Yet More Minelab Quality Problems

[Critterhunter]

One of my friends bought an Etrac about a month or so ago and used it maybe three or four times as the weather has allowed when the other day the coil mount or ears where the bolt goes through snapped right off the coil. He hadn't bumped it or anything. He was just hunting along when it broke. Also was just talking to another guy the other day who's Etrac was having problems and when het got it back the lanuage was set to something other than English.

Between the Excal and Etrac problems I have almost never heard of Sovereign quality issues. Main thing is put the rubber boots on your switches to keep sand or dirt from gumming them up.

 

[Art (NWOH)]

If you crank down the coil bolt too hard, something is going to give. The bolt will strip or break, or a coil ear is going to snap off.
The bolt should only be tight enough to hold the coil in position while in use. If the coil is too loose and requires a lot of tightening, then a spacer under one of the rubber washers to get things tightened up and about right in the first place would be a good idea. That way the minimum amount of stress will have to be applied to the bolt and coil ears.
Don't be too fast to jump on Minelab when the problem may have been self inflicted.

 

[Critterhunter]

He's a machinest who works with lathes and such, so I'm sure he's well aware of stress factors and all that jazz when it comes to various materials.

 

[Art (NWOH)]

He may not be as aware as you think.

 

[hershey1]

Could have been due to the cold weather. Just a thought. The coil ears on Minelab coils are much heavier than most but the fact still remains his coil is broken. Have him call 1-877-767-6522 and they will take care of his problem. I got one of my machines back recently and was very pleased with the service. The only time I have ever needed anything done and was extremly pleased.

 

[erikk]

Take a peek at the ears on the Whites BH300 & DF (don't know about the others) but they are about 1/2 the thickness of the Minelab &Coiltek. Garrett LS & SH MK2 coils Over tightening and cold weather do not mix with coil ears. Not saying he did but it is a thought. I have even heard of people enlarging the hole so they might use a larger bolt and nut

 

[Rick(ND)]

I have seen some come into the shop both the Explorer and the Sovereigns where there is no rubber washer even on the rod and the bolts tightened until they were bent, the excuse was the coil was floppy so they tightened it even more. They lost the washers when they changed the coil and didn't think they needed them.
Now I have sold many Sovereigns, Explorers, some E-Tracs and a few Excalibur's and had 1 Sovereign XS2 with a bad sensitivity switch right out of the box, the first Explorers XS several had audio problems with the headphone jack and the plastic cracking which Minelab took care of. Had a new Excalibur that had a bad switch right out of the box and not a single E-Trac problem, so out of over 75 detectors I would say they do build good quality detectors. Had a Explorer XS get run over by a van and just had to get a new arm cuff and a lower rod which i had. Guy ask me to send his Explorer in as it didn't work, but it was just he blacked out the whole screen as he was trying to build a pattern without reading the instruction manual, so both of these were not Minelabs fault.
Critters Friend may have had a bad coil plastic, but chances are there was some misuse some where whether it was the coil bolt too tight, coil was hit with something or snagged on something and then twisted, but if he sends it in to Minelab and they find it was a defect they will give him a new coil as it is under warranty.
Percentage wise from what I sell Minelab has been the best percentage of less defect then my other ones i sell or used to sell, did have a Sovereign I bought used that didn't work when i got it and had to send it in, but was told someone had been in the box and messed around and shorted out lot of the circuit as it needed a whole control board as it was shot, but like I said before that wasn't Minelabs fault or defective.
I bet many of the problems we read about has to do with abuse or neglect on the Excalibur's.

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

My new Sovereign lost the coil the first day of use. I was swinging and the entire nose assembly flew off the end of the rod. One look and I could see the lack of adhesive. I used a back up that day. I have seen this happen after many years of use so I just re-glued it myself. I did make Minelab aware that it happened. But it does go to poor quality control on Minelab's part.

 

[Neil]

One of my friends bought an Etrac about a month or so ago and used it maybe three or four times as the weather has allowed when the other day the coil mount or ears where the bolt goes through snapped right off the coil. He hadn't bumped it or anything. He was just hunting along when it broke. Also was just talking to another guy the other day who's Etrac was having problems and when het got it back the lanuage was set to something other than English.

Between the Excal and Etrac problems I have almost never heard of Sovereign quality issues. Main thing is put the rubber boots on your switches to keep sand or dirt from gumming them up.

this guy? http://www.findmall.com/read.php?63,1424344

 

[ML]

Buried Crap - My GT and a friends Excal both had the same issue after only a few times out. Gorilla glue to the rescue.

 

[Critterhunter]

He's a machinest who works with lathes and such, so I'm sure he's well aware of stress factors and all that jazz when it comes to various materials.

I see he posted the problem in the Etrac forum...

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?63,1424344

As he says, he has some expertise in the area of materials so I don't think he'd be dumb enough to over torque the bolt. First time I've ever heard somebody say not to do that anyway. I've always found on all my machines that it has to be pretty snug to keep the coil from flopping around, regardless of how new the rubber washers are. From the other remarks it appears others have had similar concerns with the ears on these coils not being strong enough. As they said the 12x10 has a much more robust design.

 

[Nomad NJ]

I had a problem with the part that goes between the shaft and the coil. It was still under warranty and I called Minelab. I had to make follow up calls and informed to send it in for repairs. I had to call back to get the shipping label for UPS. I waited a week and reviewed this web site and read info that I could have just re glued the piece with Crazy or Gorilla glue. I called Minelab and was requested to resend my shipping email that was sent to me. It appeared that they could not find what I sent. I received a call back and informed that they were sending me a new shaft and ISO. I was happy that I just received new parts rather then having them re glue it. I used it the first time and the coil just fell off. It was a good thing that the wires were attached. I called Minelab and asked them to resend new parts as I did not want to wait approx two weeks again. I told them that I would send the defective piece and I was informed that they would have to speak to the supervisor who was in Australia. I received a call back and informed that I would have to send the defective parts first. I called Kelly Co where I purchased the detector and they were no help. When I was informed by Minelab that I would not loose my warranty If I glue the piece my self. I used Gorilla glue and it worked fine. I went to the beach, put it in the waves and used it in a park on another occasion and had no problem. I have had the machine for two years and this is the only problem I ever had. It is the only machine that I use and I take very good care of it. In my opinion the service at Minelab is a joke.