Scubapro MK18 to MK17 conversion

[spyder]

I was talking to a tech yesterday and he said there was a kit to change a MK18 to essentially a MK 17 (or actually 19 since it has the swivel turret). Anyone heard of this? Supposedly the kit is minimal expense.

 

[kgault]

I was talking to a tech yesterday and he said there was a kit to change a MK18 to essentially a MK 17 (or actually 19 since it has the swivel turret). Anyone heard of this? Supposedly the kit is minimal expense.

I picked one up and upgraded mine. The kit only contains the knife edge (replaced the Mk18 seat), the Mk17 poppet and an O-ring for the poppet. It would be just as easy to do with a Mk17 annual kit and the knife edge orifice.

I did the upgrade after getting 3 Mk17s which were much more reliable. The upgrade to the Mk18 does not include a second diaphragm, so it would not become equivalent to the Mk19.

I have not noticed an increase in performance, or any drop in noise. I am hoping that this combination will not be as finicky as the Mk18 HP seats that were failing ever 6 months ;(

Keith