Scubapro MK9 Questions

[gijo1977]

Hi all,

This is a follow on from an ongoing education into older SP regs.

I was wondering if anyone would know if the MK9 is retrofittable with the MK10 Plus equipment? and also does anyone know where I can get hold of the parts to upgrade it from the fixed 5 port cap to the swivel cap?

I have only managed to test it in my living room (on a tank) since its rebuild and associated re-birth, but i noticed that it has a lovely high pitched whine when I breathed from both the R190 2nd and also the Airsource 3 which I recently purchased. Is this just the lubrication problem from the MK10 threads? or something I should worry about? And if it is just the lube problem, how long should it take the LDS to rectify?

And finally I have a question regarding the use of the Airsource 3 on the MK9.... I believe that the MK9 is a balanced flowthrough piston, with all the ports in the cap having the same IP. The Airsource 3 is pretty much being sold as a ballanced reg with really easy breathing, but I would have thought it is designed to work with the AL 1sts that have the venturi asist ports or the Medium preassure ports?? Is this an issue for me to worry about?

I would also like to thank the the board and its members, who have made quest for diving knowledge much easier and more rounded than I think is possible at any LDS. THANKS

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Yes it can be upgraded and I'd be happy to trade you the Mk 9 cap for a minty looking Mk 10 swivel cap and LP port turret. Ship it to me and I'll even do the swap for you and throw in a free service while I am at it. That will solve your lubrication problem.

 

[halocline]

Hi all,

I have only managed to test it in my living room (on a tank) since its rebuild and associated re-birth, but i noticed that it has a lovely high pitched whine when I breathed from both the R190 2nd and also the Airsource 3 which I recently purchased. Is this just the lubrication problem from the MK10 threads? or something I should worry about? And if it is just the lube problem, how long should it take the LDS to rectify?

And finally I have a question regarding the use of the Airsource 3 on the MK9.... I believe that the MK9 is a balanced flowthrough piston, with all the ports in the cap having the same IP. The Airsource 3 is pretty much being sold as a ballanced reg with really easy breathing, but I would have thought it is designed to work with the AL 1sts that have the venturi asist ports or the Medium preassure ports?? Is this an issue for me to worry about?

I'm sure the airsource will work fine on the SP 1st stage. Regulators with "high flow" ports don't have different IPs for those ports, they're just configured to increase flow. Your 1st stage has plenty of flow.

The whistle is probably due to either the HP seat design, poor lubrication at the HP o-ring, or some harmonic issue with the spring. The first thing to ask the LDS is if they used the conical seat that comes in the current MK5/MK10 kits. If they used the older style flat seat, that's probably it. Next would be to make sure they adequately lubed the HP o-ring. While you're asking them that you could annoy them by suggesting that they try a 90 duro polyurethene o-ring. SP used to use them for the MK5/10 but I think the current ones are EDPM. (sp?) Anyhow, I've noticed less IP drop over the supply pressure range in my MK10s with the polyurethene o-rings than with the ones right out of the new kits, so I kind of assume they handle the friction from the piston movement better. It could be that I'm just getting better at lubing them, too.

Regarding the spring, some people have suggested turning the spring around but DA is skeptical about that and I always trust his judgement. If it were mine and I were experimenting, I might try a different height seat, which would require either more or fewer shims on the spring (depending on the current IP and seat height) and might change the loading on the spring enough to quiet it down.

Good luck with it!

 

[gijo1977]

Hey can the fixed turret be repositioed to allow better hose routing... mine has the cap set so one of the hoses would point straight into the back of my head (Single Tank) and another directed straight back at the tank?????

And I would prefer to keep the cap just incase I need the spare parts later, or for when the reg gets moved to a stage bottle sometime in the future.

I guess i will go back to the LDS and get them to re-lube the unit to try and fix the whine.

Daniel

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The cap cannot readily be turned. It's possible you could install a shim underneath it, but there are no SP parts to accomplish that.

If you need a spare swivel cap I'd swap you two Mk 10 swivel caps. The Mk 9 fixed cap is not exactly rarte, but it is fairly hard to find and yours really belongs in my collection. On a deco bottle with just the second stage attached, you'd route the hose out the end port with a Mk 10 or a Mk 9. If you want an inflator for a closed circuit SMB on the deco reg as well, you'd want the swivel cap from the Mk 10 anyway.

 

[halocline]

As far as converting it to a MK10+, that requires a new piston and different seat, maybe some other parts, DA would know for sure. I don't think there's a real compelling reason to do that, and I'm not even sure if you can buy those parts at a dealer any more. What you guys are now talking about is just converting it to a MK10, correct?

 

[superstar]

Why not just buy a MK10 off ebay??

 

[gijo1977]

Why not just buy a MK10 off ebay??

Well I have considered that as an option, but ebay is where I gained my current Mk9 from........... And lets just say that has been an experience. I think my collection of ebay gambles on life support has drawn to a close (at least for the time being).

 

[gijo1977]

Thanks for the PM Matt.

DA Aquamaster, I have sent you a 2 PMs trying to explain my issues.