Paragon reg: unfairly maligned?

abowie · 29th June 2006, 01:47

Everyone seems to bad-mouth the poor old Paragon bail out reg on the KISS DSV.

Now that I've had the chance to pull one to bits and have a good look at it, I thought that I should speak up in its defense.

Sure, it's not the Ferrari of easy-breathing deep-dive regs, but for the purpose intended here it seems to me to be a pretty good little unit.

It's incredibly simple with only 4 O rings and a rubber seat to change out for service. The build quality is good; the orifice in mine is stainless steel. All of the machining is smooth and the plating looks reasonable. All of the plastic components are solid, well cast and look tough enough to take a bit of abuse.

Overall I reckon it's not such a bad unit. And anyway look at who chose it; Gordon Smith was no one's fool.

Viva Paragon!

**Steve** · 29th June 2006, 02:08

Ditto. Of course it helps if you service it like AB just has.

Dutchy · 29th June 2006, 07:01

Fair plea...

I never perceived it as such though... My only ever implicit criticism was in the plea for mentioning the origin of a BOV as getting parts for a non exotic reg is just easier and far cheaper although the parts themselves may be priced identically. E.g. I can order Apex parts from germany which saves time and money and hassle with custom forms and levies. In fact I should blame Dutch customs and non-open markets more than anything else I guess....

MHD · 11th July 2006, 04:11

I asked Gordon when he was in Australia december 04 why he choose the paragon. His answer was it ws the best deal on a reg they could get at the time. There does seem to be a fair variation in people experiences with them, and I do wonder if that reflects some variation in build quality. Some may be fairly good, while other seem to breath like dogs and fail in all sorts of odd ways.

Matt

bendomatic · 11th July 2006, 04:44

i reckon mine must be needing a service as i've had probs predive and during the dive, though no problems to actually use as intended. it will be interesting to see how it compares to your experience. i hope it will be simple.

abowie · 11th July 2006, 05:59

Quote: (Originally Posted by bendomatic)

i reckon mine must be needing a service as i've had probs predive and during the dive, though no problems to actually use as intended. it will be interesting to see how it compares to your experience. i hope it will be simple.

Rach they're a piece of piss to service; just don't let Trev at it with his "key". I suspect a nice smile at Pox would do the trick.

PS I believe I currently own ALL the Paragon replacement seats in Australia. Muahahahahahahaa!

Andy_C · 1st August 2006, 21:45

Not overly impressed. Hairline cracks in the casing & the plating is flaking off the components inside.

Still works though, if it gives me a few minutes of breathing when I need it most I won't complain.

Must remember to get a new casing ............

Can anyone recomend a supplier (in the UK preferably) for Paragon Spares ?

Thanks

Andy

buggeriamold · 2nd August 2006, 02:49

Yeah same plating coming off problem for me. Once the plating is off it doesnt take long for corosion to buildup requiring a service.

Mark

abowie · 2nd August 2006, 05:29

Now I could be totally wrong, but IIRC someone said that the guts of the Paragon are similar/the same as the Micra.

Sounds too good to be true but that'd be a nice source of replacement bits if there were problems.

Seroiusuly though they're about a half hour job to strip clean and reassemble.

Ben Field · 2nd August 2006, 08:15

Anyone got instructions or better still a pictorial giude of how to strip this sucker apart... try as I might I cannot take it to pieces, currentty mine is just wound tight so it doesn't keep freeflowing all the time, think it is in desperate need of a service

