Excalibur II Leak proofing & mods

[flyingjoey]

Hello everyone I am new to this forum and getting my new used 6 month Excalibur II in week or so. I read through many posts and have
decided on the Excalibur II. My concern is being afraid of using my expensive machine underwater. O rings can
fail! I can't take it out of head to the point of picturing the water drop hitting the sensitive electronics then Puffffff!
I have some electronic background and have always done my own mods.
I want to know where i can find info on changing the o ring seal and how the grease is applied?? Does it stay wet or does it dry up?
Does Minelab expect us not to change them O rings ? When should we change them if so ? My understanding is that the control box a sealed tube but with rings under the knobs right ? The other problem I read about knobs falling off or getting loose. What mod can be done to upgrade them? Minelab for price over 1K for a high end machine like the Excalibur II shouldn't have any dumb knob fall off. Hope to hear from you people !!

 

[erikk]

First of all your "new" used excal is out of warranty so if U mess with it and screw it up U pay to get it fixed. Second the body of the excal and the battery are pressurized so if U open it up U lose the ability to dive with it. If the knobs falling off bother U go to Radio Shack and get some replacement ones with a set screw. The excal is a top of the line detector and made to HUNT THE WATER...Spend more time hunting with it and less time worrying and U will B fine HH

 

[skinard]

flyingjoey,

These posts should help.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?22,1105001,1251019#msg-1251019

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?22,1105001,1243447#msg-1243447

skinard
http://twistedpens.com/

 

[flyingjoey]

I am still confused, So in other words i shouldnt worry about o rings failing?? The links sent here only go to some twist pens site.

 

[hershey1]

I've had mine about 2 years and have had no problems. Like erikk said use it and don't worry about leaks. Get out there and won't be long you'll find enough to pay for any repairs. I can't remember anyone complaining about leaks until they break the seals themselves. Start out with sensitivity around 11 o'clock disc. 1 volume 3/4 threshold barely audible get a good scoop and enjoy yourself. HH

 

[erikk]

What part of DON"T mess with the "O" rings confusing??

 

[kered]

First of all your "new" used excal is out of warranty so if U mess with it and screw it up U pay to get it fixed. Second the body of the excal and the battery are pressurized so if U open it up U lose the ability to dive with it. If the knobs falling off bother U go to Radio Shack and get some replacement ones with a set screw. The excal is a top of the line detector and made to HUNT THE WATER...Spend more time hunting with it and less time worrying and U will B fine HH

WOW, thats news to me, mine isn't

 

[skinard]

I am still confused, So in other words i shouldnt worry about o rings failing?? The links sent here only go to some twist pens site.

If you clicked on the two findmall links you will see my other posts on this forum on how to take it apart. The link below my name is my home page where I have some pens that I've turned on my lathe.

skinard
http://twistedpens.com/

 

[mtpockets]

I've "Never" heard of an Excal that leaked.... However, I have heard of Batteries that Have.. and Most of them are ones that have been opened up
and replaced with different batteries..

If you don't take the time to properly Reseal the battery pod.. Well. It'll leak..

These machines are made to "Dive" with.. to depths of 200' feet.....

I'd like to hear from some who have taken below 100'...

Put your electronics background behind you.. Unless you Familiar with Dive gear... Camera's, Video equip, etc..

And enjoy your new machine..

 

[erikk]

First of all your "new" used excal is out of warranty so if U mess with it and screw it up U pay to get it fixed. Second the body of the excal and the battery are pressurized so if U open it up U lose the ability to dive with it. If the knobs falling off bother U go to Radio Shack and get some replacement ones with a set screw. The excal is a top of the line detector and made to HUNT THE WATER...Spend more time hunting with it and less time worrying and U will B fine HH

WOW, thats news to me, mine isn't

"Hello everyone I am new to this forum and getting my new used 6 month Excalibur II in week or so."

