MR12 Rebuild Issue?

[Fishpie]

You'll need an IP gauge to determine if the seat "needs" to be replaced.....does the IP lock-up with no creep.
The newer tri material Mares seats are a huge improvement over their predecessor.....it's the reason I switched to the superior AquaLung seat.....it's also about 1/4 the price of the Mares seat.

 

[Fishpie]

The reason the HP seat doesn't come with the annual kit it because it is usually replaced every other service.

 

[Nick_R]

yeah, the price I got on the HP poppet was around 20.00 annual service kits around 14.00 and diaphram around 4.00 or so

I figured this would be an easy 1st stage for me to do myself and learn on, I picked up several MR12/Voltrex with gauges and octo sets for 30.00 each, so I have hardly nothing in them and they are all in good condition, didnt figure I could go wrong with them, now I have plenty for the whole family

I appreciate you taking the time to explain things a bit to me

 

[divad]

Would you like to sell me a Voltrex second stage? I just like them for some reason.

 

[Nick_R]

Would you like to sell me a Voltrex second stage? I just like them for some reason.

LOL, noway, they are actually pretty nice, old, but nice!

 

[Nick_R]

what silicone oil substitutions/alternatives can be used in the cold water kits?

 

[Fishpie]

Silicone spray (accumulated in a container), ATF, mineral oil.....I don't think it really matters. Just remember to fill with the reg pressurized and get the air bubbles out.
How cold do you want to go?
The MR111/Voltrex is an all metal 2nd and the 12 is a diaphragm and unmodified should be good down to the mid 40's.

 

[Nick_R]

I may not dive in water that cold, but you never know? I have 2 of the cold water kits, so I figured I may as well install them instead of letting them sit around in a box

 

[Greg Barlow]

Nick,

I ice dive with unsealed first stages, as do my dive buddies. In fact, my ice diving instructor uses two, unsealed Mares V16 first stages. He has yet to have a malfunction due to ice formation on a first stage.

I've serviced many Mares regs over the years, and can tell you from first hand experience, that the silicone oil system makes a big mess. There is a very good reason why Mares went to a dry sealed system.

My suggestion is to put the cold water kits on eBay...


Greg Barlow

 

[Nick_R]

Nick,

My suggestion is to put the cold water kits on eBay...


Greg Barlow

I may just sell the cold water kits then...

Nice photo, must be nice diving dry, I was hoping to have a nice drysuit by this winter, but I got laid off in that last batch of 140 at Cincinnati Milacron, not much I can do about that, so the drysuit will have to wait until a later date