Scubapro MKV piston recall?

[Luis H]

That’s not during a dive, that’s after a tank fell on the regulator on a boat. There are all sorts of regulators and/or other gear that would not survive that kind of incident.

I’m talking about someone actually experiencing a turret bolt failure during a dive. I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I suspect it’s very, very, very, very rare. Almost unheard of, in fact.

I’m standing by my belief that the reason the bolts were changed to SS was because some techs damaged the brass bolts by overtightening them. SP has a history of making modifications to regulators that were basically in response to problems that techs had servicing the gear. I.E. the infamous MK20 yoke/DIN retainer.

I agree that the initial over stress and weakening of the bolt could be easily occur during assemble and torquing the bolt.

So when was the last time that you calibrated and/ or verified proper calibration of your torque wrenches?

My observation, is that very few technicians (DIY or paid) actually verify that their torque wrench is reading accurately.

As I mentioned, the MK-5 bolt design has a relatively small window between the recommended minimum torque and the maximum allowed torque. This is the case for the brass or the stainless bolt.


I don't use MK-5 any more, but if I did, I would consider some mild thread locking compound and keep the torque in the very low end of the recommendation for those threads.

 

[Nemrod]

That’s not during a dive, that’s after a tank fell on the regulator on a boat. There are all sorts of regulators and/or other gear that would not survive that kind of incident.

I’m talking about someone actually experiencing a turret bolt failure during a dive. I’m not saying it’s never happened, but I suspect it’s very, very, very, very rare. Almost unheard of, in fact.

I’m standing by my belief that the reason the bolts were changed to SS was because some techs damaged the brass bolts by overtightening them. SP has a history of making modifications to regulators that were basically in response to problems that techs had servicing the gear. I.E. the infamous MK20 yoke/DIN retainer.

I am sorry, I misread what you asked and I agree with you that both the Mark V turret bulletin, the piston Mark V bulletin and the more recent Mark 20 nozzle bulletin are preventative and cautionary and the results of incorrect maintenance and/or abuse.

And I do not know of any Mark V brass turret retainer bolt breaking during a dive. However, I would not use a brass retainer equipped Mark V in penetration and especially with the turret up.

Warning, thread drift!

I have had a diaphragm slip out during use with a Conshelf first stage . This was a new but very old stock first. The regulator should have been serviced before use. It made a lot of bubbles and it did quit supplying air. I have also heard of diaphragms slipping out when parts were reused, omitted and/or contaminated with silicone grease or homemade parts. I am of a mind that piston regs are inherently more reliable and also more tolerant of skipping maintenance than diaphragm types but that either are reliable for any sort of diving when properly serviced and maintained per their SMs and PLs and neither are immune to malfunction when not..