The CTX 3030 is a "Leaker"... but does anyone have...

[Dino - UK]

I don't know if you have seen this thread about temperature induced leakage..... http://www.findmall.com/read.php?79,2082325

..it makes perfect sense to me.

 

[saltwater jim]

Gk glad your machine hasn't leaked yet, I water detect just about everyday so maybe that's why mine has leaked 4 times in 16 months, and mine were not self-inflicted . The leaking problem is a problem and buy talking to the techs in las vegas they will admit as much. I really wish everybody that had a ctx that leaked would post but not all ctx users are on forums. Its like before the salt water mode a few of us were saying how unstable the machine was in salt water but others insisted theirs ran stable hmmmm well minelab fixed it by introducing the salt water mode.

Even if it was a small % of the machines leaking it is a major problem as your expensive machine will be costly to fix when the warrenty runs out My hope is they come up with a fix maybe better gaskets or something before the warranty runs out in june. Not sure what the point is of your post GK except maybe you are saying there isn't a problem while the seasoned detectors that do have a leak are saying there is a problem

Anyways love the ctx have 2 now one for large coil one for stock coil and hope they come up with a improvement. Like the Toyota gas pedal problem very few had the misfortune of that problem,,, but a problem it was, and was fixed.

Curious Jim, did you have four different units that leaked or one that leaked four times? If it was the same unit, it is probably something machine related, if it was four different units then I would have to say it's something you are doing wrong.

The techs in Las Vegas you mention are probably saying that the company needs to come up with a more foolproof design to help them keep it watertight, and I think Minelab probably will since most likely they replacing some user caused leakages and it is costing them money

As far as CTX users being active online , I would venture to guess a very large number of CTX users are looking at one forum or another perhaps just as a lurker. For evidence of this post something, anything on this forum and you will see the view count climb very quickly. The active folks on this forum are far far outnumbered by the inactive member or lurker and this shows it. I know if I was a lurker and I had this problem I would be the first one creating an account to join the conversation.

You talk about Toyota's while this is a Cadillac, and repairs, and maintenance don't come cheap. Furthermore this is the newest model of a Cadillac with features not found before in this line of machines. There was always going to be a chance something was going to go wrong.

In short, my first response was simply a counterpoint to your blanket statement "the CTX is a Leaker" which is simply not true. Your CTX is a Leaker, but mine along with many others isn't. The lack of hundreds of other raised hands (new responses from non forum regulars or regulars agreeing with you prove this point.

 

[saltwater jim]

Gk glad your machine hasn't leaked yet, I water detect just about everyday so maybe that's why mine has leaked 4 times in 16 months, and mine were not self-inflicted . The leaking problem is a problem and buy talking to the techs in las vegas they will admit as much. I really wish everybody that had a ctx that leaked would post but not all ctx users are on forums. Its like before the salt water mode a few of us were saying how unstable the machine was in salt water but others insisted theirs ran stable hmmmm well minelab fixed it by introducing the salt water mode.

Even if it was a small % of the machines leaking it is a major problem as your expensive machine will be costly to fix when the warrenty runs out My hope is they come up with a fix maybe better gaskets or something before the warranty runs out in june. Not sure what the point is of your post GK except maybe you are saying there isn't a problem while the seasoned detectors that do have a leak are saying there is a problem

Anyways love the ctx have 2 now one for large coil one for stock coil and hope they come up with a improvement. Like the Toyota gas pedal problem very few had the misfortune of that problem,,, but a problem it was, and was fixed.

Curious Jim, did you have four different units that leaked or one that leaked four times? If it was the same unit, it is probably something machine related, if it was four different units then I would have to say it's something you are doing wrong.

The techs in Las Vegas you mention are probably saying that the company needs to come up with a more foolproof design to help them keep it watertight, and I think Minelab probably will since most likely they replacing some user caused leakages and it is costing them money

As far as CTX users being active online , I would venture to guess a very large number of CTX users are looking at one forum or another perhaps just as a lurker. For evidence of this post something, anything on this forum and you will see the view count climb very quickly. The active folks on this forum are far far outnumbered by the inactive member or lurker and this shows it. I know if I was a lurker and I had this problem I would be the first one creating an account to join the conversation.

You talk about Toyota's while this is a Cadillac, and repairs, and maintenance don't come cheap. Furthermore this is the newest model of a Cadillac with features not found before in this line of machines. There was always going to be a chance something was going to go wrong.

In short, my first response was simply a counterpoint to your blanket statement "the CTX is a Leaker" which is simply not true. Your CTX is a Leaker, but mine along with many others isn't. The lack of hundreds of other raised hands (new responses from non forum regulars or regulars agreeing with you prove this point.

