Can not collapse shaft...........

[Rex123]

According to the manual its impossible to get the shaft assembly wrong, well I may have done. I can not shorten the shaft, the cam-lok works fine, but when I open the cam-lok i can only push the shaft back in to the top section of shaft by about 1".

It's fully extended which is not a problem for me as I'm well over 6' but my friend wanted a go and it wouldn't budge, any ideas.

 

[Jason in Enid]

something must be creating an obstruction. I would suggest flushing water through the shaft while you gently try to work it back and forth. Try giving it a gentle twisting motion too.

 

[Sanderling]

Rex, I had the same problem. The shaft would fully extend then it would lock up when I tried to retract it. This has happened several times and usually I can free it by trying to make a 1/4 turn of the shaft in either direction over and over again. Eventually it will free up. Is the coil cord installed properly? Might be bunching up and getting pinched? Keep the shaft free of dirt and sand by rinsing it after each hunt. Hope you can free it up!

 

[sprchng]

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine but it was the cam on the end of the lower shaft that had come loose from the shaft itself and was cockeyed inside the upper shaft. It required brute force to finally get them separated but after they did come apart the cam was no longer attached to the lower shaft. He sent Minelab a picture and they sent him a new lower shaft and he was able to keep the original which works just fine without the cam on the end

 

[jas415]

I had the same issue a couple of times and this usually worked. Ensure the coil is in the correct position on the shaft, not twisted either side, then place the machine straight up vertically, coil resting on a flat surface, not uneven ground, and press down on the battery end. Dont go crazy on that and break the coil or battery clamps. I did it the opposite way a few times, putting my toe on the coil, but actually pulled the fitting off the bottom of the shaft, where the coil mounting apparatus is glued on the bottom of the shaft. Gorilla glued that back on. When new, mine was a bear to get to go in or out.

 

[Rex123]

thanks all, glad to here its not a one off issue, will try ll of the above when i get home.