Turbo 250 first stage stand modification

[khouse]

Almost doubles the width from stock to 6.25 inches. Very stable now. This mod looks like it could be factory. Someone just looking at it would not know that it was modified. I used my drill press and commercial heat gun to modify the part. It just attaches to the bottom of the cuff with the factory screw.
Next is my manual ground balance job. Thanks for looking.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Is that just a reversed standard cuff? Waiting for your next venture.

Bill

 

[khouse]

Yes, But it doesn't just bolt on. I had to machine down the plastic boss about 3/4 inch, drill out the hole and form the cuff with my heat gun to widen the stance. then i removed the labels and installed them on the new part. it can be a DIY project if you have a heat gun. a hair dryer is not hot enough. It's possible I'll sell them if there is enough interest.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Should be a demand. I'll never know why Garrett put those chicken feet on the 250 to hold it up. They are useless.

Bill

 

[khouse]

you know it would be easy to just stop and make the foot wider at the factory. then offer the upgrade for purchase. i'm not bashing garrett because the 250 is a fine machine. the exterra's and prizms have the same problem.

 

[DavHut]

Did you just order the cuff from Garrett? Great idea.

 

[khouse]

Bill,
After the purchase of the part from Garrett, buying a flat washer, double back tape, instruction manual and packaging I'll have $15.00 cost in the kit. After going through that plus machining and bending the part in my form -I would need another 20.00 for all that. I don't know if anyone would be willing to pay that much for a stock looking modification. Also Garrett may put a stop to me buying the parts if I'm making money with them? What do you think?

 

[khouse]

Yes DavHut - but it won't just bolt right on without modifications. Also you will need a commercial heat gun to soften the plastic for forming. There are other issues that came up that i took care of. it fits tight and looks like it's OEM
I'm still waiting on my trimmers for the manual ground balance.....

 

[DavHut]

Heat gun I got, gouging out a little plastic here and there is no problem either.

 

[khouse]

there you go - you can do it. there is an issue on the mating surfaces that you will find.

 

[Uncle Willy]

I don't know why they would stop you. They're making money on the parts and after all it's a Garrett you are modifying. I would assume these parts could be found elsewhere if they are standard parts and not something Garret fabricates themselves.

Bill

 

[Uncle Willy]

The disease of making small feet must be contagious.


Bill

 

[khouse]

the exterra's are so top heavy that if you sneeze it will fall over. i had to modify mine. i don't think that saving 10 cents worth of plastic is worth the gripes of customers.

 

[DavHut]

Yeah this is such an "endemic" problem with detectors, youd think the makers could figure this out. Not all are bad, My Fishers have been okay about it, my little Tesoros dont really have a problem and the 1350 doesnt seem to suffer too badly from it.

I dont see how they can miss it, unless the designers just stand around and look at them on a bench, patting themselves on the back.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Not hardly but in mass production the bean counters look for every savings. Look what they've done to cars to save money.

Bill