Cibola mod

[pcwhitesanddigger]

Who does the Cibola mod and about what is the cost. Also what does it do besides adjustable ground balance and what are the other advantages? Thanks Ken

 

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[jld66]

it basically turns a cibola into a vaquero. some say with it, makes it better than a vaq, others say it is the same. i got the vaq so dont know how much it costs. will loose the warranty if you bought it new. but guys like the "modded" cibola. if you did buy it new, probably will end up the same price as a vaquero anyhow. there are directions around on how to do it. looks pretty straight forward. need some experience with electronic soldering though.

 

[Terry Soloman]

The Cibola Mod? Sure! It runs about $450.00 and has a lifetime warranty for the original owner. It's called a "Vaquero" upgrade.

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

Thanks for the quick reply. That's about what I thought. I have a as new Cibola that I bought used and was considering doing it or having it done. have several other detectors that I normally use. Have only been using the Cibola ocassionally. Thanks Ken.

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

The Cibola Mod? Sure! It runs about $450.00 and has a lifetime warranty for the original owner. It's called a "Vaquero" upgrade.

I have not commented very much on this forum, mostly just reading, and enjoying it but I have been detecting since the late 70's, so I am not completely ignorant to metal detecting, I think that you would have to be crazy to pay $450 for the mod when you could do it yourself or just purchase a Vaq. Thanks for your help. Ken

 

[Terry Soloman]

I have not commented very much on this forum, mostly just reading, and enjoying it but I have been detecting since the late 70's, so I am not completely ignorant to metal detecting, I think that you would have to be crazy to pay $450 for the mod when you could do it yourself or just purchase a Vaq. Thanks for your help. Ken

You do realize I was just joking, and telling you to just buy a Vaquero?

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

You do realize I was just joking, and telling you to just buy a Vaquero?[/QUOTE

I read several inputs on the Cibola including one were you recommended to buy a Vaq rather than have the mod done, before I even put the question in. Ken

 

[jld66]

im sure you can have it done rather inexpensively then. there are plenty of online places to see about. i'll messaged you the facebook group name. it is a good friendly group with helpful people. no arrogant know it all's who think their opinions and advise is the only one that is correct.

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

im sure you can have it done rather inexpensively then. there are plenty of online places to see about. i'll messaged you the facebook group name. it is a good friendly group with helpful people. no arrogant know it all's who think their opinions and advise is the only one that is correct.

Thanks for the info. I will check it out. I have the ability to do it myself if I have the instructions and parts list. I understand what you are saying about arrogant people, I served 24 year in the military so they would be able to blow their own horn. I guess it makes them feel important. I am going to check out Sven's website I think the instructions are there too. Thanks for the friendly info. I don't let people like that bother me but if someone was brand new to this hobby and got that kind of an answer it would be a shame if they believed the B/S. Thanks again and Happy Hunting. Ken

 

[Terry Soloman]

MODIFICATIONS Knock yourself out!

Parts needed:

Bourns Precision 10 turn Potentiometer, 50K ohms, Mouser Part #652-3540S-1-

503L

http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=v8eK7PNYWrvZdWZgR

ONwJg%3d%3d

Interesting facts about Trim Pots can be viewed at this website:

http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm

Adding a toggle switch to switch back and forth from All Metal to Discriminate

mode like the Tejon completes the GB mod. The toggle switch replaces the

pinpoint button. You can use any type of toggle you like, spring back toggle or

non spring back toggle. I decided on a small 2 position on/off, with no spring

back. This way I can hunt either mode.

I used this toggle:

Mountain Switch, Mini Mouser part #1055-TA2120-EVX

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=1055-TA2120-

EVX&Ns=P_SField

Anti-static Wrist Strap, this is worn to ground yourself out. Protects sensitive

electronic components and computer boards from ESD (electrostatic discharge)

damage.

Can be purchased at Radio Shack:

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-anti-static-wrist-strap-with-cord--pi-2103245.html

Lastly, you will need some thin wire, any color will do as long as they are two

different colors.

If you have a parts computer sitting around, there.s plenty of good colorful wire

inside.

