Scubapro R109 reg set

[cheyi]

Hi all,
I'm a scuba geek from Taiwan. Recently, I have this idea of setting up a vintage-looking reg set to impress my diving buddies.
my first choice is a Scubapro R109 since its shiny metal cover is gonna catch lots of attention here.
My question is, would a R109 fit on a newer first stage such as MK14 or 17? I'm not sure whether R109 comes with 3/8 or 2/1 fitting since I don't know anyone here who owns one. Please help. Thanks in advance.

Moreover, any suggestion on Vintage-looking reg set other than Scubapro is welcome.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

All second stage models (except Poseiden second stages) use a standard connection from the second stage inlet fitting to the LP hose. There have a been a few models of first stages in the last decade or so that used LP hoses with 1/2" connections, but that is thankfully a fad that is passing.

In short a R109 Adjustable or Balanced Adjustable will work just fine on a Mk 14 or MK 17. The Balanced Adjustable may look vintage but it's breathing performance is on par with the G250HP and S600 but without the problems with dry mouth caused by the plastic air barrels in the G250HP and S600, so in effect it is a better second stage.

To get really vintage, you need a double hose reg.

 

[cheyi]

Thank you, Aquamaster.
another question, how to identify whether a R109 is balanced or not? I did some search on Ebay and I only see a few out there....

 

[scubapro50]

JungleJoe has a vintage Dacor Olyampic 800 for sale a few weeks back .... I don't know if he sold it or not. Also VOIT and SPORTSWAYS made singlehose regulators since the late 50s. You can find them on Ebay every now and then for sale ..... most don't work but some look really good for their age.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Telling an Adjustable from a Balanced Adjustable is pretty hard unless you take it apart and look at it. As delivered the words "Adjustable" or "Balanced Adjustable" were printed on the metal purge cover, but the lettering soon faded/worn off in service. SP sold upgrade kits to convert an Adjustable to a Balanced Adjustable and the originial kits inlcuded the new purge cover. However after the initial conversion frenzy, SP continued to produce coversion kits, but without the purge cover. In addition, if an R109 needed a new purge cover after the mid to late 1980's all that was available were covers with "balanced Adjustable printed on them. So even if the cover is readable it does not always mean it is an Adjustable or Balanced Adjustable.

SP no longer stocks the coversion kit, but they do stock the parts, so it is still a simple matter to convert an R109 Adjustable to an R156 Balanced Adjustable. In essence, you need a G250/S600 annual service kit, a G250 Balance Chamber and a G250 spring. In some cases with really old R109's (late 60's) you need a new G250 lever - but then you'd need the new lever anyway to work with the current R109 poppet.

I have a few for sale if you want one that is coverted and freshly serviced.

Some older non Scubapro single hose regs are still serviceable as well. The US Divers Conshelf 12 for example is still supported by US Divers and the parts work in the slightly older and more vintage looking Conshelf 11. Some designs like the USD Divers Deepstar (also sold by Healthways as I think the Scubastar) are pretty generic in terms of seats and o-rings and can often still be returned to service even though factory service kits are no longer available. The problem you encounter with older first stages is a lack of adequate LP ports for modern diving requirements such as an octo and BC power inflator.

 

[oxyhacker]

You can't beat the 109 for a funky, traditional looking, but high performing and easy to work on classic.

There are come other alternatives, though, that would also suit your purposes. There's also the non-adjustable basic downstream Scubapro 2nd from the same time, which Scubapro called the "High Performance" first stage but is often called a 107. It is a decent performer, chromed brass, and almost identical to the 109 except it doesn't have the external adjuster.

Voit/Swimaster also made a bunch of rugged chrome basic downstreams that have the advantage of sharing many parts with AL and Mares regs.

 

[halocline]

I love my balanced/adjustable and would highly recommend one, but why bother using a current 1st stage? Find a MK10 in good condition, have them both serviced and tuned, and you'll have a great set up. Since you're a self confessed geek trying to impress with the vintage look, try to find a MK10 that has the older style metal yoke knob, I think the early ones had that. Guess who would know for sure?

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I have several Mk 10's and Mk 10 Plusses sititng around that I am willing to get rid of. I'd be happy to include a metal knob along with the newer plastic one.

Better and more vintage still I have a few Mk 5's in various configurations. A Mk 5 with the older pre-SPEC large hole swivel cap and the 4 or 5 port LP swivel port turret and the metal yoke screw would give you vintage looks with modern performance and convenience.

 

[cheyi]

Hi Aquamaster,
I'm interested in both your r109s and MK10s. I've PM you my email address. Thanks again.

 

[movementality]

Cheyi,

I picked up a R109 BA from DA Aquamaster last year to match an inherited MK10/R109 BA set for my girlfriend, and it breathed beautifully both in the cold waters of Boston and the warm waters of Bonaire. Looks great, but even better, performs well. DA Aquamaster was great to correspond with. Couldn't be happier.