I got my Tejon back from service today

[MarkCZ]

And I started looking it over, no I've not powered it up yet but rather just fitting the pieces together of what all they did to it. Below is a shortened version of a really nice note that was included with the detector that was from the desk of Rusty.

"Hi Mark,
I know you were looking for the detector a little sooner, but in addition to the new trigger switch the coil was in need of re-tuning for optimum performance. [size=medium]That is a three day process[/size] and I just got it back for my final test today......Everything checks out good.

Good luck making up for any lost detecting time,

Rusty.

Well, the toggle is a no brainer to see its been replaced LoL but the re-tuning of the coil now that's a different story. I sent a factory 8" x 9" coil with the detector (one of two that I have, which detector it was originally on I don't know). It had the coil cover on it when I packed it up so I don't remember what the epoxy fill looked like, but I'm pretty sure it was like it is now! it looks supper shiny, supper BLACK and no blemishes, or to say it looks new! now the upper part of the coil frame looks, well used sort of dirty with some dust here and there. Something else about the coil frame is the gray plastic nut/strain relief looks like the shoulders of the nut may have been unscrewed and put back because a couple of the shoulders on it look just a tad rounded.
The coil cover still had some dirt in it while the epoxy was PERFECT!!

Now, in my mind I can't see these epoxy coils coming apart and putting them back together but I'm starting to rethink that now??? Now, in that three days it takes to retune the coil I wonder how much or many man hours are involved? Maybe the resin is not a five minute type? maybe its really slow to cure so its easier to work with and easier to pour. Me looking at the coil I'm thinking getting it back apart would be some kind of magic trick in itself and it not be destroyed.

So, what's your take? when they re-tuned the coils are they taking them apart and doing something to them on the inside and then refilling the resin? or is something else going on? Are they even tuning them to the detector, or is this tuning something to do with just the coil?


Mark

 

[kaolinwasher]

well let us know how it works

 

[ecoast]

call 'em up and ask...

 

[Scanman]

Interesting, when I had a coil issue I was told there is not much that is serviceable?

 

[tabman]

Sometimes they can 're-tune' the coil by simply removing the nut and adjusting the length of the wires going to the coil. If that doesn't work, they have to remove the epoxy filler and replace the entire wire coil windings and pour fresh epoxy filler. It takes time to cure, before they can ship. Removing the epoxy is a very difficult task and not always successful. If they break the coil in the process, they give you a new coil in its place. It's well worth the wait for them to get it right.

tabman

 

[Chuck(NC)]

I just bought a new Tejon last week and when it arrived it came with the wrong battery holder. I called Tesoro late Friday and they took care of me in a very pleasant way. The battery holders were delivered to me yesterday. Just can't get any better than that. Very few times have I needed Tesoro's service but when I did it was always fast and helpful in explaining the problem to me.

 

[MarkCZ]

I got a call from Rusty this evening in regards to some service questions I had and the conversation did get around to the coil tuning. The coil tuning on models that have manual ground balancing is done while the detector sets in the box it was shipped in. They test the coils phase, if its out of spec then the coil is taken apart and the resin fill removed. What they use now isn't really epoxy, (I don't think this is spelled right but here goes) he called called "Syba" (see-ba) he said it is a very involved task getting back inside the coils. Once they are apart and tuned and new syba is poured in, it takes at lest 24 hours for it cure.

So, I learned that models with manual ground balancing don't get the coils "Tuned" to the detector! they just tune the coils if they test out of "Phase", then the detector would be tested with a known in phase coil. Now the models that do not have manual ground balancing the detector would be calibrated to a "tuned" (in phase) coil.

And I learned, that the Tesoro coils when they're tuned are taken apart, the "Syba" removed, windings taken out and then it all goes back together with new "Syba"

Also, the serial numbers are not date coded! they are numbered as they are made in numerical order. So, if the model number is 156089 it is just that, the 156089 made, a lower number means it was made before that, a higher number means it was made after. If I heard him right he also said that those numbers were across the board of all models, not just the number range for a certain model.

Here is something else interesting he said, for a company to put together the electronics for a detector wouldn't be that big of a deal, BUT!! designing and manufacturing good coils is much more difficult. I will say that I really like the Tesoro coils.

Mark