Let.s begin the mod. Put your Anti-static wrist strap on and ground it out. Make

sure the Cibola 9 volt battery has been removed.

Remove the control housing off the upper arm rest, there is a small screw under

the armrest that holds it in place. Once the control housing has been removed.

You will spot a large diameter hole pre-drilled into the armrest. This is where to

toggle switch will slide down into. Just like the Tejon and the
[FONT=Arial,Italic]Vaquero[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Italic][/FONT].

Remove all knobs off the faceplate. Next step is important. Take different color

Sharpie markers and color the ends of each pot shaft. Write down the color and

what control function they are for. This way you know exactly what hole on the

face plate they will be going back into.

Remove the faceplate, there are two screws holding it in place. Carefully pull it

out of the control box housing. Loosen up all pot knobs as well as the pinpoint

button. Remove the pots and snip the green & yellow wires off the pinpoint

button. Make sure you keep the two pinpoint wires away from everything while

you work. Option, if it makes things easier for you, de-solder the speaker wires,

and re-solder later.

Take the Bourns pot and trim the shaft back with a Dremel tool about ¼. using a

fiber wheel. Do a little at a time so as not to heat up the shaft too much and

possibly melt the internals of the pot. I only did this to bring the knob closer to the

faceplate. You will be replacing the pinpoint switch with this pot. The hole in the

faceplate is a little bigger than the pots screwed body. This makes for some slop.

I hunted around for a plastic washer that was the same thickness as the

faceplate and Dremel.d it to a precise fit. Now the pot fit perfect in the hole. Lay

the faceplate aside for now.

Pull the circuit board out carefully. Locate the internal trim pot.

It has to be removed, don.t waste your time trying to de-solder it. It is much

faster to take a pair of precision wire cutters and carefully slide the jaws under

the trim pot contact tabs, there are 3 tabs. Pull up on the pot slightly and snip the

tab. It takes about 10 seconds to snip all three.

Get two lengths of colored wire, these will be soldered to the circuit board. Do not

waste your time trying to solder the wires to the tabs the trim pots were snipped

from. There are two pads with holes in them above and below where the trim pot

was removed from. You will use these holes. Look at the picture above and

below. Solder wires to these two tabs. These are the same holes used on the

Vaquero circuit board.

You will notice there are 3 contacts on the orig. trim pot as well as on the external

Bourns pot you will be using. Tesoro only uses two of the pots contacts. You may

ask why where there 3 trimmer contacts soldered to the circuit board? Two are

being used, the third was just soldered to a dummy pad that provides no function.

Look at the photo where I soldered the .blue. wire. This wire will be soldered to

tab position on the Bourns pot tab numbered 2. The other .white. wire will be

soldered to Bourns pot tab numbered 3. Number 1 tab will not be used at all.

Once your soldered up, the GB mod is done.

Word of caution, if you soldered the wires to the wrong tabs, the GB control will

work in reverse!! If soldered correctly, turning the GB knob clockwise makes the

detector go positive and counterclockwise goes negative.

The nice thing about a 10 turn GB control is you get a much finer control

adjustment than using a 3 ¾ turn control used on the Tejon and Vaquero.

Time to add the toggle switch under the armrest. First drill a small 1/8. hole under

the control housing directly on top of where the large hole in the armrest is. The

two pinpoint wires (green, yellow) will be pulled thru the hole in the housing. Set

the housing aside.

Take your armrest, center punch thru the hole a dimple from inside directly in the

center where your switch will be inserted. Drill a hole for the switch, probably ¼.

hole, take your toggle switch and make sure it fits.

Now solder the toggle to the two wires to the toggle. Time to reassemble.

Carefully insert and reposition all the pots in their correct holes, tighten up all the

nuts. Carefully push the circuit board back in place and position the pot wires

inside the housing so the faceplate can be pushed gently back on flush with the

housing. Screw in the face plate screws, not too tight.

Take the toggle and insert it into the armrest, tighten up the nut. Depending

upon your preference, position it so that when pushing the toggle forward it

switches the detector into Disc. Mode or All Metal mode. Then reattach the

housing to the armrest. Extra toggle switch wire will be pushed into the armrest.