BEN

29th June 2006, 01:47	#1 (permalink)
abowie Fighting Girl Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Land of Oz Posts: 573	Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Everyone seems to bad-mouth the poor old Paragon bail out reg on the KISS DSV. Now that I've had the chance to pull one to bits and have a good look at it, I thought that I should speak up in its defense. Sure, it's not the Ferrari of easy-breathing deep-dive regs, but for the purpose intended here it seems to me to be a pretty good little unit. It's incredibly simple with only 4 O rings and a rubber seat to change out for service. The build quality is good; the orifice in mine is stainless steel. All of the machining is smooth and the plating looks reasonable. All of the plastic components are solid, well cast and look tough enough to take a bit of abuse. Overall I reckon it's not such a bad unit. And anyway look at who chose it; Gordon Smith was no one's fool. Viva Paragon! __________________ Andrew Bowie Rebreather-friendly Buddy
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29th June 2006, 02:08	#2 (permalink)
Steve Ladies bring a plate Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Classic Kiss MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Perth - Australia Posts: 1,095	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Ditto. Of course it helps if you service it like AB just has. __________________ WARNING: I contain occasional coarse language, extreme sexual references, nudity, and adult themes, which may offend some people - Usually churchy types.
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29th June 2006, 07:01	#3 (permalink)
Dutchy SK#007 Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nieuwegein (The Netherlands) Posts: 724	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Fair plea... I never perceived it as such though... My only ever implicit criticism was in the plea for mentioning the origin of a BOV as getting parts for a non exotic reg is just easier and far cheaper although the parts themselves may be priced identically. E.g. I can order Apex parts from germany which saves time and money and hassle with custom forms and levies. In fact I should blame Dutch customs and non-open markets more than anything else I guess.... __________________ = This post is environmentally friendly. It is composed of 100% recycled electrons only. = SK #007
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11th July 2006, 04:11	#4 (permalink)
MHD Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane, QLD, Australia Posts: 240	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? I asked Gordon when he was in Australia december 04 why he choose the paragon. His answer was it ws the best deal on a reg they could get at the time. There does seem to be a fair variation in people experiences with them, and I do wonder if that reflects some variation in build quality. Some may be fairly good, while other seem to breath like dogs and fail in all sorts of odd ways. Matt
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11th July 2006, 04:44	#5 (permalink)
bendomatic Morgan's Mum Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 199	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? i reckon mine must be needing a service as i've had probs predive and during the dive, though no problems to actually use as intended. it will be interesting to see how it compares to your experience. i hope it will be simple. __________________ why deal with idiots on the net when you have to spend all day dealing with them at work.
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11th July 2006, 05:59	#6 (permalink)
abowie Fighting Girl Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Land of Oz Posts: 573	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Quote: (Originally Posted by bendomatic) i reckon mine must be needing a service as i've had probs predive and during the dive, though no problems to actually use as intended. it will be interesting to see how it compares to your experience. i hope it will be simple. Rach they're a piece of piss to service; just don't let Trev at it with his "key". I suspect a nice smile at Pox would do the trick. PS I believe I currently own ALL the Paragon replacement seats in Australia. Muahahahahahahaa! __________________ Andrew Bowie Rebreather-friendly Buddy
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1st August 2006, 21:45	#7 (permalink)
Andy_C New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Stourbridge/West Mids/UK Posts: 34	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Not overly impressed. Hairline cracks in the casing & the plating is flaking off the components inside. Still works though, if it gives me a few minutes of breathing when I need it most I won't complain. Must remember to get a new casing ............ Can anyone recomend a supplier (in the UK preferably) for Paragon Spares ? Thanks Andy Last edited by Andy_C : 1st August 2006 at 21:52.
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2nd August 2006, 02:49	#8 (permalink)
buggeriamold Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: australia Posts: 100	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Yeah same plating coming off problem for me. Once the plating is off it doesnt take long for corosion to buildup requiring a service. Mark __________________ Well, it is cheap stuff and it comes almost from the local gardening store, but it works fine and it's very solid. We tried to destroy one by hitting it with a hammer... we succeeded but we really had to hit it hard.
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2nd August 2006, 05:29	#9 (permalink)
abowie Fighting Girl Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Land of Oz Posts: 573	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Now I could be totally wrong, but IIRC someone said that the guts of the Paragon are similar/the same as the Micra. Sounds too good to be true but that'd be a nice source of replacement bits if there were problems. Seroiusuly though they're about a half hour job to strip clean and reassemble. __________________ Andrew Bowie Rebreather-friendly Buddy
(Offline)

2nd August 2006, 08:15	#10 (permalink)
Ben Field CK+Shearwater Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, England Posts: 1,559	Re: Paragon reg: unfairly maligned? Anyone got instructions or better still a pictorial giude of how to strip this sucker apart... try as I might I cannot take it to pieces, currentty mine is just wound tight so it doesn't keep freeflowing all the time, think it is in desperate need of a service BEN __________________ www.hugsac.org.uk Beware Fridge Suck
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