Problems to watch for ctx

[sube]

I would like to start this tread on problems ctx users have had since they have had there machine .Would be good for first time users and people that had them for a while state when you bought your machine and when you had a problem.

I don't water hunt but some have had shaft wear from sand and of course leaking. Let's hear what has gone wrong since you have had your machine .

June 2012 Purchase ctx

Stock coil replaced 3 months after I got it wrap your coil cable where it comes in contact with the sharp part of the shaft .
Battery charger 2 years 2 months the lady said that it didn't recognize the battery because I didn't charge it in the winter months so I have charged it every 2 months just to be safe I don't know if this is true or not. sube

 

[flysar]

I've owned 2 since 2013 and I've been pleased. No leaks and the detector has worked as it should.
I did have a problem with the 12v battery charging cord, on both of them, but Minelab sent me one that worked.
I also had the rubber WM10 charger door separate and Minelab sent one out right away.
I'm debating about getting another one as this warranty expiration draws near but I have to admit they're the best I've used so far in my highly mineralized dirt while giving me the option to dunk it and run combined (don't care for 50 tones).

 

[IDXMonster]

As far as problems related to the machine and module...my battery,charger and WM10 have been replaced,I got the machine 4/16. All those were replaced within 3-4 months due to non-operation or intermittent non-operation. That's the equipment itself...
On a side note Sube...one day I go out with the CTX and I'm hitting targets all over. The next day(it can literally be THE NEXT DAY) and things are off...blurry signals,no really defined good signals or even really defined BAD signals...it all just seems "mushy". Exact same settings,same coil....it can happen with any of the 3 factory coils...
It's been a great machine and I've made some good finds. Sometimes when we go pound those pounded sites we are disappointed that the CTX didn't work it's magic that day. Well,maybe there's no more targets,but then,the next day....BAM! There they are. I'm a-wonderin' if there isn't something further wrong with my machine.
I know about the EMI and silent EMI and the NC channel theories....it's just a little weird sometimes that results and operation can be THAT different in the same spot.
Sorry to get off track...

 

[Dan(NM)]

First CTX (with warranty) had a bad headphone jack, they replaced the part that the phones plug into. Shortly after that my module quit parring with the machine, they sent me a new module. Sold it shortly after that and went back to the Etrac. I decided to try another one, no warranty(my bad) within a month the screen developed a grey streak on the far left hand side from the top to the botttom. I called Minelab, cost to fix $185 plus shipping both ways. I sold it shortly after that and again, went back to an Etrac. I now have my 3rd, with warranty and I have an Etrac for a backup. So far, no problems yet, I'm hoping for the best!!

 

[sube]

IDX I don't think there's anything wrong with your detector we all have those days . It's all about ground conditions wet soil where ever thing sort of sounds mushy or high humidity making just the top 1/8 inch of soil wet .

So I thought about it and seem to do the best when the top 3 inch's of soil is dry making that first 3 inches less conductive (GROUND NOISE) the soil below would still be moist making it more conductive better for targets and less mush .However if to dry at depth those signals well be less conductive making them harder to hear and less crisper so you can see there's a fine line when all the stars align . But then again the wind can dry out that top 3 inches in a short time .
I also like to detect after noon the soil and dew will have a chance to dry out . Good day to hunt 2 to 3 days after a good rain .

Now there's high and low humidity dry ground wet ground emi and all sorts of other thing's . But it's my opinion right or wrong the ground conditions change all the time most people say emi maybe but i'm saying it's the ground conditions . sube

 

[amberjack]

might have something do with those cheap Chinese battery's they used http://www.findmall.com/read.php?86,2172718 pack is still going strong..

ctx is in the splash proof category from my experience the main offender is the usb port and why is it there never any updates

hey I still own mine and its over 5 years old and has its place but it is big and heavy..

AJ

 

[foggynotion]

There is enough flat surface around the USB ( with the cap off) that you can cut a circle of quality duct tape and stick it over the USB. That totally seals it. For extra insurance, I put dialectic grease in the cap before I screw it back on.
I have not had any issues with my CTX. Going on two years.

 

[IDXMonster]

IDX I don't think there's anything wrong with your detector we all have those days . It's all about ground conditions wet soil where ever thing sort of sounds mushy or high humidity making just the top 1/8 inch of soil wet .

So I thought about it and seem to do the best when the top 3 inch's of soil is dry making that first 3 inches less conductive (GROUND NOISE) the soil below would still be moist making it more conductive better for targets and less mush .However if to dry at depth those signals well be less conductive making them harder to hear and less crisper so you can see there's a fine line when all the stars align . But then again the wind can dry out that top 3 inches in a short time .
I also like to detect after noon the soil and dew will have a chance to dry out . Good day to hunt 2 to 3 days after a good rain .

Now there's high and low humidity dry ground wet ground emi and all sorts of other thing's . But it's my opinion right or wrong the ground conditions change all the time most people say emi maybe but i'm saying it's the ground conditions . sube

Agreed,it likely is the ground conditions of the particular day. Today I found 2 Mercs with no problems,and a few wheats. Everything seemed stable! Thanks for the thoughtful insight,the CTX has been great overall!

 

[Atlas]

My machine is developing some play between the grey handle/screen assembly and the carbon fiber upper shaft. I checked the screws holding the grey handle assembly together and they are tight. I've wrapped the handle assembly just behind the screen with self fussing tape and this has eliminated the play for now.

