Cibola GB and toggle mod help???

[Stoof-tabsallday]

So I accidently bid on a Cibola by accident not thinking. And I won. I'm very interested in having it modded for GB and possibly a toggle for PP button.
I saw where the directions were posted, but the part numbers aren't up to date. The toggle switch is obsolete and it was an exercise in futility trying to search for another.
Does anyone have any other part numbers for the 50k 10 turn and the toggle switch?
Does anyone do these mods?
I can try it, but never been in a detector. Seems pretty easy.
Any part numbers for the POT and the toggle would be much appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Nevermind about the product numbers. I ordered the switch, the POT and a knob that if I read it right, will fit.

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Anyone that's done this mod:
What would happen if you left the trim POT on the board AND soldered in the 50k POT as well?
Would it have them both function? Trim pot gets it close and the 50k outer pot fine tunes?

I'd be interested to see inside the vaq to know if they have a trim pot in there too.
Thanks

 

[Sven]

Keith Southern in GA can do the mod for you. Look for him on the Notka/Makro forum.
Be very careful removing the pot on the PCB as well as when soldering, you can easily destroy a trace.
You cannot leave the pot on the PCB and add the 10 turn to it.
If you don't have any electronics experience working inside a detector with small parts like a Tesoro.
Again, it takes 1 second to fry the circuit board. Yes, the mod looks easy enough, you may have second thoughts when you get inside
and start. If you destroy the circuit board, I doubt Tesoro will replace it for less than $200. Something to think about.
Best bet is to have Keith do it right, send your detector and parts to him.
Since you really don't need the Cibola, just resell it, get your money back....

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Keith Southern in GA can do the mod for you. Look for him on the Notka/Makro forum.
Be very careful removing the pot on the PCB as well as when soldering, you can easily destroy a trace.
You cannot leave the pot on the PCB and add the 10 turn to it.
If you don't have any electronics experience working inside a detector with small parts like a Tesoro.
Again, it takes 1 second to fry the circuit board. Yes, the mod looks easy enough, you may have second thoughts when you get inside
and start. If you destroy the circuit board, I doubt Tesoro will replace it for less than $200. Something to think about.
Best bet is to have Keith do it right, send your detector and parts to him.
Since you really don't need the Cibola, just resell it, get your money back....

I used to solder boards when younger. Made robots, board for putting a hold with music on my phone line at home, etc.
I think I'll be ok.
Going to desolder though, so if needed I can return it to stock later and resold the trim back.

How does it function after the mod?

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Also to pay him puts me up to the cost of the vaq.

But thank you for the concern.

 

[tvr]

Small set of diagonal cutters with good sharp tips lets you cut the side of the leads on the trimmer just above the board surface without risking over heating the board. Soldering the wires on is then straight forward.

I modified my Cibola but have not had a Vaquero.

Whether or not a modded Cibola was the same or better than a Vaquero was a hot topic a few years back. The circuit cards are the same, but the plug in programmable chips are marked for the detector (either a Cibola or a Vaquero). Don't know if anyone ever had an emulator and was able to reverse engineer the programing. Probably no real difference, but may be something subtle. Couple of people claimed the modded Cibola was better, but then, over the years, I've seen a couple of people have claimed digging quarters at 2 feet too.

Best of luck with your project!

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Thanks!!
Yeah I saw that the pdf said to cut the leads.
We will see when I get in there. I have some really good copper braid to get the solder off, so I don't think I'd damage anything. The game changes once I'm inside, though lol.
I figure I might as well for the fun but also for the function.

So the switch is fed through the top of the pole then secured with the but through the bottom?
That's one part that seems fuzzy, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

I can't find Keith southern!!! Lol
What's his name on here?

 

[Sven]

Keith http://www.findmall.com/profile.php?100,1334
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfWNo3vleRU

Sounds like your good to do the mod.
There's a large hole already drilled in the top of the s-handle to fit the switch down thru. You'll need to drill a hole in the bottom of the tube to fit the switch threaded barrel.
Then just screw a nut on.
You will need to drill a hole in the control box bottom to fit the switch wires thru.
Performance depends upon how good the detector is before you even start below average, average, hot. Think you'll gain an average of 1 to 1 1/2" depending upon ground conditions
that you can now ground balance to. Don't expect to create a depth demon some claim to have created. It just makes the Cibola more like a Vaquaro tuning wise.

As for the trimpot, if you just snip the leads off the top of the pot, you will not have to desolder. You can just solder the 10 turn pot wires to them.
I always like to mention, Tesoro uses stiff wires so they can be bent into position. They also can break off at the solder joint on the board when you least expect it.

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Keith http://www.findmall.com/profile.php?100,1334
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfWNo3vleRU

Sounds like your good to do the mod.
There's a large hole already drilled in the top of the s-handle to fit the switch down thru. You'll need to drill a hole in the bottom of the tube to fit the switch threaded barrel.
Then just screw a nut on.
You will need to drill a hole in the control box bottom to fit the switch wires thru.
Performance depends upon how good the detector is before you even start below average, average, hot. Think you'll gain an average of 1 to 1 1/2" depending upon ground conditions
that you can now ground balance to. Don't expect to create a depth demon some claim to have created. It just makes the Cibola more like a Vaquaro tuning wise.

As for the trimpot, if you just snip the leads off the top of the pot, you will not have to desolder. You can just solder the 10 turn pot wires to them.
I always like to mention, Tesoro uses stiff wires so they can be bent into position. They also can break off at the solder joint on the board when you least expect it.

Thanks sven!!!

About the trim pot, I'd like to desolder so it can be restored to regular if needed. But is it your recommendation to just snip it off?
Thanks

 

[Sven]

If your going to desolder use a bit of flux with the desoldering braid. Its a two sided board. If you don't free the pot cleanly, you will lift the solder pad off the back side and pull up one of those hair line traces.
Then your screwed unless you know where that trace goes to and solder on a jumper. It takes 5 seconds to destroy the area and an hour or so to rebuild.
That's why for most people just better to snip the leads off the trimpot and solder the wires to them.

 

[Stoof-tabsallday]

Ok, I don't have Flux but the braid I have says you don't need Flux, but better safe than sorry. Lol
Thanks

 

[Sven]

Ok, I don't have Flux but the braid I have says you don't need Flux, but better safe than sorry. Lol
Thanks

Some braid on the market doesn't have enough flux and won't work without adding some.