First stage whistling

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

watboy

Contributor
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
Messages
375
Reaction score
65
Location
Thailand
# of dives
500 - 999
I got a new reg set, Mk17/A700. First dozen dives on it last week and the first stage makes a sort of whistling sound. Starts at 8m, stops at around 12m on the descent. Does not make any noise when I ascent, even in the 8-12m range. Is it still breaking in or should I get it inspected?
 
It does not sound like any kind of characteristic I have ever heard of and have never heard any discussion from people about this kind of thing being normal.

If it is new it surely must be under warrenty, it's difficult to tell exactly what is going on but if I were you I would probably get it checked out, at least write off to the manufacturer customer care department as they may be able to put your mind at rest.
 
I don't know of any instance that should cause the 1st stage to whistle. Maybe some debris inside the valve opening? Is there anything showing on the filter there? It needs professional inspection.
 
One unique condition that has caused several regs of mine to "whistle"...

If you're using a DIN with yoke adapter, you may get this. The extended path for the air out of the tank into the 1st stage can cause this (think of a horn).

Other than this, I can't think of why a properly assembled Mk17 would whistle. A brief flutter on slow breathes MIGHT be explainable, but regular whistling is odd to me.
 
I would have to look at a schematic to be sure but sounds like a bad shim. Had this happen in many regs I have serviced but all were piston regs. I think ScubaPro uses shims in the diaphram regs as well. Your LDS should be able to find the problem pretty quickly, sometimes the clear and black shims get reversed and that can cause whistling
 
Thanks everyone. To clarify, its a yolk. The whistling occurs for the duration of long, slow inhales, not for quick deep breaths. I'll get the LDS to look at it...
 
Hopefully this has nothing to do with your sounds. One of my Mk10 first stages whistled quite loudly. Turned out there was a significant crack in the core of the first stage. Darned thing breathed fine but I had to spend $70 to get it fixed.
 
A friend had this happen awhile ago. I think the fix was to turn over the spring.
 
Whistling while somewhat common in piston first stages (Mk5, Mk10, Mk25, Atomic regs, etc.) is from what I understand not common in diaphragm firsts (Mk17 is a diaphragm 1st).

One of the Scubapro gurus will hopefully jump in soon.

All of my diaphragm regs (8 at the current times) are "quiet" breathers, other than the typical "Darth Vader" sound you'd expect. No whistles, burps, or other unexpected sounds.

It may be entirely benign, but I'd get it checked out.

Best wishes.
 
Thanks everyone. To clarify, its a yolk. The whistling occurs for the duration of long, slow inhales, not for quick deep breaths. I'll get the LDS to look at it...

What makes you think the noise is coming from the 1st stage rather than the 2nd?
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

Back
Top Bottom