You are done!!!

Time to replace your control knobs. I put some small o-rings underneath them to

keep dirt, etc out of the pots. As well as to put slight tension on the GB and

Thresold controls. Less change for them to be accidentally bumped changing

your GB setting.

You can use any knobs you like, matching or otherwise. The bourns pot has a ¼.

round shaft, so any knob that is made for ¼. shafts can be used. I had one laying

around from an old Garrett detector and used it for the GB. When I get around to

it my Cibola will have all matching knobs.

Knobs can be purchased from:

http://mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?N=254090&Keyword=knobs&Ns=P_SFiel

d%7c0&FS=True

Jameco Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor

[FONT=Arial,Bold]A note about the toggle switch. Keith Southern used a different one:

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Italic][FONT=Verdana,Italic].Pinpoint wires are connected to a three position toggle switch pull it for

momentary push it for all metal lock or center is discriminate. Just remember

on the switch when its in the off position center in this case the wires are an

open circuit so its in disc when you turn on the switch you connect the wires

and put it in all metal..

[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Italic][FONT=Verdana,Italic][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold]Here.s a picture of a Silver Sabre U-max that I mod.d a few years ago. When

I got it completely finished all knobs matched. It worked great. Sort of a

mini Tejon.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold][/FONT]

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

MODIFICATIONS Knock yourself out!

Parts needed:

Bourns Precision 10 turn Potentiometer, 50K ohms, Mouser Part #652-3540S-1-

503L

http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?qs=v8eK7PNYWrvZdWZgR

ONwJg%3d%3d

Interesting facts about Trim Pots can be viewed at this website:

http://sound.westhost.com/pots.htm

Adding a toggle switch to switch back and forth from All Metal to Discriminate

mode like the Tejon completes the GB mod. The toggle switch replaces the

pinpoint button. You can use any type of toggle you like, spring back toggle or

non spring back toggle. I decided on a small 2 position on/off, with no spring

back. This way I can hunt either mode.

I used this toggle:

Mountain Switch, Mini Mouser part #1055-TA2120-EVX

http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=1055-TA2120-

EVX&Ns=P_SField

Anti-static Wrist Strap, this is worn to ground yourself out. Protects sensitive

electronic components and computer boards from ESD (electrostatic discharge)

damage.

Can be purchased at Radio Shack:

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-anti-static-wrist-strap-with-cord--pi-2103245.html

Lastly, you will need some thin wire, any color will do as long as they are two

different colors.

If you have a parts computer sitting around, there.s plenty of good colorful wire

inside.

Let.s begin the mod. Put your Anti-static wrist strap on and ground it out. Make

sure the Cibola 9 volt battery has been removed.

Remove the control housing off the upper arm rest, there is a small screw under

the armrest that holds it in place. Once the control housing has been removed.

You will spot a large diameter hole pre-drilled into the armrest. This is where to

toggle switch will slide down into. Just like the Tejon and the
[FONT=Arial,Italic]Vaquero[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Italic][/FONT].

Remove all knobs off the faceplate. Next step is important. Take different color

Sharpie markers and color the ends of each pot shaft. Write down the color and

what control function they are for. This way you know exactly what hole on the

face plate they will be going back into.

Remove the faceplate, there are two screws holding it in place. Carefully pull it

out of the control box housing. Loosen up all pot knobs as well as the pinpoint

button. Remove the pots and snip the green & yellow wires off the pinpoint

button. Make sure you keep the two pinpoint wires away from everything while

you work. Option, if it makes things easier for you, de-solder the speaker wires,

and re-solder later.

Take the Bourns pot and trim the shaft back with a Dremel tool about ¼. using a

fiber wheel. Do a little at a time so as not to heat up the shaft too much and

possibly melt the internals of the pot. I only did this to bring the knob closer to the

faceplate. You will be replacing the pinpoint switch with this pot. The hole in the

faceplate is a little bigger than the pots screwed body. This makes for some slop.

I hunted around for a plastic washer that was the same thickness as the

faceplate and Dremel.d it to a precise fit. Now the pot fit perfect in the hole. Lay

the faceplate aside for now.

