be a DIY service course.

And we can argue about it!

Zoom meeting connection info will be posted here before the session.

I'm in, thanks Rob

 

[RicMares]

I'm in, thanks Rob

This was held in Jan 2022. Go to Rob's Youtube page to view.

 

[derrickroger]

For all of you SP "Diaphragm" guys. Pardon this piston guy's shameless plug here. I do have lots of kits that I'll never use (because after all I am a piston guy.) So if you need any for the MK11/17/18 and old MK19 kits, I'll be willing to make a deal. I think the new MK19 has a different seat, therefore I'm guessing not compatible.

Back to our regulator-ly scheduled program.

hi Derrick here, ive been using diaphragm regs for years now i want to move to "scubapro piston" but i want EN250A "cold water compatible" i could be in water 32F / 0C thoughts or suggestions ?

 

[derrickroger]

A line in the sand, eh? You got a strong statement for pistons? I'm just curious on your perspective...as I am currently an MK25 hitter for my air underwater.


That said, I am raising an eyebrow at the info surfacing about the MK19 [Evo is latest?]...as I currently am side-mounting my LP72s in cold water [fresh and salt]. I do not *think* I will out-breathe an MK25 [never said my brain always thought good] so going to a smaller diameter orifice [MK19] is a little new for me. The MK25 situations I have had...I have never had a freeflow from freeze up...never noticed any ice on the spring [was not looking very close often, but in freshwater dives around 40F, I have not noticed any ice on the spring when looking]...so...how much is the MK19 providing over what I currently need?

MK19 wins [mostly] in the service department. Reasons against it are parts costs, count, complexity...tho not a deal killer. Next, I have lots of MK25 service kits! Then, MK25 has to be lightly "machined" at the piston stem knife edge and in the ambient chamber walls for wear from grit. No fun wearing away critical molecules of your gem's family jewels.

MK19 loses in cost...simple...I got my MK20s as part of a load of "old" dive gear for $250 total...easily $600 to $1k in stuff. I then converted them to the latest MK25 parts available...spring, piston, cap...for about $40 ea. So, total, my like new performing MK25s are less than $100 ea after service fees, selling useless to me gear, parts, tools, etc. Plus, I believe I need at least one more custom MK19 tool...and certainly service kits.

My plan is to wait a few years...until I trip over some sweet MK19 Evos at a fair price....let them prove themselves more in the wild. I just hope I either catch [and remember] another Rsingler reg teardown of the MK19 Evo [and a 4th gen S600 or maybe an S620 by then] or find some Scubapro MK19 Evo service manuals while I still can!

 

[derrickroger]

i want a cold water compatible scuba pro reg- which ? i want it sealed so no issues with cold water, silty water, salt water, guys which one should i be looking at

 

[rsingler]

i want to move to "scubapro piston"

i want it sealed

Oops! My favorite rant!

 

[rsingler]

Scubapro has struggled with freezing for its Mk25 for decades. TIS, then squeezy piston washer change, then new oval holes, then more ribs, then spring coating, then a plastic insulating cup. It never ends. They got rid of SPEC sealing with the Mk10, because techs hated the mess. Really bad move. Their best engineers left to form Atomic.
You can't seal a Mk25.

Cold water to 0°C? Sealed diaphragm.
It's as simple as that, if that's your worst case dive. Mk25EVO is a second best choice. Yeah, it's EN250A certified. But it would never be my first choice.

 

[Kupu]

i want it sealed guys which one should i be looking at

Old school Scubapro... sealed MK10 on left, sealed MK5 on right. Nice and shiny

 

[Umuntu]

Old school Scubapro... sealed MK10 on left, sealed MK5 on right. Nice and shiny
View attachment 873290

Anniversary editions or PVD ?