Frozen 2nd Stage-Low flow question

[tridacna]

Diving at Dutch Springs. Water temp was 40F. Mk25/S600. After about a dozen breaths, S600 starts 'partial free flow'. About 1/4 flow. Only way to stop is to surface, turn off air, exhale into reg to thaw. Happened twice. Had an Air2 as alternate-worked fine. Any ideas?

 

[rhwestfall]

Buy that g250 back from me....

What is your IP (125 for cold)? Metal or plastic air barrel? Metal or plastic orifice? FWIW, I am not a fan of mk-25 or s600 in cold water. Seen way too many perform poorly.

Curious what others say...

 

[tbone1004]

what @rhwestfall said. Not a fan of either of those regs or designs for cold water, especially if it's plastic barrel and/or orifice. Lower IP may help, but may not

 

[tridacna]

IP was 145.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Did you try backing the cracking pressure off a hair?

 

[tridacna]

Did you try backing the cracking pressure off a hair?

Nope. Changed for a Mk17 with an A700 after that - no issues.

 

[shurite7]

There are several people here that dive with the Mk25/S600 in the cold mountain lakes. The S600 needs to have the metal housing/barrel for cold water. The polymer plastic isn't the best for cold water, but it is good for tropical waters due to corrosion build up of salt water. We set the IP to 135 for the Mk25. The cracking effort of the second stage is set to around 1.4 instead of 1.0-1.1 for cold water.

 

[rhwestfall]

what @rhwestfall said. Not a fan of either of those regs or designs for cold water, especially if it's plastic barrel and/or orifice. Lower IP may help, but may not

@tbone1004 I hear some feeling the plastic orifice may actually reduce an icing potential due to is being so smooth. I am undecided on this issue...

 

[tbone1004]

@rhwestfall I'm not a scubapro guru, so you guys will have to field that one on your own. I don't have to worry about issues like this with my Poseidon's I don't think the guys in Sweden know how to make a regulator that isn't good for ice diving...

 

[rhwestfall]

That is why I picked up a pair of Mk-ii/Xstream regs....