Scuba Pro R 108 and R 109's

[mksmith713]

I'm looking at rebuilding a set of regs with a Scuba Pro R108 secondary and an R109 as octo.
Is anyone out there still diving these regs or has anyone dove these and what do they think of them?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Luis H]

Many divers still use the 109. Many have been converted to balanced adjustable (156), but in either configuration it is IMO one of the all times best second stages ever made.

Over all it is probably my all times favorite single hose second stage.


Just do a search and you will find many posts about that second stage. It has a very large following.

The metal 109 will easily still be used long after many newer plastic regulators have been recycled into soda bottles or fleece sweaters.

 

[HenrikBP]

Sorry 'bout a bit of thread drift mksmith, but thought you might find possible answers useful as well.

I just got a set of 109/MK5 regulators off eBay and was wondering about getting manuals for those. I found diagrams of both on www.frogkick.dk - /, but no service manuals. There was a service manual for a MK2 but I don't know how different it is/was from the MK5.

So, anyone have a link for those service manuals?

Thanks
Henrik

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I have honestly never seen a service manual for an R108 or R109, just the schematics with the occasional engineering or technical data tip in the margin.

The R108 is very well made and offers excellent performance. With a balanced first stage with a stable IP, it will deliver consistently low inhalation efforts throughout the dive. ON an unbalanced first stage, you need to tune it with a full tank. If you tune it for minimum inhalation effort with an unbalanced piston first stage like the Mk 2, Mk 3 or Mk 200 on a near empty tank, it will freeflow when attached to a full tank. When attached to an unbalanced first stage the inhalation effort will rise slightly as tank pressure falls.

But, the point many people fail to appreciate is that an R108 with it's metal orifice and very precise construction will deliver better inhalation performance when properly tuned than most new second stages.

The R109 when updated to R156 Balanced Adjustable configuration will breath as well as an S600 and do it without giving you dry mouth. I agree it is one of the best single hose second stages ever made.

 

[halocline]

I'm looking at rebuilding a set of regs with a Scuba Pro R108 secondary and an R109 as octo.
Is anyone out there still diving these regs or has anyone dove these and what do they think of them?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

As the others have said, these are both excellent regs. You might consider upgrading the 109 to balanced/adjustable and using it as your primary second, and use the 108 as your octo. If your first stage is a MK5, you'll have the distinction of a great reg with zero plastic parts other than o-rings, seats, mouthpieces, exhaust tees.

I've noticed that the ebay price for these has been going up. With that in mind, (and in keeping with our election year frenzy) I'm thinking of starting a smear campaign against old SP metal case 2nd stages. A recent ebay sale was over $70 for a 109. This is an outrage; they're too heavy and cause terrible jaw fatigue, they have no anti-set or venturi assist adjustment, you can't get parts for them, you don't know where they've been, and most important, isn't your life worth a new Atomic reg?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I personally think the postive comments on scubaboard have led to the inflated R109 market. You used to be able to get them for maybe $15-25.

So yes, they suck and several deaths can probably be attributed to them. They should all be sent to me immediately for proper disposal.

 

[Couv]

Yeah....They are dangerous to own and if I could not be held legally liable, I would just give mine away. I considered throwing them in the junk yard, but still afraid some fool might find them and kill himself.

Additionally, all that chrome attracts barracuda.

 

[halocline]

I personally think the postive comments on scubaboard have led to the inflated R109 market. You used to be able to get them for maybe $15-25.

So yes, they suck and several deaths can probably be attributed to them. They should all be sent to me immediately for proper disposal.

I hereby retract all positive comments I have made about the 109 and urge my SB colleagues to do the same. In this time of economic difficulty, America needs our diving community to purchase new regulators from stores.

 

[superstar]

No way am I going to down grade my MK5-108 by buying some brand new over priced piece of junk regulator just so I can spread the wealth.

 

[HenrikBP]

If these regulators are as dangerous as you say, I'm happy that I did my best to protect the diving community by taking several off of the eBay market

DA Aquamaster; thanks for the service manual information. I'll make do with the diagrams.

Henrik