Reason for CTX 3030 leaking IMHO

[MBbeachrat]

Easy to figure out why. The oring or gasket is so thin that just minor contraction when it hits the cold water allows the compartment to leak. All other gaskets or orings like the CZ 21 or Whites Surf PI are much thicker. It is really funny they can make such a great machine but miss the boat on a gasket like that. Really seems like most leaks coming out of cold water.

 

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[GreenMeanie]

Or people are using Grease which has sand sticking to it.
Or Users not cleaning the Gasket correctly.
But I am all for a thicker gasket if the clamps can still close well and tighter.

 

[MBbeachrat]

Just to many leaks for user error. CZ 21 and Excalibur, All the PIs not this kind of problem. This is just waist deep hunting. They need a fix or they should call it rain proof.

 

[Jason in Enid]

"Rain proof", that's basically what " 10 foot waterproof " means. You have to think about the forces at work. How much pressure is on the detector at it's max rated depth? That's 4.2 pounds of pressure above the atmospheric. That's what the CTX is rated for in a STATIC environment. Now start pushing is around under water, have waves roll over you. How much extra water pressure is the detector experiencing? I bet you could have more than 4.2 pounds at the surface from just a wave. Add in the possibility of a hair or grain of sand on the seal and it's a leak looking for an opportunity.

 

[MBbeachrat]

Jason I always agreed with a wave creating more pressure then 10' under. the rinse off with the hose can cause more pressure. Some of these leaks were old guys waist deep in the bay. No way the gave the 10' under pressure.

 

[GreenMeanie]

Well you mustn't have been around long enough.
There where quite a few leaks and problems with Excals and other detectors. Search the forums they should still be around.

Just to many leaks for user error. CZ 21 and Excalibur, All the PIs not this kind of problem. This is just waist deep hunting. They need a fix or they should call it rain proof.

 

[bigscoop]

They'll correct the issue...but quite often these things take time, especially if the change requires tooling changes in the molds to accommodate an upgraded seal package, etc. I'm sure they'll correct the issue in time as I doubt that they really want to lose that much of the machine market it was intended for.

 

[MBbeachrat]

Well you mustn't have been around long enough.
There where quite a few leaks and problems with Excals and other detectors. Search the forums they should still be around.

I am talking percentage here. Major difference.

 

[cdv1]

I am talking percentage here. Major difference.

So, what are the percentages of leakers to total amount of units sold?

 

[lookindown]

"Rain proof", that's basically what " 10 foot waterproof " means. You have to think about the forces at work. How much pressure is on the detector at it's max rated depth? That's 4.2 pounds of pressure above the atmospheric. That's what the CTX is rated for in a STATIC environment. Now start pushing is around under water, have waves roll over you. How much extra water pressure is the detector experiencing? I bet you could have more than 4.2 pounds at the surface from just a wave. Add in the possibility of a hair or grain of sand on the seal and it's a leak looking for an opportunity.

The AT pro is rated for 10 feet and I keep mine under the water for hours at a time, sometimes in rough water, and I spray it down with a hose...no problems. The AT is waterproof, not splash proof or rain proof or water resistant...its waterproof.

 

[MBbeachrat]

So, what are the percentages of leakers to total amount of units sold?

Not sure but of the 3 hunters I know that hunt the bay at waist deep 2 have had leaks. I am sure that is not the real percentage but from the amount of leaking problems I see on the forums and the few people who have purchased it sure seems a lot higher then any other water machine.

 

[Diggin-it]

I bought a CTX-3030 last Summer due to all the "Hype" in the forums. I water hunt so I figured it would be a good one machine alterative to having multiple machines for land and water. I found water in the battery compartment 2 times out of around 10 times I took it in the water. It was not much water, but it was enough that if I had not checked it the battery terminals would have probably ended up corroding quickly. For that reason and the fact the 3030 simply is bling to small gold...I traded it in on an XP Deus. The el cheapo red "O-ring" is not a good setup, Minelab needs to beef that up. Compare that "O-ring" on the $2200 3030 to the "O-rings" on a $600 AT-PRO....Minelab should take some notes from Garrett.

 

[MBbeachrat]

I bought a CTX-3030 last Summer due to all the "Hype" in the forums. I water hunt so I figured it would be a good one machine alterative to having multiple machines for land and water. I found water in the battery compartment 2 times out of around 10 times I took it in the water. It was not much water, but it was enough that if I had not checked it the battery terminals would have probably ended up corroding quickly. For that reason and the fact the 3030 simply is bling to small gold...I traded it in on an XP Deus. The el cheapo red "O-ring" is not a good setup, Minelab needs to beef that up. Compare that "O-ring" on the $2200 3030 to the "O-rings" on a $600 AT-PRO....Minelab should take some notes from Garrett.

Yes it is a shame. But the CTX does pick of small gold. Gary Drayton has even found gold chains with his. Last summer the Seawater program was not out. The Seawater option makes a major difference. Gary even found small chains be for the program was out.

 

[Diggin-it]

I would like to test that new update myself. I have a 0.7gram 14k gold hoop earring that even in a wide open pattern and the earring rubbing on the coil...nothing, no response from the 3030. Hopefully they did fix that...but doubt I would ever invest in one again.

 

[bigscoop]

I think Gary said it best when he recently stated something to the effect, "learn your machine and hunt with as much sensitivity as possible". Small gold chains, thin gold hoop earrings, etc., they can be found with the Excal and the small coil whenever the conditions and circumstances are right, but not always. This same reality is also evident with some other machines like the CTX, Sov.,etc.,...."they'll read them when they can." I've found tiny gold chains with the Excal & 8" that I can't even get a response from with the same settings when attempting to air test them....have no idea why? But we're talking "small, thin chains" here as any good sized gold chain should present a response under normal hunting conditions. But honestly, these tiny small gold chains are near worthless and they're really not worth all the added concern as it would take several of them to equal the value of an average sized gold ring of the same k. To me they're just "bonus targets" that I no longer concern myself with. If I find one, that's great, but given the obvious difficulties in trying to get a response from them and the minimal amount of them out there.....just not sure they're really worth all the concern.

 

[GreenMeanie]

I just found two necklaces with the CTX a few days back in the water.
Granted they where not that deep but I found them.

 

[lookindown]

I just found two necklaces with the CTX a few days back in the water.
Granted they where not that deep but I found them.

Its a good detector and Im sure they will get the leaking issue resolved.

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

Easy to figure out why. The oring or gasket is so thin that just minor contraction when it hits the cold water allows the compartment to leak. All other gaskets or orings like the CZ 21 or Whites Surf PI are much thicker. It is really funny they can make such a great machine but miss the boat on a gasket like that. Really seems like most leaks coming out of cold water.

Maybe, Maybe not.
Could be a lot of things such as the elasticity of the seal is not correct, or the housing is not rigid enough, or clamps are too loose.
If the leaks are a result of coming out of cold water, I would expect a higher failure rate in the winter, or in New England states.

 

[seeker41]

I don't think its temp related, they are failing/leaking in warm water locations. what is minelabs official response to this common problem, anyone know? if you have had the problem and sent it in for repair please let everyone know minelabs comments.
chuck.

 

[leprechaun]

I use vasoliene on my rubber gasket and haven't had a leek yet, I've been in the water with it at least a dozen times.