General Question Use on Equinox 800 - Coil Connection

[saanich2018]

I am new to this, so please forgive for all my questions.

I have a new Equinox 800. I have only used it twice for a total of about an hour - but I have already found $1.25 in change.

Anyway, my question today concerns the coil and the attachment on the shaft. How tight should it be?

It seems every time I stop to dig on a signal, when I lay the 800 down on the ground, the coil will change positions and lay flat, then I have to push it back into the position I need for swinging it.

I did not want to over tighten the coil connection, but should it be able to flex and move some?

If I hold the 800 in my left hand and hold the coil with my right hand, I can shift the coil in the pivot direction back and forth with minimum effort. It is not loose but it is not overly tight.

Is this correct? I was figuring it should not be to tight, so if it struck the ground or an object it would have some play in it.

Again, this may be a stupid question and obvious to most of you, but I do not want to damage this unit and I want to learn to do it correctly.

 

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[wallrat_1975]

This is correct. I keep mine just loose enough that when laying it down the coil flattens, then when I pick it up to hunt again, I just hold it at hunting length and push the coil on the ground to get it parallel to the ground again.

HH!

-Bill

 

[eman1000]

I have the exact same issue. I have mine just tight enough for the coil to move by hand or when I sit it down, but not so loose that it moves when I bump a stick.
But I have no idea if that is correct?

 

[smokeythecat]

On my machines, I always have them tight enough they do not move when I set them down. I've done this with all brands, never had a problem.

 

[eman1000]

On my machines, I always have them tight enough they do not move when I set them down. I've done this with all brands, never had a problem.

Good to know. Thanks

 

[RayinAlaska]

On all the detectors I have had and the ones I use to this day, the coil is just tight enough for it to slightly move when I place it on the ground. Then when I pick it up and before start "swinging" the coil again, I level it with the ground (lightly press the coil on the ground, and change the shat's angle). Also, if I decide the extend or retract the shaft I can easily re-level the coil by placing it it flat on the ground instead of having to raise to level it by hand. And if for whatever reason I swing the coil over the ground a little farther than usual ahead of my shoes, I still can easily level it on the ground as mentioned above. Please note that rubber grommets at each side of the coil ears are used to allow for the coil to have some movement.

That said, whatever works for you is fine, too. There aren't set rules about how tight on the shaft the coil should be. Just keep in mind that over-tightening can stress the coil's plastic ears (or whatever these tabs are called).

The following is found in the coil assembly instructions of the Equinox manual:

Attach coil to lower shaft
1. Insert the two yoke washers into the holes on either side of the yoke.=
2. Slide the yoke into the yoke bracket on top of the coil. Ensure that the spring loaded pin in the lower shaft is
underneath.
3. Insert the yoke bolt through the yoke and the yoke bracket.
4. Fasten with the yoke nut - Do not over-tighten.

 

[RobNC]

I'd like to add that I keep mine just tight enough that if it does move when I lay it down it is a minimal amount.
While we are at it, what about coil wire wrapping around the shaft? What is the best practice on that? Some people just wrap from coil end all the way up. Some run the coil wire straight from coil for a certain distance then wrap around the shaft to control unit. I use little velcro wire holders on my coil wire. Have ran mine both ways and it seems to be better when I run the coil end of the wire straight on the bottom shaft then start wrapping once I almost reach the middle shaft on up to the control unit.

 

[Inspector]

This is correct. I keep mine just loose enough that when laying it down the coil flattens, then when I pick it up to hunt again, I just hold it at hunting length and push the coil on the ground to get it parallel to the ground again.

HH!

-Bill

DITTO, works well for me

 

[RayinAlaska]

I'd like to add that I keep mine just tight enough that if it does move when I lay it down it is a minimal amount.
While we are at it, what about coil wire wrapping around the shaft? What is the best practice on that? Some people just wrap from coil end all the way up. Some run the coil wire straight from coil for a certain distance then wrap around the shaft to control unit. I use little velcro wire holders on my coil wire. Have ran mine both ways and it seems to be better when I run the coil end of the wire straight on the bottom shaft then start wrapping once I almost reach the middle shaft on up to the control unit.

I wrap the cable starting a few inches above the coil. This leaves an uncoiled section of cable that allows for some cable flexing when one or the other coil tip (front or back tips at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions) move up or down. Just like it is shown on page 7 of the manual.
https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/326548/4901-0249-1 Inst. Manual, EQUINOX 600 800 EN.pdf