Help! My "new" Excal drank some water!:stretcher:

[Dirt Poor]

I bought a used Excal today and it has been sitting in storage for a while prior to me getting it. Long story short....We have an above-ground swimming pool, and after trying this machine out in the yard, I was happy with it's performance. I threw a few targets into the pool and got in there. Machine worked ok UNTIL I submerged it. It immediately started falsing so I took it out and noticed a decent "bead" of water in the control housing. I made the former owner aware of the problem, and they were very apologetic and will make the deal "good". Now....I see no way to get the water out of it, but what, if anything should I do if I plan to get it fixed in the future? Would a hair-dryer do any good? This is the first model Excal, so it's an old one, but it did perform good until it took a drink...Thanks for any electronic salvaging tips!

 

[seeker41]

how bad was the leak? do not use a hair dryer!!

 

[Dirt Poor]

how bad was the leak? do not use a hair dryer!!

There is a decent "bead" of water inside, but I have the coil elevated with the water in the back of the housing. It's not touching the circuit board, by any means, but the machine did act crazy when the small amount of water went in. Thanks.....

 

[Crispy Critter]

Bummer......... Must have a dried or damaged seal. Hope you can get er fixed up.

HH, Crispy

 

[Dirt Poor]

Bummer......... Must have a dried or damaged seal. Hope you can get er fixed up.

HH, Crispy

Thanks, Crispy! I'm anxious to hear from someone who has experienced internal water, to see what damage to expect electronically, if any. I hate the fact that water is stuck inside the unit, too.

 

[Crispy Critter]

If you search this forum, I believe there is a thread about changing out the headphones or coil on the Excalibur. In the thread, there are pics and instructions on how to remove the end cap. Might help to at least get it dried out. Have you disconnected the battery? If not, I would.

 

[Crispy Critter]

If you search this forum, I believe there is a thread about changing out the headphones on the Excalibur. In the thread, there are pics and instructions on how to remove the end cap. Might help to at least get it dried out. Have you disconnected the battery? If not, I would.

Here is a link to the post that I was thinking about. Hope it helps. Crispy

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?22,1105001,page=1

 

[mtpockets]

You can use a blow dryer.. but Not HOT cool to warm and from a distance. once she's opened up...
You don't wanna heat anything up... ..

The best thing that you have going for you.. is that it was Fresh water.....

After getting the water out.. and trying to Blow the remaining out.. with a cool Blow dryer.. I'd set her in a bag of Rice..

Until you get new O rings, Heat Shrink... Silicone Grease..

Good Luck..

 

[Dirt Poor]

Thanks for that info! My problem tonight is not having the correct size allen wrench. It takes a very small one, and I have metrics here(I think). One is too small, the next size is too big. Looks like I need one in the middle. It's not a 1.5 or a 2. I do have a full set of these wrenches, but not the correct one.

 

[mtpockets]

Well that just figures...

For some... the Light at the end of the tunnel is actually the Train comming down the tracks..

Sorry....

I hate when that happens..

When you get the Allen key.. take the Headphone side off..

 

[sweepdog]

The coil may have a leak also. If water didn't touch the circuit board there may not be a problem in the unit.

 

[Dirt Poor]

Thanks again to all who responded. I'm sure that some water did get on the circuit board, because yesterday after removing it from the water, there were some droplets up "high" inside the tube over the board. I'm thinking the water may have come in around a switch. I did have another allen set here that I had forgot I had, so this morning I was able to remove the headphone end plug and drain the water. It wasn't but about 5 drops inside the bottom, but it appeared to be more in there last night. I have the machine sitting out back on the deck in sunlight air-drying. Tonight I will see if it still works. Then, it will be a dry-use machine until I can get a price quote on new seals replaced throughout. I'm fairly sure the coil is a good one.

 

[kered]

Before you close it up put a couple of small packs of silica gel in the pod that will absorbe any unseen moisture that may be left

 

[Dirt Poor]

Before you close it up put a couple of small packs of silica gel in the pod that will absorbe any unseen moisture that may be left

I thought about that, but then forgot to do it. I'll either get it fixed soon or go back in and put a small pack in there. Thanks...

 

[Chi Town Bruce]

because they were made in Brooklyn New York! good old USA. The biggest problem with old ones they leak through the control seals
and are a pain in the neck to fix! the older tubes were bigger in O.D and are not available any more.

 

[Dirt Poor]

because they were made in Brooklyn New York! good old USA. The biggest problem with old ones they leak through the control seals
and are a pain in the neck to fix! the older tubes were bigger in O.D and are not available any more.

I guess Minelab won't touch these anymore? I converted the machine over to a hip-mount with a leather rifle-sling for quick, over-the-shoulder grab and go digging. It should be fine if I keep it on the top-side of water.