Excalibur Reliability.

[mrcolin2u]

I've been using a CZ20 for over 15 years and I'm ready for getting another water machine.
I primarily hunt in salt water chest deep. The fisher has been very reliable and paid for itself many times over.
I also use a Minelab sov GT on land and the beach which i really like too.
I wouldn't mind getting a Minelab Excalibur, but I keep reading about knobs breaking off and water leaks.\\
I know these are great machines when they work, but are they really that flimsy ?
regards
Colin

 

[John(Tx)]

I've had to replace 4 of the 5 knobs, they do break easily. I replaced mine with Radio Shack knobs and haven't had anymore problems. I hunt from the shoreline to neck deep water and the excal is the best machine I've used for finding gold rings. The pulses are good machines but you will dig alot of unwanted trash. The CZ's are good also but I prefer the excal in saltwater......HH

 

[mrcolin2u]

I've had to replace 4 of the 5 knobs, they do break easily. I replaced mine with Radio Shack knobs and haven't had anymore problems. I hunt from the shoreline to neck deep water and the excal is the best machine I've used for finding gold rings. The pulses are good machines but you will dig alot of unwanted trash. The CZ's are good also but I prefer the excal in saltwater......HH

Thanks John. I really would like to get one before my upcoming trip at the end of the month. Over the years I've read on forums such as this about units leaking and expensive repairs.
I've never had anything go wrong with my CZ20 it's been very reliable but I would like to try a ML EXcal.
Cheers
Colin

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Colin,my last CZ20 had play in the sensitivity knob had to pull on it to make the detector work.I think any used water detector can be a problem,especially from a careless owner.I've had a couple of the older Excals, even the older Sword was sound,but did need new knobs and battery.The knobs were purchased from Radio Shack for a couple of bucks,and the battery was purchased from one of these rebuilt places for a little over 30 dollars it worked fine,but only used this unit in shallow water.Good Luck Ron

 

[dewcon4414]

Im the king of breaking the Xcal or finding weak areas. So far.... new coil, pod didnt pressure test, headphones and battery cable.... thats in first year. After warranty..... knobs, seal leak. They have their issues, but i hunt more than most. I think they are a little fragile and there is some things ML could do to inprove their durability. Ive heard very few issues of leaking. Those pods i like. Coil splitting, knobs, and headphones seems to be the issues. Now lets consider...... i found almost $10,000 in melt gold last year. So the repairs are worth every penny to me.

Dew

 

[Gamblur]

My Excalibur has been running great for three years now. Only issue is the NIMH pod just died on me. I will take that over the actual detector. Mine doesn't get submerged that much, I usually hunt the shoreline to about thigh high water. The waves here in So Cal make for some rough hunting though.

I think caring for it can go along way. I always wash it off after a hunt and I protect all the points where wiring can get yanked etc. Also, I am not a regular hunter, more of a weekend warrior.

I have been very happy with my finds, don't have anything near what Dewcon has found but I am happy with the excalibur. I do agree it is a little fragile but it is worth it.

 

[dewcon4414]

I do anywhere from 4 to 8 hours every day with mine...... so mine gets used. I used a lot of machines and when i first got the Xcal i was surprised how fragile it looked.

Dew