Gk the had the same ctx leak the 4 times my other never has leaked but I use that one less as I have the big coil on that one. You know if sand can get in why not water I had the duelfield which I just sold never got a grain of sand or water in it but the white s gasket is substantial . I really think its that skinny lightweight gasket that's the problem on the ctx. Went today no leaks ) but im always worried . jim

 

[GKMan]

Good to hear no leaks today, fingers crossed it won't happen again to you..

 

[Johnnyanglo]

I wouldn't go into saltwater with the CTX unless the gasket and rim of the compartment has a film of silicone grease applied. I don't trust the slim gasket ... I do trust silicone. With the latches closed the parts seal together tightly. Of course, a sand grain or two could wedge the seal open ... so obviously the rim of both battery and compartment must be clean, as well as a clean gasket. Do this, no leaks. Don't do this ... you're playing Australian roulette.

 

[nagov]

Cliff the secret to my Excalibur water proof endcap is all the connectors are gold plated and I use silicon grease....do you think this would slow the Corrosive saltwater down if the CTX did leak?

Yes, if applied to the terminals (and the little board connection in the battery), it will slow the corrosion however I don't think you could just rinse and put it back into the water, cleaning would be necessary and a re-application after cleaning. Of course this is IF you check after you hunt and find the saltwater before it has time to do its damage.... in my case IF I would have used the NO-OX-ID I use now, I wouldn't have had a problem....my leakage was a drop or so, if was not flooded.

The box you use for your keys is like one I used for a couple of years also.....it did eventually leak.....I never did anything to it and I'm sure the seal was pretty dirty.....with sand and tobacco from the cigarettes...

Cliff

 

[seahunter34]

I travel to the Caribbean for 2 weeks at a time and spend at least 7 hours a day in saltwater and surf. A saltwater battery leak will pretty much destroy your machine- even just a few drops. I would not be concerned detecting in freshwater as much. But I tell you, open the battery and see just a few drops of saltwater and it's over! I've just about owned every water machine made and it doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to see that the CTX battery gasket looks DINKY and that the latches seem like a WEAKLING! Just snap down the latches on a Whites PI Pro or even a Tesoro Sand Shark! Look at their O-rings compared to that of the CTX!

The fact that your machine has not leaked means you've been lucky, or for some reason your machine is built to better tolerances? Perhaps your latches snap down tighter? Do you dig hundreds of targets a day in ocean sand/surf? I believe sand is the reason the CTX leaks at the battery and Minelab somehow overlooked this. Sure, throw a CTX in a lake and more than likely if correctly sealed it will stay waterproof. But scoop hundreds of targets a day in the surf and clouds of sand linger/billows around your equipment! Sand will work it's way into the battery gasket... just like sand gets lodged in the shaft, sometimes locking it together. The problem seems to be with a temperature change- like when you leave the water and re-enter again later. Somehow the change in temperature allows the sand to get past the O-ring and when you re-enter the water the O-ring leaks! If you happen to be in saltwater, kiss your CTX bye bye! The battery terminals will corrode in seconds! The battery will FRY!

I expect more from a waterproof machine. Sand and temperature shouldn't cause it to leak- period! I've owned dozens of Excaliburs over the years and not 1 has ever leaked. Even after 2 weeks of being in the water! The fact that only some here report CTXs leaking means little. Most CTX users do not go underwater. All it takes is one time in the salt and you're done. And this with a supposed $2,500 waterproof machine? Simply unacceptable!

Now with all this said- I still say Minelab is the best. The Excalibur and CTX the best in most conditions. I like and praise Minelab. My problem is as much gold as I've found with Excaliburs in the surf (pounds of gold!) The CTX is even better! I found even more using the CTX! Only it's bitter-sweet, because in my opinion the CTX is not really waterproof and designed for prolonged underwater use in the surf. I invite Minelab to accompany my group on our next Caribbean trip. They can bring a new CTX for me to use and they can use mine for 2 weeks in the sea. They'll jump from beach to beach with us from sunrise to sunset, every day for 2 weeks. I say there is a 50% or better chance the CTXs will leak and be ruined! One should not have to DETAIL clean a "waterproof" detector each time on steps out of the water because of temperature changes! A waterproof detector should stay waterproof always- cleaned or not. If you don't clean your waterproof watch after use... guess what... it's still waterproof!

The CTX is a great detector, but should only be rated as "Splash Proof". Minelab should build a new machine- the CTX II! It should fold down to fit in a suitcase and it should be 100% waterproof.

So, if Minelab still claims their CTX is waterproof, then they should simply replace everyone that leaks, because the Leak-ers must be lemons! I won't hold my breath. I'm rather disappointed because every time I email Minelab about this topic, they do not respond, even knowing who I am. They've fixed my CTX twice. The second time I almost had to put up a fight. That's why I doubt they would fix it a 3rd time. Really, they should offer to replace my lemon of a CTX with a new waterproof version!

