Trying to better identify old regulator set

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Chandler_219

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6
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Location
Chandler, AZ
# of dives
100 - 199
I bought these probably 25 years ago and used them back then. They were new when I got them. I never had any issues when I dove but it has all been sitting in a box inside house for a long time. My daughter wants to try scuba so I'm pulling it all out to see what worth using for me, not her. We will rent anything else but I want to check this equipment out. If I can identify it well enough to get new inside parts and bring it back I will use it.
 

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Your 1st stage and primary 2nd stage are a Mares Abyss 22 Ruby. The Ruby model used their SCS type valve in the 1st stage.

SCS stands for Spherical Core Seal (sometimes referred to as Spherical Conic Seat) - The Mares Ruby model used a variation of the SCS where the movable part that was normally machined from metal, was instead made from a synthetic ruby gemstone...the gemstone would interface with a flat surface made out of a polymer material. The design was supposed to reduce wear and tear on these 2 parts but appartently didn't. It was introduced at a time when Mares was having difficulty with the adhesion of the plastic polymer on the face of their more traditional high pressure valve parts (T-style poppet). The ruby gemstone had a tendancy to chip causing freeflow leading to expensive replacement or a switch to the stainless version of the SCS HP poppet. Mares discontinued this design and returned to the "T" style poppet not long after the SCS valve was introduced.

The good news is that the Ruby Abyss 1st stage is very servicable as parts are available to convert yours to the T-style poppet valve to bring it up to date. If you had your Ruby Abyss 1st stage serviced sometime in the last 20 years, it may have already been converted from the SCS style valve to the T-style valve....if not, you will have the additional expense of replacing a few parts at servicing and your Ruby will be returned to you as a Mares MR22 1st stage, which is what the Ruby iteration was based on.

The primary 2nd stage marked Ruby around the faceplate is a Mares Abyss 2nd stage and internally is practically the same as all the other Abyss 2nd stages through the years with really only the faceplate design changing. The Abyss 2nd stage was discontinued around 2019 and then reborn a year or so later as the Mares DR 2nd stage in the XR (extended range) technical diving lineup of Mares' catalog. Again, the good news is that service kits and replacement parts are available and your Ruby 2nd stage can continue to be used.

Your secondary 2nd stage (octo/safe 2nd) is a Mares Nikos....the Nikos was a mid-range 2nd stage in its day and has been discontinue for quite some time. It was relatively the same internally as some of the other Mares 2nd stages over the years so it might be possible that parts from a service kit for a more recent Mares model can be used to service the Nikos, but I am not 100% about that without digging into the diagrams and service manuals for the Nikos and comparing it to some of the other 2nd stages in Mares' lineup after the era the Nikos was produced.

What I would be concerned about is the verdigris in the 1st stage inlet filter (3rd picture)....this is a sign of water contamination, particularly salt water. It could be the result of incidental exposure or it could be more serious. The 1st stage would need to be disassembled to determine....if there is not severe corrosion inside, then with a servicing the 1st stage should be able to be put back into use.

Hope that helps get you up to speed and steer you in the right direction.

-Z
 
Your 1st stage and primary 2nd stage is a Mares Abyss 22 Ruby. The Ruby model used their SCS type valve in the 1st stage.

SCS = Spherical Core Seal (sometimes referred to as Spherical Conic Seat) - The Mares Ruby was variation of the SCS where the movable part that was normally machined from metal, was instead made from a synthetic ruby gemstone...the gemstone would interface with a flat surface made out of a polymer material. The design was supposed to reduce wear and tear on these 2 parts but appartently didn't. It was introduced at a time when Mares was having difficulty with the adhesion of the plastic polymer on the face of their more traditional high pressure valve parts (T-style poppet). The ruby gemstone had a tendancy to chip causing freeflow and expensive replacement or a switch to the stainless version of the SCS HP poppet. Mares discontinued this design and returned to the "T" style poppet not long after the SCS valve was introduced.

The good news is that the Ruby Abyss 1st stage is very servicable as parts are available to convert yours to the T-style poppet valve to bring it up to date. If you had your Ruby Abyss 1st stage serviced sometime in the last 20 years, it may have already converted from the SCS style valve to the T-style valve, if not you will have the additional expense of replacing a few parts at servicing and your Ruby will be returned to you as a Mares MR22 1st stage, which is what the Ruby iteration was based on

The primary 2nd stage marked Ruby around the faceplate is a Mares Abyss 2nd stage and internally is practically the same as all the other Abyss 2nd stages through the years with really only the faceplate design changing. The Abyss 2nd stage was discontinued around 2019 and then reborn a year or so later as the Mares DR 2nd stage in the XR (extended range) technical diving lineup of Mares' catalog. Again, the good news is that service kits and replacement parts are available and your Ruby 2nd stage can continue to be used.

Your secondary 2nd stage (octo/safe 2nd) is Mares Nikos....that was a mid-range 2nd stage in its day and has been discontinue for quite some time. The good news is that it was relatively the same as some of the other Mares 2nd stages over the years so it might be possible that parts from a service kit from a more recent Mares model can be used to service the Nikos, but I am not 100% on that without digging into the diagrams and service manuals for the Nikos and comparing it to some of the other 2nd stages in Mares' lineup after the era the Nikos was produced.

What I would be concerned about is the verdigris in the 1st stage inlet filter (3rd picture)....this is a sign of water contamination, particularly salt water. It could be the result of incidental exposure or it could be more serious. The 1st stage would need to be disassembled to determine....if there is not severe corrosion inside, then with a servicing the 1st stage should be able to be put back into use.

Hope that helps get you up to speed and steer you in the right direction.

-Z
Yes Thanks. Thats alot o info.
 
Yes Thanks. Thats alot o info.
I was looking for something to add, but he covered it all.

The green in the inlet of the first stage grabbed my eye as well. Still, chances are good the first stage can be serviced and upgraded and the Ruby second stage serviced and you'll have what is still a high performance set.

I'd probably toss the Nikos though. It's replacement is the Mares Rover (aka Prestige). You can get a new one with hose for $140.


Found a Prestige for $125

Amazon - Mares Prestige Octo
 
I was looking for something to add, but he covered it all.

The green in the inlet of the first stage grabbed my eye as well. Still, chances are good the first stage can be serviced and upgraded and the Ruby second stage serviced and you'll have what is still a high performance set.

I'd probably toss the Nikos though. It's replacement is the Mares Rover (aka Prestige). You can get a new one with hose for $140.


Found a Prestige for $125

Amazon - Mares Prestige Octo
Were diving in Hawaii and the shop rents regs and computer for $29 a day. Hard for me to do anything because I live in AZ and dont really dive anymore.
 
Were diving in Hawaii and the shop rents regs and computer for $29 a day. Hard for me to do anything because I live in AZ and dont really dive anymore.
If you are only diving once or so a year, then it may be wiser to rent than bring your Mares Ruby setup back to safe usable condition.

Contact me by direct message through the board if you are interested in selling your setup...I am interested in the Ruby 2nd stage and might be interested in converting/updating the 1st stage.

-Z
 

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