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Excal mods, while at the factory questions.........

G

Gulf Hunter

Active member
My Excal 1000 is at Vegas for warranty work. I am hesitant about modding it, because I still have 2 years left on my ESP. I am seriuosly thinking about adding the Gray Ghost submersible headphones and Sunray S-12 coil, but would not consider installing them unless the factory did it for me. Will Minelab install aftermarket items like these? Have any of ya'll done this in Vegas? Does it void your warranty (I'm sure it does)? I may add a new stock unit to my arsenal and mod the old 1, but may wait until warranty is soon to be expired. Right now, I just am hoping that all I asked to be repaired will be covered by my warranty and that I get it back soon for killer upcoming - tides! I only have a PI right now and sometimes it's just so nice to just take the Excal out and relax, knowing that non-ferrous is coming to hand!
 
Install them for you, nice thing about this is they will test it also, give Sandy a call and ask but If you supply the parts I think they will get it done...Geo
 
I modded mine last winter exactly as you described and really enjoyed the greater coverage and a little more depth over the stock 8" coil. Mine was done in Vegas on an Excalibur that the warranty had run out on. Vegas was able to hardwire both the headphones and Sunray coil for me but were unable to pressure test the tector after as the Sunray coil was too large for their pressure test tank. I worked all year just fine submersed for up to 2-4 hrs at a time while I stood next deep in water, I'm 6'4" tall, there was no diving with the tector. You won't regret the switch over, the new headphones blow the factory ones away for the quality of sound on small Gold IMHO. Good Luck H.H.:)
 
Grave Digger Max indicated that they now have the capability to pressure check the S-12 in the test tank, but not the WOT.
 
Well you asked here goes:
1. coil cover splitting on bottom (it was my 2nd)
2. coil itself was splitting on edge when I was waiting for my coil cover replacement to come in. Damage occurred in less than 2 hunts.
3. operation is highly irratic and unstable, possibly due to coil split or the fact that the sensitivity knob does not lock in at auto and spins all the way around.
4. knob covers falling off.
5. I still love it and would buy another, but I sure hope it's all covered by warranty! Used Huntress' Excal 800 today and found a sweet 14K mens ring and will post on water hunting forum soon.
6. I hunt long and hard. 3-4 times a week for 4-8 hours at a time. That unit has some HARD miles across the bottom. For what I have put it through, it has held up quite well.
[attachment 41764 emblem.JPG]
 
Hunted Best Western beach, one above and below it. Pat hunts with a CZ6A (can't pry it out of her hands). I brought the SE and the Excal 1000 over with me. WE hunted till dark. Not much, some toe rings, silver jewelry, coins, pull tabs. It just ain't as good as it was 3 or 4 years ago. Used to come over a long time ago and hunt with Norm (Golden Oldie) when he was alive. He taught me a lot the few times I hunted with him. I miss that little guy. Hope you and Huntress dig a bunch and I hope they fix your Excal better then ever. Man it took me 3 weeks hunting every day in the water, to find enough gold just to pay for the Excal. Anyway it is paid for with finds. That is why I hunt the water all the time. :D: :D: Later bud Jerry aka Tinfoil
 
Hi Gulf Hunter,
Well I have experienced some problems as well. No coil cover when I purchased the Ex and its still no where to be found. I've only just begun to fight and I'm having the same issues with my coil(splitting, ETC.) As far as the eratic behavior, some places I hunt will have nothing but calm threshold and others because of its inability to remain stable I just put it in pinpoint. It's a trade off I'm not willing to make, use sens adjustment and loose depth or dig everything. Good luck with your EXcaliber I hope you find out whats wrong with it. I cant be certain but I may get a whites for backup..

Jcham
 
Send me a PM, next time ya'll come down Tinfoil, maybe we could hook up fer a hunt. Ya'll from around here?
 
You should think twice about the S-12 though. I say that not because the S-12 is a bad coil but because you are the hardest on equipment of any pirate I know. You'll chew that baby out and spit it out in less than 2 months with your hard hunting, take no prisoners approach to detecting.
Just my thoughts on it, my pirate brother!:cool:

Be Kewl,

BDA
 
Perhaps, me Burmuda scallywag water rat! Wise counsel indeed. The decision has been made. The Excal should be done and on the way back to me today from Vegas. She's been in for repairs. Getting Koss headphones installed for $75. Sensitivity knob was broken internally and spinning. Operation was highly irratic. Getting a new stock 10" coil and cover(split on both). Along with this, mytech is going to cut the coil wire to 40", so that I don't have to deal with 10 wraps of wire around the stem! He is going to fix the knobs where the yellow does not pop off. I'm soo excited! Total customer pay $75. Ain't warranty wonderful, especially when yer the Gulf Hunter!
 
I'm looking forward to seeing the loot you find with your Excal. I know that I won't have to wait long before you are posting something kewl. Let me know if the koss headphones make a significant difference when trying to ID a target. I am not happy with the stock blue headphones on my Excal and want to make a change to something better.

Cheers,

BDA:cool:

PS A 'water rat' is local slang for someone who lives aboard his boat; now how did you know I was looking around for a deal on a boat?
 
bda, I'm not telepathic or anything, but whatever name pops into my head fer a swashbuckler, like yerself, it goes on the page as I think it! No offense, but yer a scallywag, aren't cha?
 
Hey Frank, the decision was a tough 1 and had to be made last night, as the unit was on the bench and the tech was on it. I had not previously ordered the Gray Ghosts, so my repair would have been substantially delayed. I REALLY need the warranty on the unit, as I an VERY HARD on equipment. I intend for now, to keep the unit stock to maintain the warranty. Factory runs out in Jan. '07 and ESP for 2 more years. If nothing has come out more superior when the warranty runs out then I may mod that unit and buy another stocker with warranty. The exchange only cost me $75. The blue phones were working, just clunky, ya know? My tech asked me if I wanted the old blues back and I said "Naaah"! I have run Huntress' 800 with the Koss and I really like 'em. They don't drain as fast, but the tech is going to enlarge my drain holes, so water will escape faster. He is also installing a new coil and shortening my wire to 40", so I don't have 10 coil wraps around my stem, on the Lightening Rod. I am never going to hip mount anyway, and I'll do the next guy a favor. I can't wait! I'm soooo excited!
 
Actually Mate, I am more of a blackheart or scoundrel. lol
Scallywag is perfectly acceptable though if you prefer. I did find it funny to hear Bermuda slang from a Texan, Very Kewl!

BDA:cool:
 
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