Pull the circuit board out carefully. Locate the internal trim pot.

It has to be removed, don.t waste your time trying to de-solder it. It is much

faster to take a pair of precision wire cutters and carefully slide the jaws under

the trim pot contact tabs, there are 3 tabs. Pull up on the pot slightly and snip the

tab. It takes about 10 seconds to snip all three.

Get two lengths of colored wire, these will be soldered to the circuit board. Do not

waste your time trying to solder the wires to the tabs the trim pots were snipped

from. There are two pads with holes in them above and below where the trim pot

was removed from. You will use these holes. Look at the picture above and

below. Solder wires to these two tabs. These are the same holes used on the

Vaquero circuit board.

You will notice there are 3 contacts on the orig. trim pot as well as on the external

Bourns pot you will be using. Tesoro only uses two of the pots contacts. You may

ask why where there 3 trimmer contacts soldered to the circuit board? Two are

being used, the third was just soldered to a dummy pad that provides no function.

Look at the photo where I soldered the .blue. wire. This wire will be soldered to

tab position on the Bourns pot tab numbered 2. The other .white. wire will be

soldered to Bourns pot tab numbered 3. Number 1 tab will not be used at all.

Once your soldered up, the GB mod is done.

Word of caution, if you soldered the wires to the wrong tabs, the GB control will

work in reverse!! If soldered correctly, turning the GB knob clockwise makes the

detector go positive and counterclockwise goes negative.

The nice thing about a 10 turn GB control is you get a much finer control

adjustment than using a 3 ¾ turn control used on the Tejon and Vaquero.

Time to add the toggle switch under the armrest. First drill a small 1/8. hole under

the control housing directly on top of where the large hole in the armrest is. The

two pinpoint wires (green, yellow) will be pulled thru the hole in the housing. Set

the housing aside.

Take your armrest, center punch thru the hole a dimple from inside directly in the

center where your switch will be inserted. Drill a hole for the switch, probably ¼.

hole, take your toggle switch and make sure it fits.

Now solder the toggle to the two wires to the toggle. Time to reassemble.

Carefully insert and reposition all the pots in their correct holes, tighten up all the

nuts. Carefully push the circuit board back in place and position the pot wires

inside the housing so the faceplate can be pushed gently back on flush with the

housing. Screw in the face plate screws, not too tight.

Take the toggle and insert it into the armrest, tighten up the nut. Depending

upon your preference, position it so that when pushing the toggle forward it

switches the detector into Disc. Mode or All Metal mode. Then reattach the

housing to the armrest. Extra toggle switch wire will be pushed into the armrest.

You are done!!!

Time to replace your control knobs. I put some small o-rings underneath them to

keep dirt, etc out of the pots. As well as to put slight tension on the GB and

Thresold controls. Less change for them to be accidentally bumped changing

your GB setting.

You can use any knobs you like, matching or otherwise. The bourns pot has a ¼.

round shaft, so any knob that is made for ¼. shafts can be used. I had one laying

around from an old Garrett detector and used it for the GB. When I get around to

it my Cibola will have all matching knobs.

Knobs can be purchased from:

http://mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?N=254090&Keyword=knobs&Ns=P_SFiel

d%7c0&FS=True

Jameco Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor

[FONT=Arial,Bold]A note about the toggle switch. Keith Southern used a different one:

[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Italic][FONT=Verdana,Italic].Pinpoint wires are connected to a three position toggle switch pull it for

momentary push it for all metal lock or center is discriminate. Just remember

on the switch when its in the off position center in this case the wires are an

open circuit so its in disc when you turn on the switch you connect the wires

and put it in all metal..

[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Italic][FONT=Verdana,Italic][/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold]Here.s a picture of a Silver Sabre U-max that I mod.d a few years ago. When

I got it completely finished all knobs matched. It worked great. Sort of a

mini Tejon.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold][/FONT]

Thanks for the info but I already got it off of Sven's website. Also several other members of this forum have been very helpful through their P.M.'s. Once again thanks to all that were willing to help. Ken

 

[jld66]

Thanks for the info but I already got it off of Sven's website. Also several other members of this forum have been very helpful through their P.M.'s. Once again thanks to all that were willing to help. Ken

great, Sven is a good and very knowledgeable guy. he did a silver Umax mod for a guy on another forum and he was pleased with it.

