Excal Question

[GeorgeinSC]

After every use I take the lower rod out of my machine and wash it carefully, I also take the garden hose and spray a strong stream of water up the shaft to try to get rid of all the sand that gets picked up when hunting the water.

Yesterday I worked an number of hours at a fresh water swimming area and when I tried to collapse the lower shaft into the upper shaft to put it in the car it was stuck tight. It was quite a chore to get it freed up this morning.

Any suggestions as how to prevent this happening again?

 

[dewcon4414]

Yes.... buy a carbon fiber shaft. They are about the only shafts ive seen that doesnt give you nearly the headackes. The stock shaft is aluminum...... it blisters inside. Sometimes changing the lock over to a plunger lock helps as well. Ive tried a good many products from silicone grease to 303..... but it comes down to ID and OD being pretty darn tight and the metal clip doesnt help.... it allows the sand to stay there longer and work its way between the two shafts.

Dew

 

[GeorgeinSC]

I put one of Pluggers shafts on the Excal when I got it. That got rid of the lousy shaft lock and the snake that Minelab uses and gave me the length that I needed. . Currently can not buy the carbon fiber one. Need to go dig some more clad I guess. . There was a lot of very fine material in the swimming area that I suspect got in between the two sections.

 

[rl48off]

Pluggers shafts





http://www.indiannationsdetectors.com/shaftlock.html[/url]

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

GeorgeinSC, Get some BLASTER SILICONE SPRAY and SPRAY Both the INSIDE of the Upper Shaft, and the OUTSIDE of the Lower shaft with IT!! Also, when you FLUSH the Shafts Try and
USE Semi HOT WATER like in a Shower if possible!! I take my EXCALS in the OUTSIDE Shower at the Beach!! But if you Don"t have an OUTSIDE Shower, then Use a Garden Hose or JUGS of
Tap Water that I STORE in the Back of my Truck!! Also, get a 2 1/2 ft. to 3' Length of ALL THREAD Pipe, that you can get at Any Lowe's/Home Depot or ACE Hardware Store, and REEM the INSIDE of the Upper Shaft to REMOVE any SALT DEPOSIT BARBS and SAND DEPOSITS that may have BUILT UP inside the UPPER SHAFT!! But, Continue to FLUSH/CLEAN both SHAFTS
After EACH USE!! It's NOT the PERFECT Solution, but IT should help ALOT!! Les Robinson

 

[GeorgeinSC]

Les I am not sure what you are referring to as "ALL Thread Pipe" Are you talking about a threaded Rod?

 

[NamVetLesTreasureSeeker]

Yes George, it's an ALL THREAD Steel Rod, that they SELL in the Hardware Sections of Lowe's/Home Depot/Ace Hardware!! You want the 3/4" Diameter Rod, because they come in Different DIAMETERS, and if your real LUCKY, YOU might find one at your Local SCRAP YARD for A lot CHEAPER Price!! I was able to get a 2' length one for about $2-$3, after I had bought a 3' Length Rod at ACE Hardware for almost $10. Still it's a lot cheaper, than buying BRASS Shotgun Cleaning BRUSHES!! Hope this HELPS, Les Robinson.

 

[OldBeechnut]

Carbon fiber.... like dew said, Had a couple for many years now and no sticking at all, this summer put on at least 600 hours in salt water...never got jammed up, and we are talking sand gets into everything from the ruff waters.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

The only time I have had trouble with the shaft jamming was in a fresh water Lake. I was at a Military Recreation area. When I would dig a target there was a very fine white substance in the sand. It would cloud up the water.

I know what you mean about the sand as when the surf in my area isnt too rough for me to get out very deep I wind up with a lot sand in my shorts Pockets. Carbon fiber will have to wait till I find a few more of those elusive gold rings.