Give me the real deal

[Anonymous]

Ok fellas
I have been offerd a trade for my CZ7apro for a Exporer. It was bought in Jan 2000 and is in real good shape. I have heard a lot of talk about cracks in cases and at the lower rod. Is this true? What is the cost to get it repaired? Do the newer models have this problem? When and what did Minelab do to correct it? I have been a Sov. user for over a year and got that whole multi tone and pinpointing thing down so I dont think the Explorer will be that hard to learn. Is it as slow reacting as the Sov.? Any advice/

 

[Anonymous]

I have yet to hear of the cracks in the housing causing any downtime of the unit. Usually they are hairline cracks around the pivot pin on the upper clamp. Minelab has been replacing these housings free of charge. Even on the used machines. Manufacturers defect in plastic compound. The lower rod attachment breaking is usually due to using the machine as a crutch to get up from digging a target. Lower shafts usually run about 25.00. Available from any dealer. Seems to have better balance than the sov. Slow sweep machine,but has many more features than the sov. The disc.circuitry and the iron mask features are increddable. takes some time to learn, but well worth the effort. Just my 2 cents worth.
HH BiLL IL

 

[Anonymous]

BiLL is right on the money,as usual.One thing I will ad is that the very first Explorers out had a thiner walled lower shaft(The one I have)and it is a little weaker than the newer rods.But with that being said,I am a very large fella,I use my detector to get up off of my knees after recovering a target,if I didn't,there would be no way I could hunt long,my knees wouldn't take it.I am not at all proud in saying that,and feel very bad for using a piece of electronic equipment like that,but I do what has to be done,for me.I broke my lower rod after using it like this for at least 6 months.Then when it broke,instead of ordering a new one,I took a piece of PVC conduit and formed it around the lower shaft where it broke and 2 ton epoxied it on.It has been like this another 6 months and still strong as ever.I know of a skinny guy that broke one using it in heavy brush and corn stubble.It does happen,but if you are thrifty,there is little down time,you can have it fixed over night.And that is if you are a tight a$$ like me and too cheap to buy another lower rod.
As far as the cracks in the housing,I have some of the worse cracks I have ever seen,and trust me,I have seen alot of explorers,and my cracks still are not what I would consider bad enough to send in and get fixed.I should,but I am going to wait till there is a foot of snow on the ground first.This is also at a critical stress point when I stand up and they have not got any worse.I have no fear ever in taking it out.I know if I go out for an all day hunt that I will have no problems.I have been told that since the cracks in the housing and lower rod are a manufactor issue,that minelab will replace them both,free of charge.Even on second hand detectors,you just pay shipping there and back.
Another point I would like to make about the so called "poor build quality",ask BiLL about this,people that I run into that think the explorer is a weak built detector,I have taken my explorer and tossed it to the ground from as much as 5 feet high and out in front of me with no problems ever.This detector is a rock,no matter what all the nay sayers say.Yea,I am stupid and ask for problems,but by God,I will have a detector that can take my abuse and keep going,and I have it.
I never have used a sov. before,except play around with one briefly,but I would think that if you are used to one,stepping up to an explorer would be cake.
I am the type of person that is never happy with anything.I have a $700 Mathews compound bow,that I love,but want a different one.I have thousands of dollars worth of guitars and basses,but want different ones.I have a 70 R/T Charger with a 440 Magnum and a 56 Chevy Bel Air 2 door,and an 86 Porsche 944 and others,but want different ones.ETC. ETC.BUT,there is not another detector made that I would get rid of my Explorer for.This is the first thing I have ever had that I have been completely happy with,and that is the honest truth.I have a CZ-5,damn fine detector,but I have not used it since the first day I used my Explorer a year ago Nov. 7th and have no desire to.
All in all,IMO,I think you should trade your CZ-7 for the Explorer and give it a whirl,I think you would be very happy with it.But,if you get it and after some time decide it is not for you,you can sell it on the classifieds here or on ebay for enough money to replace your CZ-7 with extra money in your pocket.You would not get hurt at all with that kind of trade!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi you guys over the pond,
My machine is 1 year old and over the last 6months it has been on overtime and still no cracks am I just lucky or what?
Happy Hunting,
Jerry.Bristol UK.

 

[Anonymous]

I have been using the Explorer since January of this year. I think it is a great detector, but there are still some minor problems that are more of a nusiance than anything. I hunt hard, usually both weekend days. My machine cracked around the lockdown cam like many others did. It didn't affect my detecting, so I continued to use it until the one wing of the armrest cracked clear off. In spite of several guys on this forum and others stating that minelab would replace it free, I called Las Vegas and they said that since I was not the original purchaser it would cost $35 to replace the armrest and control housing. No problem! I got it repaired about June and have been happily using it since then. Weekend before last one side of the armrest cracked off again!! I was hunting a site that has produced some great finds, so I used a bungy cord to keep the handle on my arm (by the way, I found two bust coins with the bungy cord technique! ).I decided to fix the problem myself rather than send the machine off for repairs again. I got some fiberglass cloth and some 2-ton epoxy and replaced and reinforced the armrest. Cost me about $4.00. I will bet it will never break again. I admit that I probably swing the Explorer faster than I should sometimes and perhaps that puts strain on the wing of the armrest, but it is my belief that some of the armrests were manufactured a bit too thin where the wing meets the bottom of the armrest. All of the problems are really cosmetic. Its the electronics that really count in this game, and the Explorer is hard to beat in that regard. Best of luck to you! Ed