 

[Fletch88]

Wow that is a lot of moding to make a Vaquero!

 

[Keppy]

Wow that is a lot of moding to make a Vaquero!

Yes you are right ...Myself i would just buy a Vaquero.... Why go through all that when you can just buy one ?

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

Yes you are right ...Myself i would just buy a Vaquero.... Why go through all that when you can just buy one ?

I agree, under most circumstances that would be true. I have an almost brand new Cibola in my possession that I know is a hot detector and would rather mod it than to sell it and take a chance on buying a used Vaquero that might not be as hot as my Cibola.

 

[jharhed]

He was just asking about modding a freakin cibola, may not have the means to buy a vaq, or just simply WANTS to mod HIS cibola that he paid for.

 

[Terry Soloman]

I agree, under most circumstances that would be true. I have an almost brand new Cibola in my possession that I know is a hot detector and would rather mod it than to sell it and take a chance on buying a used Vaquero that might not be as hot as my Cibola.

Look, a "hot" machine is simply a machine that is tuned correctly to/with the coil installed. If you are a weekend engineer and want to "mod" a Cibola - God Bless! Because I have no interest in modifying electronics after I purchase them I would rather spend the extra $$ (I mean seriously, am I really going to go out and buy all these parts and a solder gun? I would rather be detecting!), and just buy the next step up.

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

Look, a "hot" machine is simply a machine that is tuned correctly to/with the coil installed. If you are a weekend engineer and want to "mod" a Cibola - God Bless! Because I have no interest in modifying electronics after I purchase them I would rather spend the extra $$ (I mean seriously, am I really going to go out and buy all these parts and a solder gun? I would rather be detecting!), and just buy the next step up.

here are other reasons for one unit to be hotter than another one besides coil/unit tuning. There are also other reasons that someone would want to mod a detector besides as you call it, being a weekend engineer. Maybe you should spend more time detecting and less time trying to show everyone here how smart you are here. Just think I spent 24 years of my life in the military so that people like you can belittle instead of help others. I guess some people like to look in the mirror and say how important they are. It is people like you that cause a lot of people to not post here that might actually have some input that could help someone. It is not like I am a new person to this hobby I have been detecting since the late 70's but mostly read but not post on this forum. Ken

 

[Terry Soloman]

here are other reasons for one unit to be hotter than another one besides coil/unit tuning. There are also other reasons that someone would want to mod a detector besides as you call it, being a weekend engineer. Maybe you should spend more time detecting and less time trying to show everyone here how smart you are here. Just think I spent 24 years of my life in the military so that people like you can belittle instead of help others. I guess some people like to look in the mirror and say how important they are. It is people like you that cause a lot of people to not post here that might actually have some input that could help someone. It is not like I am a new person to this hobby I have been detecting since the late 70's but mostly read but not post on this forum. Ken

I don't have any idea why you are attacking me Ken, but after being a "Lifer" in the military I would think your skin would be a bit thicker. You must be ex-Air Force or Navy. I only did three-years in the Army, and somebody telling me to buy a new metal detector instead of modding the one I have doesn't even get my hackle's up. Slow your roll and let's be friends.

 

[pcwhitesanddigger]

I don't have any idea why you are attacking me Ken, but after being a "Lifer" in the military I would think your skin would be a bit thicker. You must be ex-Air Force or Navy. I only did three-years in the Army, and somebody telling me to buy a new metal detector instead of modding the one I have doesn't even get my hackle's up. Slow your roll and let's be friends.

Yes I am retired Air Force and proud of my service. I guess you think the Air Force and Navy are inferior to your service in the Army. I was not asking if I should mod the Cibola or buy a Vaquero, I was asking about modding the Cibola. There are several people on this forum with as much knowledge and experience as you have that use modded Cibolas and say good things about them. Are they wrong too?