CTX 3030 lower shaft alternative...

[Beach Papa]

I bought my CTX 3030 in February 2013. At the same time I bought a 13x17" coil. The coil of course did not come with a separate lower shaft, and of course it is a pain to change coils onto the same lower shaft, and would be nice to have a second lower shaft for my second coil. I don't often use my smaller coil, but it is tough to drag that 13x17" coil through the water. Years ago when I bought my Tesoro Tiger Shark with an extra coil, it came with a second lower shaft, but Minelab doesn't do that. In February an extra lower shaft was unreasonable at an extra $100. Now the price is outrageous at $175. Has anyone come up with an alternative to the Minelab lower shaft? I am just doing my research, and no sense in reinventing the wheel if someone has already figured it out. Christmas Blessings to y'all. Beach papa

 

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[bigscoop]

$175 for a spare shaft? It's a CTX. Just turn that machine loose on the beach one morning and then buy 2.
But seriously, given the design of the shaft you're probably locked in to their parts. You know what they say, "If you can afford to buy it and drive it......"

 

[MexGT]

switching coils only takes 5 mins...

 

[aussiedigger]

I don't get it

You spent thousands of dollars buying a top machine now you have a problem spending a $175.00 for a extra shaft..?
Not me I went out bought 2 and the extra coils straight away have made the money back already in finds.



aussie

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

I agree and for only for only forty two dollars more, You can buy a Minelab kit containing the friction washer, bolt, and nuts needed to attach a coil to the lower rod. Hopefully, there are enough parts in the kit to connect the smaller six inch smart sniper coil to one of the the $175 lower rod and the other $175 lower rod to the larger 17 X 13 smart coil (Duh)! I bought the coil and lower rods months ago, but still have not been able to get the parts to properly connect the coil to the lower rod. I now know why Minelab refers to the lower rod/pole as the shaft (sigh)!

 

[Beach Papa]

I don't get it

You spent thousands of dollars buying a top machine now you have a problem spending a $175.00 for a extra shaft..?
Not me I went out bought 2 and the extra coils straight away have made the money back already in finds.

aussie

Just cause I bought a quality performance detector and paid big bucks for it doesn't mean I want to or have the money to throw away on an overprice replacement part that I will rarely use. That is why the after market auto parts manufacturers stay alive selling high priced replacement auto parts for a fraction of the price the dealer sells virtually the same part for. Lots of folks on here have made straight shafts for a fraction of what a new Anderson straight shaft goes for and the resulting quality is just as good. I am not a pauper, just trying to save a buck on what seems to be an overpriced part if I can.

I realize that it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to change coils on the lower shaft, but every time you do, you risk messing something up. I don't use the smaller coil much, but when I do, it would be nice to switch coils more easily than changing the coil on the end of the shaft.

Thanks for the input, I am not at home right now, but I will have to do a little more research to see if a less expensive alternative to the Minelab shaft is feasible. Maybe everyone else on here who has a CTX3030 doesn't need a second lower shaft or thinks the prices are just fine.

 

[RobRieman]

I thought it would be easier changing coils and shafts at the same time so I bought shafts for all my coils. The fact is it's more of a pain to change the shaft then to remove a bolt as you still have to wrap the cord around the shaft and screw it in either way.

 

[aussiedigger]

Just cause I bought a quality performance detector and paid big bucks for it doesn't mean I want to or have the money to throw away on an overprice replacement part that I will rarely use. That is why the after market auto parts manufacturers stay alive selling high priced replacement auto parts for a fraction of the price the dealer sells virtually the same part for. Lots of folks on here have made straight shafts for a fraction of what a new Anderson straight shaft goes for and the resulting quality is just as good. I am not a pauper, just trying to save a buck on what seems to be an overpriced part if I can.

I realize that it only takes 5 - 10 minutes to change coils on the lower shaft, but every time you do, you risk messing something up. I don't use the smaller coil much, but when I do, it would be nice to switch coils more easily than changing the coil on the end of the shaft.

Thanks for the input, I am not at home right now, but I will have to do a little more research to see if a less expensive alternative to the Minelab shaft is feasible. Maybe everyone else on here who has a CTX3030 doesn't need a second lower shaft or thinks the prices are just fine.

First world problems

Good luck with your quest for a cheaper alterative let us know how it pans out for you.

 

[Sir Gala Clad]

Not for the CTX 3030 - The cable is inside the shaft.

I thought it would be easier changing coils and shafts at the same time so I bought shafts for all my coils. The fact is it's more of a pain to change the shaft then to remove a bolt as you still have to wrap the cord around the shaft and screw it in either way.

 

[steelheadwill]

I don't get it

You spent thousands of dollars buying a top machine now you have a problem spending a $175.00 for a extra shaft..?
Not me I went out bought 2 and the extra coils straight away have made the money back already in finds.



aussie

Same thing here got the small coil the large coil and 2 extra shafts on initial purchase I haven't made my money back yet though probably cuz I've only sold one find.
Yeah it's a lot of money but what is money just another lubricant IMO,
CTX is a great pleasure to use yeah it's got bells and whistles but they are somewhat useful

 

[jeepGold]

I own a CTX. It aint that hard to swap a coil over dude. Be glad you have the option to be able to even do so. Collapse the shaft, turn it 45 degrees,one click of the base and some pliers to loosen up the cannon plug. Pull it off swap it out. BIG deal. I understand the "inconvenience" but carbon fiber aint cheap. Go price a CF scoop handle... Much less engineered and just as much or more money. Have you looked at the Anderson CTX CF travel shaft? If you're in the market, that's the way to go.
And yeah, it's a 1st world problem indeed.

 

[frogmaster-riviera]

Anderson shaft for CTX... made an article here : Anderson shaft for Minelab CTX 3030. NEW 2016 | MD-Hunter Blog

 

[beerguy]

I agree that it is not that hard to swap, but I have 3 coils, it would be nice to just have them mounted,

I am asking Santa for a pair of Andersons...

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Check with Minelab Repair center, they may have a used one they would sell.




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