Proton Octo problematic?

[Tiptopperoo]

Hi Mares people!
I have had the Mares Proton (plastic) octo for 8 months, it now just free flows at 100% when you touch the purge button, or jump in the sea! Our tec has had a look at it and says it needs a full rebuild, hes tried adjusting crack pressure, springs, levers etc (I clearly don't really know what I'm talking about, but he does)

He has had numerous problems with proton regulators and reckons I should just chuck mine out and buy an abyss octo or something more reliable. What do you think, is it just gonna keep having problems? I'm gonna send it back to Scubatoys first to have them check it out, but if they give me the option of paying to upgrade to a metal abyss octo I think I may take it.

Are these regs renowned for being unreliable?

[ScubaToys Larry]

Mares are very good, and very reliable. Before you send it to us, shoot me a PM. We'll want to figure out if it's a first stage or second stage issue you are having. And I've got some people in Australia that can handle any warranty work for us so you don't have to ship it all the way back here.

As far as chuck it and buy a new one... and numerous problems.... We've sold literally thousands of them, and we have seen no great number of problems with them. I would say just as dependable as any other reg you're going to get. So let's figure out what is happening to this one for you... should not be too difficult to handle.

From your description, it just sounds like it's set very sensative - and simply backing it off, which is actually and easy thing to do - might solve the problem.

If we do determine that it needs a little tweak, there is even a thread on this forum that shows exactly how it's done:

what size nut driver to adjust mares metal proton?

[tywenglar]

Don't know squat about diagnosing the problems with yours but I can say that both my wife and I have this same octo and have never had a problem with either. They both have over 60 dives to depths of 110 fsw max. I use a proton metal primary and love it. Never an issue.

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

Mares are very good, and very reliable. Before you send it to us, shoot me a PM. We'll want to figure out if it's a first stage or second stage issue you are having. And I've got some people in Australia that can handle any warranty work for us so you don't have to ship it all the way back here.

As far as chuck it and buy a new one... and numerous problems.... We've sold literally thousands of them, and we have seen no great number of problems with them. I would say just as dependable as any other reg you're going to get. So let's figure out what is happening to this one for you... should not be too difficult to handle.

From your description, it just sounds like it's set very sensative - and simply backing it off, which is actually and easy thing to do - might solve the problem.

If we do determine that it needs a little tweak, there is even a thread on this forum that shows exactly how it's done:

what size nut driver to adjust mares metal proton?