 

[OldBeechnut]

Yes, if applied to the terminals (and the little board connection in the battery), it will slow the corrosion however I don't think you could just rinse and put it back into the water, cleaning would be necessary and a re-application after cleaning. Of course this is IF you check after you hunt and find the saltwater before it has time to do its damage.... in my case IF I would have used the NO-OX-ID I use now, I wouldn't have had a problem....my leakage was a drop or so, if was not flooded.

The box you use for your keys is like one I used for a couple of years also.....it did eventually leak.....I never did anything to it and I'm sure the seal was pretty dirty.....with sand and tobacco from the cigarettes...

Cliff

More the gold contacts then the silicon grease.....gold resist corrosion but being voltage going thru maybe a issue.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Has anyone found a traditional, and thicker o-ring that fits in the channel? That alone should help to solve the problem if the battery has something to actually seal against, instead of the zero-force setup from the factory.

 

[NiagracountyNY]

My ctx leaked the 1st time i used it in water and the speaker stoped working till it dried out.The minlab tech had me take the plastic off around the speaker and add silicon,send it back if it doesnt help...Hows that for spending 2500 bucks! KNock on wood hasnt had a problem since...But i dont like using it in the water much if it might happen again.The machine was worth the price without the waterproof part to me i guess..But it does claim to be a waterproof detector.

 

[seahunter34]

The problem is who's willing to experiment with their machine with a thicker O-ring gasket? In my opinion Minelab should be doing that. Minelab should experiment for us to come up with a solution! I may have a solution but it's a pain to do. One could take an empty CTX alkaline pack rewired to an Ikelite style bulkhead plug. Then one could epoxy seal the battery pack to the CTX and use an Excalibur battery pod to power the unit. Obviously one would have to figure out how to mount the battery pod and... this would be a permanent MOD! But for a dedicated underwater CTX might pay for itself by finds? I just wish Minelab would build a real waterproof CTX!

Anyone who want to experiment with a thicker O-ring... if you do, I would test in clean freshwater only and please post your results.

 

[GKMan]

Mines waterproof, yours isn't, they can experiment on some of the leaking ctxs they have exchanged.

Minelab,I wouldn't mind a brand new ctx, I'll send you mine for a new one, So you can figure out why it didn't leak whenever I had it submerged

 

[Jason in Enid]

The problem is who's willing to experiment with their machine with a thicker O-ring gasket?

I am. If I can find one that fits correctly, I'll put it in and dunk it.

 

[nolanation]

Mines waterproof, yours isn't, they can experiment on some of the leaking ctxs they have exchanged.

Minelab,I wouldn't mind a brand new ctx, I'll send you mine for a new one, So you can figure out why it didn't leak whenever I had it submerged

GKMan, have you ever had yours submerged in saltwater, with rushing waves carrying sand, on several occasions, for several hours at a time?.....I believe this is where most leaks come from. People that are out there constantly under these conditions have a better chance for a leak, no matter how well they take care of the seal.

 

[GKMan]

Worse! Rushing streams, laying it down and having it bouncing away over rocks in rapids, but still no leaks! It simply has to be that some ctx's are built differently. Oh, yes I was out there for hours.

 

[ML]

Worse! Rushing streams, laying it down and having it bouncing away over rocks in rapids, but still no leaks! It simply has to be that some ctx's are built differently. Oh, yes I was out there for hours.

It's really hard to say which environment is more conductive to potential leaking, rushing fresh water or submerged in salt/waves. But you're right, they most likely are made differently, like anything else these days.

 

[GKMan]

I I agree that it has to be something different about some CTX's ML, and I don't feel like getting in a pee pee match over which environment is worse with anyone.
As I have said before I did nothing special except eyeball the d ring and groove to make sure there was nothing in there that would weaken the seal (this was back in the days when leaking CTX's were not around chat about) and away I went over and over again in the water without any problems.

Just an FYI to anyone..I can't remember which forum it was, but just recently someone told me that Minelab ended up replacing his CTX entirely after it leaked for the third time..

 

[nolanation]

Worse! Rushing streams, laying it down and having it bouncing away over rocks in rapids, but still no leaks! It simply has to be that some ctx's are built differently. Oh, yes I was out there for hours.

Mine hasn't leaked, but I would imagine it is the sand that causes many of them. I have had mine in both fresh streams and salt beaches, and I personally feel saltwater beaches are more prone to cause leaking.

 

[GKMan]

I wouldn't be surprised with the small grits of sand, but that is halfway to admitting that it is user error instead of the machines fault

 

[ML]

True, maybe halfway user error but also halfway Minelab's somewhat flawed (for lack of better word) design that could have (and should have) been made a little more "dummy proof". A gasket that thin and floppy on a waterproof unit is just begging some human error.