Minelab does NOT TRANSFER WARRANTY'S so on a USED unit U R on your own..............unless U know something I don't

 

[kered]

erikk, We all know that, i was refering to what i marked in bold ie "Second the body of the excal and the battery are pressurized so if U open it up U lose the ability to dive with it." . If a unit is presurised and opened it will give of the pressure(hiss), none of mine so far have been presurised, pressure tested yes, but not actual pressure inside, that would blow the seals on the knobs so i think you are mistaken.

 

[Pyledriver]

Hmmm...pressurized...don't think so. I could be wrong though...

The o-rings are pretty easy to replace, I just did mine recently. However, I wouldn't recommend doing it just because you're not sure. Mine DID have a small leak, and since mine is used and had no warranty, I tackled it myself. The scariest part of the job is worrying that you'll end up not sealing it properly...but if it leaks already, what have you lost?

I have a 'Minelab' fund that I'm adding to in case it leaks again. If it does, I'll pay for Minelab to seal it this time. So far, so good though..

 

[erikk]

erikk, We all know that, i was refering to what i marked in bold ie "Second the body of the excal and the battery are pressurized so if U open it up U lose the ability to dive with it." . If a unit is presurised and opened it will give of the pressure(hiss), none of mine so far have been presurised, pressure tested yes, but not actual pressure inside, that would blow the seals on the knobs so i think you are mistaken.

Well I just opened up a stock excal battery that was unable to take another charge to insert a new rechargeable battery pack and upon removing the set screws and pulling off the top there was a distinctive hiss of air escaping the tube. That is why the tubes that take the AA batteries are marked WATER RESISTANT and should not to be used for diving. I have not opened the main tube but I assume it to be the same. How else would they be able to be submerged to over 6 atmospheres. Certainly not depending on "O" rings alone. The inside pressure need not be so great as to blow the rings, just to keep enough pressure to compensate for the outside pressure trying to get in.

 

[Mel Parker]

The air escaping out of the battery pod is residual pressure from the battery gassing off during charging.

 

[rc2125]

My new AA pack was allowing a few drops of water to get in it at first, a light coating of silicone grease on the totally dry o-ring fixed it right up. Had an issue with the NiMH pack not charging, took it apart, got no hiss when pulling out the plug-end (*closely listened while doing this). The charging adapter, when assembled, had the leads twisted together, dead short, fried my charger. Disassembled, untwisted the hard-wires and got a new transformer, all good now. Added a bit of grease for good measure, it at least had a very light coating from the factory. Pretty sure the battery housing would have a pressure plug/valve to allow pressurize the housing? No leaks on either, after alot of hours in the water now. Dive lights use a simple o-ring, survive just fine below 100ft.

 

[kered]

thanks for the confirmation mal

The air escaping out of the battery pod is residual pressure from the battery gassing off during charging.

or overcharging

 

[flyingjoey]

Thanks for all the info here I have more confidence now on the seals. I assume the most important thing to remember would be to clean the salt out of the equipment by rinsing in freshwater.

 

[Finderskeeper]

When the Excalibur is assembled, the air pressure that very day is what will be in the tubes for the controls and the battery. If you have low pressure in the area of the Excalibur factory, then when High pressure is present and you open up the tubes, you will hear the rush of air out as the air in the tubes escapes. The exact opposite when high pressure is present the day the Excalibur is sealed up and if the Excalibur tubes are opened when low pressure is present. Air will rush in.


I have seen this with completely empty 5 gallon propane tanks. They are sealed so well that if you completely empty the tank, close the valve and then a few days later open the valve, you will hear the rush of air from the difference of pressures. Or go to your local Lowe's or Home Depot. Go to the plumbing area and take a look at the ball valves. Find one that is closed and try opening it up. You will hear the air moving! It really is amazing.

The Excalibur II is very very tight and well designed with those O rings. I have yet to have one leak on me. But I have heard the slight rush of air when doing modifications.

So the Excalibur could be pressurized....or it could be vacuumed. Depending on the day it was built and the day it was opened.

 

[flyingjoey]

Finderkeeper I didn't know that. Can the seals dry out?

 

[Waterdog]

I have used my Minelab Excalibur since 1997 in depths from wading to thirty feet deep and Never had any problems.