Bought a coil off ebay and its got warped lugs/tabs.. anyone else had this?

[element]

Hi all

recently bought a Detech Penetrator s 12.5 (Excellerator in the US) and Ive wanted this coil for a while. Took hours of hunting to find enough cash to buy a bigger coil. Now when I got it I instantly noticed the warped lugs/tabs. They warp inwards quite alot and makes it difficult to get even my worn lower rod to fit in without the lugs stretching out a bit.

The seller said it was ex demo but wasnt sold to him as an ex demo but Im thinking its actually a second/b grade..Other than that the coil is pristine. Doesnt even look used so I dont really want to have to part with it now Ive used it (I noticed I was digging bigger holes on the beach so its obviously deeper than my 10inch BBS)

Anyone come across this before?

Im hoping the guy part refunds me. I paid

 

[element]

 

[Sven]

Use a heat gun to soften the tabs enough until they will bend outwards. Find a pc. of metal the width of the tab (lug)
bottoms. Insert it after heating up the tabs. Remove after the tabs cool to room temperature. The tabs will now be straight.
Put rubber washers on each side of the clevis and tab and your good to go.

 

[dld]

never seen that before
buy a extra lower rod and keep it attached to it all the time

 

[BarberBill]

I've had several that fit quite tightly, but not as severe as the pictures you posted. I'm thinking Sven's right about the heat gun. Heat the lugs carefully to spread them a bit and space them to near where they should be with a spacer and then let them cool.
BB

 

[Bugar In. USA]

Quality control was on coffee break on that one, or maybe he was downsized

 

[element]

I want to try the heating the tabs and bending them method but im worried the heat would ruin the coil internally or even weaken the tabs?.. has anyone attempted this before? Someone has suggested modifying a lower stem and another suggested filling the tabs..

Am I right to expect a part refund? The images in the auction did not highlight the issue with the tabs nor was it mentioned... Now I either have to risk modifying the coil with heat, file the tabs or buy another lower stem. No matter what im gonna be out of pocket unless I can successfully fix it using the heat gun which risky to me..

cheers for you responses so far. appriecated

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Too many pawn shops, non detectorists selling articles that don't know a detector from a broom...Many are bought at flea markets, house sales etc. and subject trying to make a profit...
Buy from a respectable dealer or one of the many metal detectors for sale forums..

Problem with that heat gun solution...be care that heat don't radiate into the coil itself ruining it or even the tabb being weakened further and snapping off..I would get my bucks back and return same...

 

[Bugar In. USA]

Get another lower stem, better than risk filing/grinding, or a heat gun,, should get some money back on a deal like that, if you do get the stem and just modify it for the coil and leave it there, had a similar on a Minelab few yrs back

 

[Ron from Michigan]

The coil works and hard to find keep it and overtime the ears will probably expand and not be a problem.I wouldn't ask for a discount after the transaction.

 

[Sven]

Just heat the tabs not the coil.
Move the heat gun back and forth, not direct heat. Heat the tabs up slowly, keep the gun away from the tab so you
don't apply too much heat to fast. You don't want to melt the plastic. You just want to heat the tab up until it will bend.
Position it in place and let it cool.

Heat guns are great tools to manipulate plastic. I have been using them for 30 years. I worked in one plastic extruding plant that
used heat guns to keep the plastic soft and straight as they came down the conveyor for cutting......... They are used by plastic manufacturers all the time.
There's lots of info on the web as well as plenty of videos on YouTube for those posters that warn you not to use a heat......
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=using+a+heat+gun+plastic&aq=f

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ik-wqRNFSE[/video]