Equinox Arm Cuff Fix

[flgliderpilot]

Ok, so a few of us have been trying to figure out why the Equinox feels so "disconnected"... it has a wobble when doing short fast swings and sort of feels like it's slapping your arm. S shaft has been discussed.

I realized it's just that the cuff is just simply too wide for those of us not wearing winter gear. Here in Florida I'm almost never wearing long sleeves or a jacket.

My cuff was way too wide for my arm, and I have pretty thick forearms.

I spent a few minutes gently heating the outside of the cuff, one side at a time while applying inward pressure, until the cuff was the size I needed.

Now it's rock solid on my arm, and feels like an extension of my body. It feels great! Huge improvement. I now feel connected.

Harbor Freight sells an inexpensive heat gun if you don't have one. They are very handy to have around.

Go very slow and heat from a distance slowly moving inward and keeping the gun moving aimed at the lower part of the cuff. If the surface starts to show any signs of turning "glossy" you are too close and heating too fast. Obviously remove the strap first, and do not heat the foam padding.

See how much smaller it is now?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[laidback4sho]

That's actually a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I might be doing the same thing here shortly.

 

[smokeythecat]

Unfortunately, it does not speak well for a machine that has to be "fixed" right out of the box. Apparently there are numerous things that folks seem to have to modify immediately, according to the posts. What were they thinking?

 

[Rookster]

I agree Smoky. A lot to pay for a machine you have to alter that soon. The armrest should not be as rigid and have a bit more adjustment.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Unfortunately, it does not speak well for a machine that has to be "fixed" right out of the box. Apparently there are numerous things that folks seem to have to modify immediately, according to the posts. What were they thinking?

It is not a fix, everyone has different arm sizes and has personal preferences. I have owned, Whites, Tesoros, Fishers, Troy and Minelabs and every one of them I modified to suit my personal tastes just like my cars..

 

[smokeythecat]

Treasure_Hunter, new out of the box does this ruin the warranty? Putting some removable foam there makes more sense. (or wear a heavy coat in the summer?)

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Treasure_Hunter, new out of the box does this ruin the warranty? Putting some removable foam there makes more sense. (or wear a heavy coat in the summer?)

That would not void the warranty, you would have to open the detector up to void the warranty. Heating it with a hair dryer or heat gun seems like a simple mod.

 

[SittingElf]

Some people will NEVER be satisfied, and will find fault with the most petty things, and complain about them.
Can't wait for the complaints about how Minelab didn't include a mount for a charging brick, or a folding stand, or for a Go-Pro, etc... C'mon! Geez!
I've never seen or owned a "Perfect" product. They don't exist. They just get improved, either by generational development, or by end-users themselves....like FLGLIDERPILOT.

 

[ltd063]

Unfortunately, it does not speak well for a machine that has to be "fixed" right out of the box. Apparently there are numerous things that folks seem to have to modify immediately, according to the posts. What were they thinking?

Name one machine that users aren't modifying to their own preferences.

 

[Goldstar1]

Nice modification FLgliderpilot, thanks for sharing. I think the cuff is a little wide too but the thing is if it was thinner someone would complain it is too thin , they cant really custom fit it for everyone. I think the grip is a bit long for my hands too but for someone with really large hands it is probably just right. Personally the most important thing to me is the actual performance of the machine and it performs great, there are little cosmetic things I would change but none of it really matters, it is what it is . As long as there are no major issues with its performance and it continues to work as it does now I will be very happy.

 

[jeg208]

This is a great idea, thank you for this.

Also, this isn't a "flaw". I have skeletor arms (6'4" and 190lbs), so I expect nothing mass produced to fit me.

 

[Rick K]

I showed my Nox to an engineer who has designed ergonomic tools for decades. When he saw it - before he ever touched it - he said. “They have designed in an ergonomic problem, let me show it to you.”

He took the detector, gripped it normally, then turned so I could see it sideways. He pointed to the arm cuff - where his forearm touched the bottom of it. He said that that was the fulcrum - then he traced a line through the midpoint of the grip. He then said to mentally extend the line to the ground. The end point was several inches in front of the front edge of the coil.

He then demonstrated that - since the axis of rotation was aligned forward of the mass of the coil - when you swing the detector, there is a pronounced rotation moment along the axis described by the line between the bottom of the arm cuff and the middle of the grip - it wants to twist - you then have to expend energy resisting that torque. “Poor design” - he concluded.

 

[flgliderpilot]

I showed my Nox to an engineer who has designed ergonomic tools for decades. When he saw it - before he ever touched it - he said. “They have designed in an ergonomic problem, let me show it to you.”

He took the detector, gripped it normally, then turned so I could see it sideways. He pointed to the arm cuff - where his forearm touched the bottom of it. He said that that was the fulcrum - then he traced a line through the midpoint of the grip. He then said to mentally extend the line to the ground. The end point was several inches in front of the front edge of the coil.

He then demonstrated that - since the axis of rotation was aligned forward of the mass of the coil - when you swing the detector, there is a pronounced rotation moment along the axis described by the line between the bottom of the arm cuff and the middle of the grip - it wants to twist - you then have to expend energy resisting that torque. “Poor design” - he concluded.

Agree... but this can be overcome by simply grabbing at the bottom of the grip.

Minelab was right to go too big rather than too small, they just went a little too big... like I'm in a dry suit big.

I definitely recommend trying this it really makes a big difference.

 

[Echoplex]

This guy swings a Nox

 

[chub]

Name one machine that users aren't modifying to their own preferences.

Ace 150.... just sayin'


chub

 

[detectorben]

I noticed this as well. It was an easy fix. Just tighten strap down on arm. I have very skinny arms as well. No wobble once tightened down. I cannot "fix" my cuff or I will not have the flexibility of using it in the cold with several layers on my arm.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Thank you for sharing!

 

[gene the machine]

I did the same warming thing with my Impact and it make a world of difference.

 

[smokeythecat]

Treasure Hunter, the OP mentioned the word "fix". To be clear.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Treasure Hunter, the OP mentioned the word "fix". To be clear.

No problem,.

Fix as in to customize it to suit him better like my excals. I have added pp mod, GG Amphibian HPs, Wot Coil, Anderson Knobs, Anderson Straight shafts to my excals, they are mods not really fixes although some may call them fixes.