73diver
Diver
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:24 am
First Name: Ken
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Environmentally Sealed Piston First Stage?

Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:10 pm

One of my two Scubapro Mk7's (around 1980) had a decal on the outside describing that external chamber was packed with silicone grease. This essentially accomplished a version of environmental sealing for cold water use. The external ports were reduced from two 3/16" holes to six 1/16" holes. I believe something like this was also done on the Mk5 3rd ed. as well. I am not able to find any Scubapro maintenance or product information on this cold-water feature. Does anyone remember anything about this? Thanks, Ken

User avatar
antique diver
Master Diver
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:50 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: North-Central Texas

Re: Environmentally Sealed Piston First Stage?

Sun Feb 16, 2014 9:47 pm

Yep... the main thing I remember is it's a gooey mess to service! :roll:
The older I get the better I was.

swimjim
Master Diver
Posts: 1694
Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:28 am
First Name: Jim
Location: Belgium WI

Re: Environmentally Sealed Piston First Stage?

Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:35 pm

I recently rebuilt an MK5 that was goobered like that. Does it actually work??? I have my doubts. It just makes a mess. Scubapro MK5s and it's varients just don't do minus 40 degree water well, hence their well earned rep on the Great Lakes. Scubaflow.

ovalis
Master Diver
Posts: 186
Joined: Thu May 11, 2006 2:48 pm
Location: Southern California

Re: Environmentally Sealed Piston First Stage?

Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:00 pm

Yes, they were a big mess. A pain to service by cleaning up all that silicone.
The other problem was the sand & silt would get trapped in the silicone.
Before they shrunk the size of the holes to retain the silicone, they used a different, fatter cap that you had to insert a sintered filter along with a set screw to hold the filter in place.

User avatar
antique diver
Master Diver
Posts: 2210
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 12:50 pm
First Name: Bill
Location: North-Central Texas

Re: Environmentally Sealed Piston First Stage?

Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:47 am

It was a desperate (and in my opinion, foolish) attempt to seal their beloved piston regulator from the elements with a big gob of grease, but they were trying to solve a problem that was already solved long before a piston regulator ever went diving! Duh, how about a diaphragm sealed regulator? :roll: Scubapro finally added them to their line in later years, and looks like they still have them.
The older I get the better I was.

Return to “Single Hose Regulators.”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests