How to fix and prevent rubber boot from breaking on Sunray DTI meter :stretcher: :help:

[JimmyCT]

This evening I came back from detecting and noticed the boot from my Sunray DTI Meter has broken in two.


1) how do I fix this the boot? Are they replacement boots still made or am I going to have to "rig" something up?

2) How can I prevent this from happening in the future? This is my baby and its been injured lol HELP!

All that my cord does at the connection is obviously hook to the GT control box but there must be a way (while it is dangling) to reinforce this cable while being hip mounted. Any ideas?

Yes, the bag I am using is what you think it is....

 

[straker]

What you need is a Sunray leather holster with custom made PVC tube at the bottom. You are supposed to loop some cable around the belt loop as a stress relief.
To fix your boot...I think Sunray uses shrink tube. Take off the old one and get new shrink tube. Ever use any? All you need is a lighter or match to heat it up with. It shrinks as heat is applied.
Check this guys holster

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,633381

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Easy fix,repin and use a shrink tube red or black to replace the old boot.Radio Shack sells this item.Good Luck Ron

 

[straker]

PERHAPS THE GROUNDSKEEPER SLIT YOUR SUNRAY METER WHEN YOU WEREN'T LOOKING?

 

[JimmyCT]

LOL

PERHAPS THE GROUNDSKEEPER SLIT YOUR SUNRAY METER WHEN YOU WEREN'T LOOKING?

 

[JimmyCT]

Thank you straker for your help. That is a nice holster setup. I am going to take a ride over to lowes and check it out. I never used shrink tube but I guess there is a first time for everything. You are absoutely right - I should of had some type of loop wrapped around my bag to take the stress off. Thanks for posting and helping a fellow detectorist.

What you need is a Sunray leather holster with custom made PVC tube at the bottom. You are supposed to loop some cable around the belt loop as a stress relief.
To fix your boot...I think Sunray uses shrink tube. Take off the old one and get new shrink tube. Ever use any? All you need is a lighter or match to heat it up with. It shrinks as heat is applied.
Check this guys holster

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?21,633381

 

[JimmyCT]

THanks Ron for your help. I will be taking a trip in a few minutes to the shack. Much appreciated. - Jim

Easy fix,repin and use a shrink tube red or black to replace the old boot.Radio Shack sells this item.Good Luck Ron

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Suggestion,once the wires have been removed just snip off each wire just enough(probably just the solder tips) to bring the cable up enable to tighten on your six pin connector.Good luck Ron

 

[GunnarMN]

Jim that detector looks older than the relicks you are finding , but hay we get them to use them not put in a museum LOL

 

[JimmyCT]

Hey Gunnar,

lol

I had just gotten home from hunting and had dust on the face plate. I didn't bother to dust it off before the picture. With a soft paint brush it cleans right up. I hip mount so during hunting my right hand carries my digger / a good size rag (to lay the dirt on - that way I dump the dirt back into the hole and everything stays nice and neat) and I am flicking controls with my right index finger as needed. So the dust from the rag falls on the face of the machine - that is what you witnessed in these pics. And you are certainly right on the last part of your statement.

I also fixed my meter pin and is all back up and running - Thank you for everyone's help. - Jim

Jim that detector looks older than the relicks you are finding , but hay we get them to use them not put in a museum LOL

 

[Rick(ND)]

Being you got it fixed and working OK is the main thing. That rubber boot is shrink tube as Ron has said, but the real problem was once you removed it you see there are 2 little screws on that connector that had to be loosened up and put the cable back under the clamp and re tighten. The clamp is made to hold the cable so it don't pull out which it did and the shrink tubing is mostly used as a dirt shield or to make it look neater and also help hold the cable in place too. Most I have seen come in don't even have that shrink tubing on them anymore.
The old Sun Ray leather hip mount bag had that little extra piece of PVC pipe to help with the flexing at the connector as many times one of the wires would break. I have seen some with the older blue Minelab hip mount bags ad a small piece of PVC pipe to it so the cable don't flex much as the connector, other just wrap it around their belt first so it don't flex at the connector.
I think you are seeing more and more everyday you are learning something new with the Sovereigns which shows you are getting to know it better and better which will get you more finds others have missed over the years as their detectors couldn't see them or report it as being a good signal. Just hope you get a good chance to work it over good before someone else get a Sovereign and learn it well.

Rick

 

[JimmyCT]

Hi Rick,

Instead of placing the rubber shrink boot over the connector, I placed a shrink tube over the cable itself making it a smidgen thicker. Now when I tightened down the two screws to the connector it grabs nice and firmly to the cable. This park with all the iron in it is pretty well cleaned out or at least that is the word on the street lol. I know better and everyone else can believe what they want. That means more for me

Being you got it fixed and working OK is the main thing. That rubber boot is shrink tube as Ron has said, but the real problem was once you removed it you see there are 2 little screws on that connector that had to be loosened up and put the cable back under the clamp and re tighten. The clamp is made to hold the cable so it don't pull out which it did and the shrink tubing is mostly used as a dirt shield or to make it look neater and also help hold the cable in place too. Most I have seen come in don't even have that shrink tubing on them anymore.
The old Sun Ray leather hip mount bag had that little extra piece of PVC pipe to help with the flexing at the connector as many times one of the wires would break. I have seen some with the older blue Minelab hip mount bags ad a small piece of PVC pipe to it so the cable don't flex much as the connector, other just wrap it around their belt first so it don't flex at the connector.
I think you are seeing more and more everyday you are learning something new with the Sovereigns which shows you are getting to know it better and better which will get you more finds others have missed over the years as their detectors couldn't see them or report it as being a good signal. Just hope you get a good chance to work it over good before someone else get a Sovereign and learn it well.

Rick