Need tips on opening Eagle Spectrum screen face

[silverseeker 2]

Picked up an Eagle Spectrum at a pawn shop. The price was right. anyway the back light is out but machine
functions 100%.I know this is a common problem with these units after awhile. Screen is fine and no problems
with any blurr or screen fading. I just want to open her up and see if I can maybe do a simple fix. I know there's
some sort of reflecting strip in the meter housing.If it went bad I guess I'm out of luck. If it was disconnected
it could be a simple fix. I opened up control box and it is spotless in there and looks brand new.When in
back light mode setting I can go from 0 to 6 and back light won't come on. Any help or information on how
to open up screen housing without cracking the plastic housing pieces is deeply appreciated. I have heard
trying to clean connections sometimes helps but I'm sure it will probably be needing the new electro lighting
strip but any tips or info. on this subject or how to replace I could really use your knowledge and THANKS
in advance. I had a Spectrum XLT that worked 100% but recently sold it and should have kept her but
the price was right on this unit and would like to fix the back light. I called Whites but the cost for just the
back light fix I feel doesn't justify putting that kind of money in an older machine just for the back light
problem when all else is good. Hope someone out there can shed some light on this topic. Thanks much
for reading....
silverseeker 2

 

[Elton]

If it is as nice as you say..it's worth a few dollars to get the light fixed for sure.

Plus it could be checked out for other issues..

 

[clockdryve]

Whites cannot fix the "light" issue on the Eagle Spectrums any longer (out of parts).

To open the meter you need to push UP on the foam TAB areas on bottom of meter opposites sides of the handle. There are plastic contact tabs inside meter that need relieved by pushing UP with "moderate" force. I then used 2 common pull/push type soda can tabs (removed) and wedge them up opposite sides....alternating positions , while climbing soda tabs up towards the top. While twisting the tabs to widen the separation points. The aluminum tab will bend instead of allowing your meter to break. The meter plastic is pretty tuff anyway.

You don't need to do anything to the top area of the meter.....no prying in this area will help you.

You might clean the ribbon wire pin connectors while you are in there....especially the one for the meter to avoid latter issues of the meter showing lines or faded areas.
Be sure to put harness back in same direction - and that you return so that ALL pins are used. It's EASY to be off one pin....believe me

* I thought I broke my meter when I cleaned the pins for the meter harness (my meter was faded with lines too) and replaced harness - missing one pin.

 

[silverseeker 2]

n/t

 

[Elton]

n/t

I think that is a wise move..... Their service is always excellent.

 

[JJdigs]

It's the top of the display housing that's giving me the problem...the two tabs with the foam pushed in easy enough. Then the housing case opened up easy too, all the way up to the top its still together....I stoped last night ...I just need to be gentle should the top just pop open ?

 

[silverseeker 2]

n/t

 

[vito]

And be careful if reassembling. There are two small plastic parts holding the displays board.
If the board is installed a little bit off these part(s) will snap off and that was it.

 

[JJdigs]

The top is being stubborn......any ideas ?

 

[silverseeker 2]

Take a small, small flat blade screw driver and stick it in from the top and
catch the upper inside of outside casing lip with the blade and be gentle
and apply a little pressure to see if it will separate a little and do each side
a little at a time. Keep upward pressure from bottom of outside casing
and it should just POP out. Hope it all goes well Just be gentle with a
little pressure upward. Hopefully some dummy didn't super glue it or
something like that. Good Luck...
silverseeker 2

 

[JJdigs]

Nice I did it gingerly and the top popped apart Thanks Silver ! Unfortunately cleaning the ribbon didn't fix the screen ! And Whites won't send me out a screen so the only way to fix it would be to send it to Whites. I scored this set up for cheap money the other day.... Guy was selling it as a hole package. I told him I just wanted the 5.3 coil. He said no and sold the setup really cheap because it needed a screen. I'm really just excited to use the 5.3 on my Whites IDX ! After some magic eraser and a little cleaning it cleaned up nice.

 

[silverseeker 2]

J.J.
I went through the process you have just gone through. Well worth the effort though as
not too complicated. I wound up sending mine to Whites in Manasas, Virginia. Great
people. Had my machine in a week all fixed and operating like brand new. They
replaced the screen and new backlight installed. Couldn't have worked out BETTER!
I picked this unit up cheap and to have it fixed was cheaper than buying one off the
Bay or another party. If I were you, Send it in and you'll have a new working machine
with no regrets. The Eagle Spectrum is a darn good machine and has respectable depth
and can tweak machine for your liking or site conditions.Good Luck on whatever you
decide to do with the Eagle Spectrum...
silverseeker 2