Workhorse Pony Reg: MK5, MK10, MK10 SPEC?

[Couv]

Ditto what Matt said about getting parts...should not be too much trouble. As for re-chroming, I have one at a shop right now...but, Awap our fellow Usual Suspect (or should that be our Usual Suspect fellow) put it to me this way, "do you think it will breathe $30 better?"

c

 

[halocline]

Awap has never been a slave to diving fashion. I'm surprised it's only $30 to get it re-chromed. I might consider that if mine weren't already practically mint.

 

[HenrikBP]

Thanks guys for the info and input. I'm sure this is old hat for most of you, so thanks for putting up with my questions.

I'm not a slave to fashion, but I *am* fairly, uh, uhm .... particular - yeah that's the word That said, I like a "well used, but well maintained" look. The truck analogy is a good one.

I believe they have a new chromer over at Vintage Double Hose, who really understands the prep and chroming steps necessary for corrosion resistance for dive gear. I may check what he'd charge for an R109.

I'll start looking for soft parts and keep learning. I must fess up and admit that I'll most likely have DA Aquamaster rebuild a few pieces for me to dive while I learn and practice and get comfortable working on my own gear.

Henrik

 

[Luis H]

As far as I've read there are few to no soft parts available for the R109. Maybe Luis will get those repro exhaust T-s going .... hint, hint


Henrik

Scubapro has a universal exhaust ŵ that it is supposed to fit the 109. It is made out of a very rigid rubber/ plastic material so my understanding is that it requires boiling it and some carefully applied brute force to get it on.

I am in no way in a position to reproduce any rubber parts and I donÃÕ believe at this moment the volume would justify it.

You may be confusing the T swivel nut for the Mk-5 swivel. But, if we want those reproduced we would need a count of how many would people commit to get them. It would almost have to be a group effort.


Scubapro had diaphragm covers available for the 109 as recent as about a year ago. I will probably be getting some more in the near future.


The $30 for re-chroming a 109 sounds like a bargain. I got one quote once for $100. I am having some re-chromed in an experimental basis.

The big difference in cost is probably going to be based on how much pitting there is on the regulator and how much effort they are willing to put into filling the pitting and polishing it. Also if there is pitting that they are trying to fill and at the same time they are trying to save the serial numbers. It can be a labor intensive job if they get very anal about it being perfect. Personally I am more interested in good protective finish than a show piece...within reason.

 

[Greg Barlow]

I was very fortunate to find a first or second year example of a MK5/109 that I purchased from the original owner. He even had the factory box, and neck strap for the reg. DA Aquamaster did an outstanding job of servicing it for me. I specialize in restoring Voit/Swimaster regs from the 1970's, but DAAM is the master of the early Scubapro models. His work is second to none.

DAAM found that my reg still contained the original parts, as there were production changes on the rebuild kits early in the reg's production history. He returned the originals, so that I can always have the option of making it authentically original if the desire ever occurs.

The reg breathes great, and IMHO, looks very nice.

Greg Barlow
Former Science Editor for Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine

 

[Couv]

Greg, that reg is truly a thing of beauty. Is that the original chrome or has it been restored?

As Luis mentioned the SP exhaust tees that are currently available seem very stiff. I have to admit I was quite daunted when I received mine- for no reason. Yes, they are very stiff at room temperature, but with just a bit of stove top magic and they slip right on.

The 109 Iim having re-chromed is still in the shop, so the jury is still out as to whether $30 is a barging or not. I might mention that the price is for the second stage cover and housing only.

couv

 

[Luis H]

The 109 Iim having re-chromed is still in the shop, so the jury is still out as to whether $30 is a barging or not. I might mention that the price is for the second stage cover and housing only.

couv

That is were you have most of the surface area and the most complex part. The only thing extra that I would re-chrome is the two half circle closing clamps.

If my re-chroming 109 come out looking very good, I will probably replace the adjusting knobs with some new G250V knobs. They are supposed to be direct replacement and they are a bit lighter.


Greg
That is a really nice looking regulator.

By the time I started working at the Scubapro dealer in 1971 the mouthpiece with the neck straps were gone.

You said that you got the original box, did you get the original owners manual also?
I lost my original owners manual and would like to get a copy. A photo copy would be great.

 

[HenrikBP]

You may be confusing the T swivel nut for the Mk-5 swivel.

Luis; I was just kidding about the soft parts - didn't mean to put you on the spot, sorry. In a previous thread (could be a very old thread, I've been searching the archives a lot lately) you'd mentioned it would be too bad to let a good regulator fall to the wayside due just to a lack of soft parts and in that case it'd be worth making new repro parts. That was all. A stretch, I know - sorry.

Took a look at the second R109. From a look through the inlet (thanks again Luis) it looks like it was already upgraded to "balanced"

Very nice reg set Greg.

Henrik

 

[Greg Barlow]

Greg, that reg is truly a thing of beauty. Is that the original chrome or has it been restored?

As Luis mentioned the SP exhaust tees that are currently available seem very stiff. I have to admit I was quite daunted when I received mine- for no reason. Yes, they are very stiff at room temperature, but with just a bit of stove top magic and they slip right on.

The 109 Iim having re-chromed is still in the shop, so the jury is still out as to whether $30 is a barging or not. I might mention that the price is for the second stage cover and housing only.

couv

The chrome is all original. The owner used it for a few dives and then stored it in a closet in his home. Amazingly, the rubber items were all in great condition. There wasn't even any dry rot on the diaphragm. In fact, DA told me that the exhaust valve could have been reused.

I did not have the reg upgraded to the balanced version, as I wanted to dive it in its original form.

The brass was polished to a very high level prior to the plating process. It is apparent that Scubapro wanted to establish themselves as a producer of top-notch equipment.

I am a big fan of metal second stages. The plastic versions were designed as a cost savings to the companies, and even with TLC, they start to look worn after a few years. It is too bad that only Mares still produces metal versions. When not diving with vintage gear, I am usually diving with my Mares V42 Proton Metal reg. They are great breathers, and like the vintage regs, very simple to service.

Luis, the owner's manual was not with the reg. I was disappointed to find it missing.

Greg

 

[HenrikBP]

While it's quite a drift from the OP, I thought I'd post a few pix of the 2 R109s I'd mentioned. 1 looking a tad worse for wear, the other looking well used and well maintained:

Both came apart quite easily and most hard parts look good. Interestingly the levers of the 2 are different. The lever from the older reg has wide feet, the newer lever is identical to the one I took out of an older G250.

Henrik