Failure Trends

[piegrande]

Does anyone have any wisdom on failure causes? I have a Garrett I bought maybe 20 or 30 years ago, cost like $250, for investigating old housing sites on my dad's farm. Worked great for that.

It has not been used in years. I tried it last visit to the States, the battery case was, Glory Hallelujah, empty, but no sound with more than one coil after putting in new batteries.

I used to work on old radios, and bad electrolytic capacitors were a common failure mode. Is there any common trend like that on old detectors?

I can use it now. I am located about 100 yards from a 300+ year old house, with legends of buried treasure, etc. I would rather fix an old one than buy a new one cheap enough for my retirement budget.

Not too many answers on this thread, but thought I'd throw the question out, since the cost is right.

 

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[piegrande]

I am back in the States, I hope briefly. I got a chance to look at the old detector, and found the on/off switch bad.

It is on the end of a potentiometer, and when you turn that pot on, the power is applied.

My SIL thinks it is either cheap plastic, or some kind of cardboard material. I am trying to decide if I will simply wire across the switch contacts and plug and unplug the battery pack to turn it on or off. I do not expect to easily find a replacement part.

To check it out, I am sure I will jumper it. I might also add a DPST switch via a new hole in the side of the case.

 

[LX Kid]

I am back in the States, I hope briefly. I got a chance to look at the old detector, and found the on/off switch bad.

It is on the end of a potentiometer, and when you turn that pot on, the power is applied.

My SIL thinks it is either cheap plastic, or some kind of cardboard material. I am trying to decide if I will simply wire across the switch contacts and plug and unplug the battery pack to turn it on or off. I do not expect to easily find a replacement part.

To check it out, I am sure I will jumper it. I might also add a DPST switch via a new hole in the side of the case.

Just wondering what kind of Garrett it was and if it worked out for you with the repairs?

 

[piegrande]

I must admit I don't know the model number. I said 20 years ago, but it was more like 25 or 30 years ago, and by memory it cost over $200 that long ago. It had three coils, including a very large one. It was not a bottom of the line machine, though today it would be junk, I suppose.

Due to many things happening, I did not finish the repairs, and left it behind in Texas.

My views have changed, and when I find a way to do so, I want to get a GTI2500 with dual box capacity. I still might try to fix that old machine, but things get hectic during my short stays in the US each year.

 

[LX Kid]

Where do you go outside the states and why couldn't you take a detector with you?

 

[piegrande]

I live somewhere in Mexico, location not disclosed because I post often on the local legends of Moctezuma's treasure being buried here. While I am not saying it is, or even that it exists at all, I am saying there are valid historical reasons it COULD be here if it exists.

As far as I can tell, I can indeed take a MD with me. The one I want runs around $1200, and there are limits by Mexican customs on total dollars imported, without very expensive customs brokers being used.

I am not sure if an MD would be included by customs as electronics, which has a different limit.

So, it is a case of finding out, on my one month a year trip. Or, perhaps buying one at higher price in Mexico City and avoiding customs totally.

Also, $1200 for retired folks does require some planning financially.

 

[LX Kid]

That's very cool!!! Don't know anything about Montezuma's Treasure but it does sound intriguing. Maybe take a piece at a time. I know all about retirement and stretching funds. I've been thinking about taking a trip to Panama or Peru just to see the sights.