E trac Screen Damage Easy Fix

[herbajones]

Hey...For all of you guys that have a dented, cut, scratched etc.screen on your E trac like I did and can't live with it, wait for a rainy day like it is here today and listen to my instructions and it will be BETTER than new. Some picture frames nowadays instead of glass are made of matte non glare thin plexiglas and I just happened to have one here. The one I have was just a bit thicker than the E trac plastic which is a good thing. So find one of those frames and remove the plexiglas sheet and that is step #1. The plexiglas may look more foggy but when it's against the item close it gets very clear, so don't worry about that...My plexiglas is non glare.
Step 2...remove the head portion from the shaft and coil.
Step 3...remove 4 tiny Phillips screws holding the front face plate to the head and slowly separate the two pieces.
Step 4...remove the1 small screw at the top of the circuit board..this allows the face to separate from the head body, but be careful as the brown circuit strap is still attached.
Step 5...pull out the brown circuit strap from the head end (it just easily unplugs) leaving it still attached to the face plate section. Believe me this is an easy fix...
Step 6...get the new plexi and cut a section from it a bit larger all around than the damaged one, so you can work with it easier while you get it to size.
Step 7...from the inside, using a new razor blade cut out existing damaged clear plastic, you will see what I mean. Be careful not to get the brown circuit strap in the way.
Step 8...Make sure you leave enough on your new piece of plexiglas to be glued to the inside of the faceplate.(again you will see what I mean.
Step 9...Get a small paint brush ( like the ones used to paint in a coloring book) and I used Gorilla Glue but any other good clear glue is good, then paint a good flat bead
around the inside edge of the black plastic (not too much as you don't want the glue to ooze out where it can be seen. Again very easy so far.
Step 10..Put a little tape handle in the middle of the new plexiglas so it will be easy for you to hold onto while you place it in position and press the edges to seal it all around so it
will get a good moisture and dust proof fit.
Step 11..Let the glue dry and you have a brand new thicker glare proof screen.
Step 12..When everything is nice and dry and looking good, re attach the brown circuit strap into the main head section and re install the small screws where you removed
them......Ta Da....a new and improved screen and it didn't cost $125.00 plus shipping and not having it for 60 days.
Over all, once I got my new plexiglas it took about 30 minutes to complete
Any questions...Just send me a message.

 

[Bell-Two]

Did you take any pictures while doing this?

 

[herbajones]

No... Everything will come to view as you follow the instructions...The only tricky part is plugging back in the small circuit strap before you put back the top screw that holds the circuit board to the inside of the housing. The new screen won't be exactly flush in front like before but to me that is very minor considering everything. A steady hand and clear silicone would remedy that.

 

[Larry--IndianaHVAC]

The only problem is, is that you just voided your warranty!

 

[herbajones]

Ok then...You better forget it and do it their way, as for me I wasn't about to spend what they wanted, for in my opinion is a thin, flimzy easy to damage mistake that e trac made when they designed this great machine.At my age I probably won't live out the warranty anyway. Plus if my warranty is voided and something major goes wrong, I'll just buy another one...how about those apples. If I sound bitter..I am.

 

[moonshine]

thanks for the advice from both of you....wait until the warranty expires, then install yourself a new screen.

 

[stasys]

Ok then...You better forget it and do it their way, as for me I wasn't about to spend what they wanted, for in my opinion is a thin, flimzy easy to damage mistake that e trac made when they designed this great machine.At my age I probably won't live out the warranty anyway. Plus if my warranty is voided and something major goes wrong, I'll just buy another one...how about those apples. If I sound bitter..I am.

 

[Go-rebels!]

Great fix! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Idaho PRB]

How did you cut/shape the plexiglass?

 

[herbajones]

How did you cut/shape the plexiglass?

With a pair of scissors... It is thicker than the original but still cuttable with scissors.

 

[herbajones]

Ok...it is completely finished...I mask taped the face and screen and fingered clear silicone in the small gap around the face and screen, even though it wasn't needed but to insure a perfect seal I did it.
I am very happy with the results as I feel my E-Trac is now better with a bit thicker screen. Damn...I could make a living doing this. This is how it came out...The damaged screen had a 1/2" dent in it, and is now history.

 

[herbajones]

By the way the pictures look like flaws on the screen...but it is actually flawless.

 

[Idaho PRB]

Beautiful!
Nice work and thanks for sharing your project. Have a great day.

 

[moonshine]

heck of a nice job, i wouldnt have known that wasnt factory fresh. one (stupid) question, so its flexible enough to push the buttons individually? wait a second, i think i just answered my own question, this is just over the liquid crystal screen area?

 

[deepbeep]

Awesome! I was about to bite the bullet and send my e-trac in for a screen. I know this is an old post, but priceless! My machine is far out of warranty anyway. I can barely see the numbers anymore when I get a signal. I will be replacing the screen while the ground is still frozen and be ready for spring! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Well done Herb !

 

[dbado1]

Awesome!

Dean

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

The problem I have with my new E-trac is I just can't see the numbers or cursor on the screen at certain times depending on how daylight is hitting the screen and
so I have to swing the coil in a circle till I can see the screen.

I wonder if this new plexiglass screen makes it possible to see the numbers or cursor at any viewing angle like one can on other **normal** detector screens?

 

[Ksdirt]

The problem I have with my new E-trac is I just can't see the numbers or cursor on the screen at certain times depending on how daylight is hitting the screen and
so I have to swing the coil in a circle till I can see the screen.

I wonder if this new plexiglass screen makes it possible to see the numbers or cursor at any viewing angle like one can on other **normal** detector screens?

The screen is the worst screen probly in the entire metal detecting hobby...and made by one of the best out there..but since they obviously don't care what we think they ARE NOT going to fix it..it's really sad...that's where minelab ?!!@$ ...so hopefully the new plexi works better....I'm doubting it....

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

The problem I have with my new E-trac is I just can't see the numbers or cursor on the screen at certain times depending on how daylight is hitting the screen and
so I have to swing the coil in a circle till I can see the screen.

I wonder if this new plexiglass screen makes it possible to see the numbers or cursor at any viewing angle like one can on other **normal** detector screens?

The screen is the worst screen probly in the entire metal detecting hobby...and made by one of the best out there..but since they obviously don't care what we think they ARE NOT going to fix it..it's really sad...that's where minelab ?!!@$ ...so hopefully the new plexi works better....I'm doubting it....

Minelab really dropped the ball when it comes to the screen on the E-trac. I still can't believe they let this out knowing full well how crappy their screen is.
And what's worse, they did nothing to correct the problem. I tried a screen protector that was supposed to help this problem but it actually made matters worse.
If it wasn't for the fact that my E-trac is a great detector aside from the screen, I'd have gotten rid of it ASAP.