Scubapro MK10 Balanced Adjustable

[diverdon]

I just rebuilt my first Scubapro MK10 BA and took it to Crystal Falls for a checkout dive. I must say this reg breathes so well I may have a new favorite.




OK, I didn't actually rebuild it. I bought it used and without knowing its history so I hooked it to a tank and found it had a slight leak from the second stage. I already had a kit for a MK10 so put it in the bin until I could find the correct poppet for it. There are several available depending on which version and whether it was upgraded in its past or not. Well I finally traced the right one down and it arrived so soon to our scheduled event that I didn't bother doing more than popping it in and giving it a few cycles and checking for leaks.



I had previously checked the first stage for leaks and a steady IP. The first stage seemed fine so I quickly replaced the poppet in the second stage and headed out for Fortune Pond. 
It performed very well down to 100' in 40 degree water. I will need to do a side by side with my MK5 109 just to see if I can distinguish any difference.
The best part? A classy reg, gauges and a rebuild kit for under a hundred bucks. How can you go wrong?



DD

[Seahuntjerry]

Thanks Jerry for the poppet and thanks for ditching me in the upcoming Ohio dives

[diverdon]

Thanks Jerry, for the poppet. As for Ohio, I'm still going. Just a month early. Hopefully I can get to Gilboa or to some other quarry while I'm down there.

DD

[tomcatpc]

White Star Quarry is cheaper and closer to my place...not saying that Ohio is "the place to be"...but I am here now and will deal with it LOL!
Mark

[tomcatpc]

As for ScubaPro...I hope to at least test dive my Mk.5/109 this season before it gets too cold for my wetsuit. I too need a poppet/LP Seat for the 109 second stage. I know where to get them, but holding off for now until later as I have other things to worry about.
I've heard good things about this reg., hope it turns out like people say!
Mark

[tomcatpc]

I'm guessing the 109 is the primary second stage? I do like the blue "splatter paint" on the other/alt. second stage though.
Mark

[diverdon]

Jun 26, 2017 14:37:13 GMT -8 tomcatpc said:

I'm guessing the 109 is the primary second stage? I do like the blue "splatter paint" on the other/alt. second stage though.
Mark

The Balanced Adjustable (chrome~looks like a 109), is the primary 2nd. The blue one is merely a R190 with a fancy G250 cover. Bought it that way and I thought it looked kinda cool too, so I'll leave it like that. Perhaps it would settle the persons nerves if ever I had to loan it out in a real life OOA situation  
Anyway, I have a couple spare poppets of the old style. The off white looking one in the photo above. If that's the kind you need LMK and I'll get it to you. 

DD

[tomcatpc]

The one I'm looking to replace looks like the one in the middle in the photo. I'm looking to replace it with an updated version that has a replaceable LP seat, but that can wait if I could get a usable replacement in the meantime.
Mark

[cnotthoff]

Mark,

That old unbalanced poppet is no longer available. There was a version with a replaceable seat for a while in the 90's. There may still be a few floating around in cyberspace. The modern balanced poppet requires a new spring and balance chamber to function. It may require a new lever as well.

Good Dives,
Charlie

[tomcatpc]

This reg. might have to just wait? and I'll get a few other projects in line first. Getting this up and running might just be another "Winter Project" of mine? I think I saw a kit on Vintage Double Hose that had the conversion parts to make the 109 a balanced 2nd stage? I will check into that later.
Mark

[diverdon]

Hey Mark, I have several of those off white ones and will gladly donate one to your cause.

DD