Changing the CTX Brake Pads

[ironman200081]

I have had my CTX since Memorial Day 2012, and the shaft cam locks ("brake pads") have finally worn themselves down that it is affecting my happiness while detecting. The lower rods barely hit the sidewall with the cam lock engaged, causing the coil to wobble and rotate as it pleases. This is due to over 10.5 years of heavy use and abuse, countless falls while holding my machine, and the occasional occurrence of using the CTX to flick away a snake, stray child, or other equally dangerous creature.

Thanks to the exorbitant cost and unavailability of Minelab replacement parts, getting a new cam lock was out of the question. I have used small squares of tape in the past as a band-aid solution, but those last one trip at most and I needed something more permanent. I decided to spray my lower rods with the coating-in-a-can stuff along the place where the cam would engage the shaft, and also spurt some goo onto the cam lock pads as well. This effectively replaced the "brake pads" and cured my wobbly lower rod problem. Now to see how much use and abuse this fix can withstand.

 

[Ronstar]

Dangerous creatures made me laugh. Dont ya hate when your digging a target and two small feet show up next to your plug??? More than once I’ve startled, luttle ones dont cast a long shadow……

 

[david.di]

I have had my CTX since Memorial Day 2012, and the shaft cam locks ("brake pads") have finally worn themselves down that it is affecting my happiness while detecting. The lower rods barely hit the sidewall with the cam lock engaged, causing the coil to wobble and rotate as it pleases. This is due to over 10.5 years of heavy use and abuse, countless falls while holding my machine, and the occasional occurrence of using the CTX to flick away a snake, stray child, or other equally dangerous creature.

Thanks to the exorbitant cost and unavailability of Minelab replacement parts, getting a new cam lock was out of the question. I have used small squares of tape in the past as a band-aid solution, but those last one trip at most and I needed something more permanent. I decided to spray my lower rods with the coating-in-a-can stuff along the place where the cam would engage the shaft, and also spurt some goo onto the cam lock pads as well. This effectively replaced the "brake pads" and cured my wobbly lower rod problem. Now to see how much use and abuse this fix can withstand. View attachment 34378

Dangerous creatures made me laugh. Dont ya hate when your digging a target and two small feet show up next to your plug??? More than once I’ve startled, luttle ones dont cast a long shadow……

I have had my CTX since Memorial Day 2012, and the shaft cam locks ("brake pads") have finally worn themselves down that it is affecting my happiness while detecting. The lower rods barely hit the sidewall with the cam lock engaged, causing the coil to wobble and rotate as it pleases. This is due to over 10.5 years of heavy use and abuse, countless falls while holding my machine, and the occasional occurrence of using the CTX to flick away a snake, stray child, or other equally dangerous creature.

Thanks to the exorbitant cost and unavailability of Minelab replacement parts, getting a new cam lock was out of the question. I have used small squares of tape in the past as a band-aid solution, but those last one trip at most and I needed something more permanent. I decided to spray my lower rods with the coating-in-a-can stuff along the place where the cam would engage the shaft, and also spurt some goo onto the cam lock pads as well. This effectively replaced the "brake pads" and cured my wobbly lower rod problem. Now to see how much use and abuse this fix can withstand. View attachment 34378

Well done with a solution to the problem.
I'm a big fan of self help solutions that, so long as they work and get the job done, then so be it.

 

[stateguyt]

Not sure if you done this in the past
i take out the cam lock pin( with a center punch)
cut two pieces of rubber the same size that’s on cam lock ( might need two glue pieces together) all depends on the thickness of rubber
crazy glue the rubber to cam lock pads