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Tracker IV project started

Bucksport

Bucksport

Active member
The winter is upon me here in Maine, so it is time for a small project. I am wanting to make a smaller case for it. I am leaving out the speaker and useless kick meter. The first step is to move the disc and sens. pots off the board so they can be mounted in a faceplate. The tone switch is going to be left on the side. I am considering cutting out the battery compartment from the original case and mounting it under the arm cuff, with a wire running inside the pole. I will update as I go. My soldering skills are a little less than amateur btw :) Thanks for looking

The beginning
project1.jpg


Pots moved off board
project2.jpg

project3.jpg
 
I'd be interested in seeing your progress Bucksport. Thought about doing that myself when I had a Fast Tracker. As is they do sort of look a muffler on a stick. lol
Mike
 
I will keep you posted Mike. I have the dimensions sketched out for the case. Now to cut the plastic and assemble it.
 
A little more progress

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Nice work! I hope you know that the battery wires, both wires from each battery connector have to come to the PC board, it's not a simple series wired arrangement that can be done with just 2 wires.

Also if you get really ambitious there are other searchcoils that'll work with the TK4, on up to an 11 inch DD elliptical that was originally developed for the Fisher F4.

--Dave J.
 
It's nice to see Dave J. add some tech info for the project.
:clapping:
 
Might sound silly to some, but to have Dave J. post in my thread has completely made my week, month, year :) I actually have both wires for each battery running up the shaft. I also was at RS this weekend and found they have a project box the exact same size as the one I made. It is less than $4, so I will be changing it over soon. I also need to purchase some new 9V leads. Mine are almost too short, and I have noticed some sheathing wear by the plug. 10 years of use will do that. I do plan on buying the 11" DD push in plug coil some day.
I appreciate everyone's input on this project. It keeps me going during the winter months. HH all
 
Nice job.
Take a look at ebay and search aluminum project box. You can probably save some $$ over Radio Shack.
A good source of parts as well, do a search for the part your looking for. You might be shocked how much RS rips you off.
Here's a good place to buy parts, not sure if this link will be deleted, will post anyways. They also sell on ebay but, cheaper to buy direct:
http://www.taydaelectronics.com/
 
Sven, thanks for the link. The 9v connectors are crazy cheap there. I am probably going to stick with the RS box since the largest aluminum enclosure Tayda sells is too small, and costs more.
 
cool mod, I never understood why such a big control box on the tracker?
 
It is finally finished. I did away with the battery compartment under the arm cuff. The reason was I ended up having room in my main box for them. It feels very light weight. The main weight of it is in-line with the rod. That keeps the weight from tipping side to side. Ergonomically it is a success. Less plastic helps a lot. There is a lot of trimming that can be done to this machine. My total investment was about 8 bucks. That is the project box, and 2 new 9v connectors. The battery compartment is isolated from the board. I also have a small piece of foam to keep them from moving around. 4 screws to change the batteries, but they last a long time anyway.


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That is very nice and all $8,its amazing what you can do with such a small amount of money.
 
Thanks Mega, it is cheap fun for me :)
 
Thanks for showing us the finished job, Bucksport. Nice work.

Reminds me of some fun I had back in the 1980's trying to find out how small I could make a metal detector. I did both a discriminating VLF and a PI , the enclosures were about the size and shape of a pack of cigarrettes, including speaker and battery.

--Dave J.
 
Thanks Dave J. :bounty: The only thing that stops us humans from creating something new is not trying :)
 
FWIW, I weighed both of my Trackers today. 4oz. lighter, but as I have said, the balance it better, so it feels much more than that :)
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very cool mod, might as wll make some custom decals for that beauty :)
 
Thanks :) I wish I had the skills to airbrush it up, but I really just like the streamlined look of it.
 
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