Scubapro MK20/G250 used

[Fishpie]

I believe the UL version is black anodized ..... should be easy to spot.

My preference would be the Titan over the Scubapro for a couple of reasons......well only one really and that is to do with the 1st stage (the 2nd stages are a wash as both are balanced barrel poppet type and are much the same as any other barrel poppet 2nd stage).

The Titan is a diaphragm 1st stage. Better for cold water and better as a second hand buy.
No need to hash out the cold water stuff but why better used buy.

I buy and service a ton of used gear. Very frequently used gear bought from a private seller has sat around for years and years. Depending on how well it was rinsed and subsequently stored after its final dive will have a big effect on it's condition, much more than how old it is or how many dives it has......for piston 1st stages.
A diaphragm 1st stage can be put away wet and salty, left in the dive bag and then stored in a garden shed in the tropics without ill effect. Bit of an exaggeration, I admit, but do this to a piston reg and you are taking a crap shoot at what condition the insides will be like......that is if the tech can even crack the damn thing open and get inside!

I don't dislike piston regs.
My favorite reg to dive.......Scubapro MK5 and 10's with Balanced Adjustable or G250.
Favorite reg to throw in a boat locker and forget until the next year.....US Divers Conshelf (pretty much the same reg as the OP is considering).

 

[Andy@]

I believe the UL version is black anodized ..... should be easy to spot.

My preference would be the Titan over the Scubapro for a couple of reasons......well only one really and that is to do with the 1st stage (the 2nd stages are a wash as both are balanced barrel poppet type and are much the same as any other barrel poppet 2nd stage).

The Titan is a diaphragm 1st stage. Better for cold water and better as a second hand buy.
No need to hash out the cold water stuff but why better used buy.

I buy and service a ton of used gear. Very frequently used gear bought from a private seller has sat around for years and years. Depending on how well it was rinsed and subsequently stored after its final dive will have a big effect on it's condition, much more than how old it is or how many dives it has......for piston 1st stages.
A diaphragm 1st stage can be put away wet and salty, left in the dive bag and then stored in a garden shed in the tropics without ill effect. Bit of an exaggeration, I admit, but do this to a piston reg and you are taking a crap shoot at what condition the insides will be like......that is if the tech can even crack the damn thing open and get inside!

I don't dislike piston regs.
My favorite reg to dive.......Scubapro MK5 and 10's with Balanced Adjustable or G250.
Favorite reg to throw in a boat locker and forget until the next year.....US Divers Conshelf (pretty much the same reg as the OP is considering).

The one is silver, perhaps with some chrome layer? So I guess it is not the UL. As for the 1rst stage advice, thanks, I wouldn't have thought of that. The owner states that the MK20 was serviced after the last dive, so I would hope that it would be in a fair state, however, I guess there is no way to find out without some proper check, which is something I cannot manage at the buying time.

As for the cold water I am still wondering if I will need it at all, since, at the time being, the places I am planning to dive in the winter, have temperatures around 14ºC, so above the cold water limit.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[halocline]

If the MK20/G250 is half the price of the titan, it's a better deal, especially considering that the MK20/G250 is a more expensive reg set new.

I wouldn't worry about cold water use on either one unless you are diving with a drysuit. If not, you won't be in water cold enough to cause problems.

The only issue with buying a used MK20 is that some of them came with a brass-tipped piston that is not as good as either the earlier or later pistons. If the one you're buying has a brass-tipped piston, at some point (likely the next service) you may want to replace that piston with a new one. This will essentially make your reg a MK25 except no external IP adjustment. (That's a plus in my mind). I think the cost of the piston is about $70 in U.S.

If the reg set was competently serviced in 2014, not used since then, and has been stored in a reasonable environment, chances are very good that you will be able to get a few hundred dives out of it before needing another service.

The titan LX is also an excellent regulator, so you can't go wrong either way.

 

[Andy@]

If the MK20/G250 is half the price of the titan, it's a better deal, especially considering that the MK20/G250 is a more expensive reg set new.

I wouldn't worry about cold water use on either one unless you are diving with a drysuit. If not, you won't be in water cold enough to cause problems.

The only issue with buying a used MK20 is that some of them came with a brass-tipped piston that is not as good as either the earlier or later pistons. If the one you're buying has a brass-tipped piston, at some point (likely the next service) you may want to replace that piston with a new one. This will essentially make your reg a MK25 except no external IP adjustment. (That's a plus in my mind). I think the cost of the piston is about $70 in U.S.

If the reg set was competently serviced in 2014, not used since then, and has been stored in a reasonable environment, chances are very good that you will be able to get a few hundred dives out of it before needing another service.

The titan LX is also an excellent regulator, so you can't go wrong either way.

Thanks! Sadly the MK20/G250 deal is gone, though there are other sets available, they are more expensive. It seems to have been a very popular set around here...

I am going to check the Titan this weekend, and will take it, if all looks good.

 

[george_austin]

Use a magnet. You can get a brand new in box never opened Titan for 234.00
USD - why fool with a used SP?

 

[george_austin]

Use a magnet. You can get a brand new in box never opened Titan for 234.00
USD - why fool with a used SP?

 

[Andy@]

Use a magnet. You can get a brand new in box never opened Titan for 234.00
USD - why fool with a used SP?

good tip for the magnet. Here the Titan LX supreme 1 and 2nd stage alone cost 350, and this one I found includes also the Octopus, which should be around some 100 more. So it looks to me that 180 is not a bad price to pay for the set.

 

[ams511]

good tip for the magnet. Here the Titan LX supreme 1 and 2nd stage alone cost 350, and this one I found includes also the Octopus, which should be around some 100 more. So it looks to me that 180 is not a bad price to pay for the set.

The MK-25 and MK-20 are made out of plated brass. A magnet does not stick to brass. The MK-20 UL, I have 2, are made out of aluminum. A magnet does not stick to aluminum either or titanium for that matter. So a magnet will not prove anything.

As mentioned, I have 2 MK-20 UL. There is nothing wrong with them IF you take care of them properly. That is the price for a lower travel weight. The body of these regulators will either be black or a dark brown while a normal MK-20 is a shiny silver color.

 

[ams511]

If you want new then I would recommend this: Apeks ATX40 Regulator with Octopus & Console

You may be able to get the price lower if you shop around. There are some stores in Germany on eBay which are pretty aggressive on price.

 

[Centrals]

Spend another US$40.00 on e-bay for 2 adjusting screws and a wee bit of elbow grease, you can instantly "up-grade" the ATX40 to ATX50.