Latest on MDE Manifolds...

[warmwaterdiver]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I then learned about cleaning and maintaining the valves and now they are as sweet as a nut and much easier to turn than the MDE ones even. Stripping, cleaning and light re-lubing is an easy job and only needs doing every 6 months or so.

hahaha

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

If maintenance is not for you then possibly the MDE are a better choice but if you want really easy to turn, then I'd recommend a well maintained scubatec clone.

MDE are much better by far

I've just sent mine in for test as they were overdue, 3 years old, no maintenance for 18 months and the valves are as smooth as the day they were put together

hardly be the same story for agir/halcyon/scubatec/sanosub

but of course, MDE aren't DIR which will muddy the arguement

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by warmwaterdiver

MDE are much better by far

I've just sent mine in for test as they were overdue, 3 years old, no maintenance for 18 months and the valves are as smooth as the day they were put together

hardly be the same story for agir/halcyon/scubatec/sanosub

but of course, MDE aren't DIR which will muddy the arguement

Gary,
As I said ..... if you are not not happy doing maintenance then MDE offer the smoothest option.....but a well maintained scubatec or scubatec variant(not sanosub, that's something else I think) really is much smoother.

The DIR issue only comes into question when discussing the o-rings .... but the comment I made was about the smoothness of the valve operation only.

HTH
Mal

[Fiona]

My twin 10's had a scubapro manifold which I thought was very nice, then I bought a set from Mal which were MDE, I wasn't bothered about two different sets but the scubapro manifold didn't fit the faber 12's I had bought. Luckily I must have got one of the last MDE manifolds.

My LDS recently noticed that the manifold was slightly bent, no idea how it happened I know I haven't dropped them, but I would think if it hadn't been an MDE one there would have been a lot more damage although would have been noticed sooner.

I guess I am in the non maintenance group so it sounds like MDE are the best for me. I would like to be able to maintain them just haven't had the opportunity to learn what to do.

I still don't understand the commercial decision to stop production of the manifold and not have the new one in place, 12 months is a long time to be out of the market.

[adam f]

OK - so how do I tell what manifold I have?

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by adam f

OK - so how do I tell what manifold I have?

Big thick chunky - MDE


Scubapro

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by adam f

OK - so how do I tell what manifold I have?

A pic of the Scubatec style

MDE ones have MDE Leicester stamped on the manifold and the isolator is slightly off-centre .... at least on recent ones.

HTH
Mal

[stevechesh]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I still don't understand the commercial decision to stop production of the manifold and not have the new one in place, 12 months is a long time to be out of the market.

At the beginning of the year, myself and Gary were trying to get hold of a couple of MDE manifolds. Our epic quest involved a phone call to MDE, and it transpired that the cost of the raw materials had rocketed by something like 40% worldwide. This has something to do with China buying massive quantites of raw materials, which subsequently push up the cost for everyone else.

I wasn't told directly, but was led to believe in a roundabout way, that MDE will be doing away with the facing O ring and using a barrel O ring setup, much like the Agir, San0sub, scubatec ones etc. Apparently, they use less material and can keep the costs down.

I don't think it was a decision that MDE made by choice, more a decision that was put upon them by market forces.

[Paul Oliver]

I have to say that the deciding point on the 2nd hand, 2nd twinset i bought this year was the MDE valve on them, turns sweet as you like.

Having watched Nigel do a quick bit of maintenance on my other MDE Manifold when he fitted that, there is very little to it

[nickb]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I then learned about cleaning and maintaining the valves and now they are as sweet as a nut and much easier to turn than the MDE ones even. Stripping, cleaning and light re-lubing is an easy job and only needs doing every 6 months or so.

All I can say Mal is that you must be doing something more than just 'stripping, cleaning and light re-lubing' if your valves end up much easier to turn than the MDE ones. I've done this a good few times now with both Scubapro and Agir valves and they turn out just about tolerable but a million miles away from being as easy to turn as MDE valves.

If you think that stripping down valves every six months just to keep them workable is acceptable then you've bought into the 'Emperor's new clothes' thing a little too much

[nickb]

Originally Posted by Fiona

I guess I am in the non maintenance group so it sounds like MDE are the best for me.

Some guys in dark suits and sunglasses will be around shortly to re-align your thinking for you Fi. Your current thinking is out of line with The Agency and will not be tolerated