I hunt in the water a lot and i think this generates more torque between the handle and shaft. Especially with the 17" coil. That coil really puts a twist on the saft at the end of swings (I'm not swinging fast either).

Time will tell if things get worse or break.

 

[PhilNDirt]

In the area where the cord fishes up through the bottom of the shaft, I took some 1/4 od black tubing and split it in half and used a rubber cement to attach it. I have not had any issues with the sharp edge breaking into my cord from the stock coil. Someone in the manufacturing of the carbon fiber shaft needs to add a radius on the ID of the slotted through hole to do away with the sharp edges.

 

[Davy crockett]

I had a problem with the little charging cord for the wm10, minelab was really quick in replacing it. Also my minelab pin pointer is not good at all, I starting a thread on the pin pointer last week but it was deleted for some reason.

As for the ctx 3030 it's great, especially now since I'm getting to learn it.

 

[tcornel]

My machine is developing some play between the grey handle/screen assembly and the carbon fiber upper shaft. I checked the screws holding the grey handle assembly together and they are tight. I've wrapped the handle assembly just behind the screen with self fussing tape and this has eliminated the play for now.

I hunt in the water a lot and i think this generates more torque between the handle and shaft. Especially with the 17" coil. That coil really puts a twist on the saft at the end of swings (I'm not swinging fast either).

Time will tell if things get worse or break.

I was told this is the shaft wearing from sand getting in there. You might want to loosen the handle, put a shim of some kind in there and then silicone seal around where the shaft is clamped down to keep the sand out. Or send to Minelab for shaft repair.

 

[chappy(IN)]

So far I have had one leak. I sent it in for repair and has not leaked since.

 

[amberjack]

My machine is developing some play between the grey handle/screen assembly and the carbon fiber upper shaft. I checked the screws holding the grey handle assembly together and they are tight. I've wrapped the handle assembly just behind the screen with self fussing tape and this has eliminated the play for now.

I hunt in the water a lot and i think this generates more torque between the handle and shaft. Especially with the 17" coil. That coil really puts a twist on the saft at the end of swings (I'm not swinging fast either).

Time will tell if things get worse or break.

I was told this is the shaft wearing from sand getting in there. You might want to loosen the handle, put a shim of some kind in there and then silicone seal around where the shaft is clamped down to keep the sand out. Or send to Minelab for shaft repair.

didn't Anderson make a shim type thing for this problem or was that for something else?

AJ

 

[david.di]

After finding this to be happening on CX3030 ( though not as severe):


http://www.findmall.com/read.php?86,2019201,2019201#msg-2019201


I contacted Minelab and they sent be a pair of these.

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?86,2019201,2040820#msg-2040820

I to, did my own replacement.

David Di

 

[ironman200081]

I bought mine in the first wave, May of 2012. I sent it in twice for warranty work for the same issue (control box, machine would not boot up) and they fixed it the second time in a timely manner. This was back when they did repairs in Illinois. It leaked in fresh water when it was out of warranty (suspect the USB port) and there is only minimal damage to the screen because of it. My battery pack died after 2 years, and I repacked at that time with premium Li-Ion batteries. I also had to repack my WM10 back in the winter.

I have also avoided many problems thanks to regular maintenance (i.e. disassembling and cleaning the machine) and by following the tips from the users on this forum. Honestly, you folks on here have been so great about sharing your experiences, that it has allowed the rest of us to be proactive in looking for and even preventing similar issues. I have wrapped my coil cords with rubber to prevent chafing. I also installed some rubber on my upper shaft to keep it from wiggling once I learned it had become wiggly. My factory arm cuff had been practically useless for the past year or so and I replaced that with a Herke arm cuff. I also replace my coil skid plates when they get worn to protect my coils. I use a screen cover, and it has withstood a direct blow from my digging tool without breaking. I also wrapped my handle in gun wrap for added grip comfort.

I still take the machine in fresh water, but I am sure to seal the gaps well with silicone and apply grease around the seals. I use it a lot, all year round, and have since I got it. I have used it in 100 degree heat and on a 26-degree icy field. I do not regret my purchase, and it is the best machine I have ever owned (admittedly small sample size).

 

[keith]

Today I noticed that the TID numbers would not show up when I hit a target. These were only 3-4 inches deep and solid hits but the numbers would not show up after several swings. I would either have to pull away from the target and start again or just sit over the target for a few seconds and wait for the numbers to show up. It can be very frustrating seeing the good hits on the screen without the all important depth number to know if I should dig.

Anybody else have this problem?

 

[IDXMonster]

Today I noticed that the TID numbers would not show up when I hit a target. These were only 3-4 inches deep and solid hits but the numbers would not show up after several swings. I would either have to pull away from the target and start again or just sit over the target for a few seconds and wait for the numbers to show up. It can be very frustrating seeing the good hits on the screen without the all important depth number to know if I should dig.

Anybody else have this problem?

Are you running high sensitivity?

 

[keith]

As a matter if fact i was. 28-30

 

[IDXMonster]

As a matter if fact i was. 28-30

The lower you run the Sens,or if you run Auto,the less you will see of that issue. In garden testing I see no benefit to running Manual Sensitivity any higher than 22, but that's a 9" Merc in MY soil. Experiment a bit...and of course for depth always run as large a coil as conditions(or your arm) will allow.