Excalibur 1000 threshold and volume problems

[van21]

Hello everyone,
I am new in this hobby and just as anyone who is getting involved into something new, I have some questions. So ,long story short, I got used Excalibur on eBay, the guy described it in his listing like that:

" I have used it as my main detector, and it is working great and looks great, but the threshold may need to be replaced. It works, but it is either set high or set just below audible, either way you still hear the targets! Not very adjustable, but it works great high or quite. I like it high to hear those faint, deep targets!! My wife liked quite, so it worked for us.It spins all the way around with no stop point,but it still turns off and on. It might cost $10 for a replacement if you do the labor."

I just got it literally one hour ago and started playing with it. I did my research on all the different adjustments earlier, so I was experimenting with them. I also noticed that the volume spins 360 degrees as well, and actually the knob comes off which makes me think that it does not turn at all. My problem is that ,since I never worked with metal detector before, even though I know the settings , I cant adjust the threshold by ear ,because I don't know how it suppose to sound let say as if it's set on 11 o'clock for example. Another problem ,is the volume ,which was unexpected , since the seller never mention that. I sent him message and waiting for respond now, but also want opinion from advanced users. Any Ideas, on how to test the abilities of this detector and find out if the description given is accurate? Thanks

 

[helix-2000]

I think you can get a knob replacement kit. Threshold shouldbe where you just barely hear it. On my Excal 2 that is about the 10 o'clock positon. Hopefully one of the more experienced users will jump in and help.

 

[kered]

Set right for hunting the Threshold should be aduiable an no more but needs to be adjustable for diferent enviroments depending on the ambient noise, the volume should have a stop at full and lowest volume(same as threshold) sounds like the knobs are rotating on the shafts, easily fixed with a new set of knobs from say ebay, but it could also be that the internal stops are broken in which case its a Minelab service job.
The knob that comes off, try turning the post with fingers to see if it keeps turning or has a stop, if it keeps turning its probably internal damage

 

[erikk]

Sounds like a trip to Vegas 2 me Why I would never buy an excal on e bay unless I was close enough to try it out.....PERIOD

 

[Critterhunter]

Some Excal dials can be adjusted to tighten them up on the pot shafts. Take a small screwdriver and pop off the little plastic cap at the top of the dial. Look down inside and if there is a nut or some other form of tension adjustment then you are in luck. Otherwise if you search this forum you can find a radio shack part # for dials that will work well on it. Anyway, I fixed a friend's who also had several slipping dials by tightening down those nuts. First, spray some WD40 or something down in there just a bit and let it soak for a little while to free up the nuts. My friend's had sand and oxidation in there and I'm talking about only hunting in fresh water. Move the dial around on the shaft until it sits in the right spot for what the machine is doing or where you feel the stop point, so that the arrow on the dial matches the position the machine is telling you it's at. Push down on the knob a bit to make sure it's seated properly and then tighten up the nut. Be careful, over tightening them can split the dial.

If you find that the threshold still isn't working properly being either loud or quiet with nothing in between then I'd live with it until winter hits and then send it in to get fixed. Right now I hear Minelab is being real slow with things as they move the plant and such. Or, find a independent guy who works on Minelabs and have him fix it for you.

 

[Mel Parker]

This sounds like the unit I was looking at on E-bay and after several questions to the seller I still could not determine from him if the knob was loose or the control was stripped. He had replaced the knobs with different ones which sometimes allow you to over torque the control and drive it past the stop. These controls only have about a 270 degree range.

 

[van21]

I found that the volume is fine. Just the knob don't want to grip. So only the threshold spins around but turns on and off and still seams to be adjustable. The seller had responded to my questions and said that he got it like that and he was using it in this condition, and found many items with it. Due to work and finals I couldn't make it to the beach today, but I will try to take it out and play for couple hours tomorrow . I will post my experience later on.
Thanks to all for your responses!

 

[Kiwijohn]

Iv'e got the same problem with the threshold on my Excal 1000. I can turn the knob beyond the 'off'
position and it turns on again. I have learned to live with it. I unplug the battery when finished for the
day to be sure it is off, but I can set the threshold ok and the detector works just fine.

 

[Critterhunter]

If anybody is handy with electronics you can probably fix the stock POT on one that isn't stopping at the stops. I'm not talking about a slipping dial here but rather the internal POT stops. Most good POTS will come apart and you'll find that there is probably 3 contact points at say the bottom portion of the "circle" the pot feelers are designed to move across. It is not supposed to go further than the stops and over the contacts (wire contact points). Find the stops, which can be done in various ways including just little metal stops that are designed to hit the edge of something before the contact points and stop it there. While you are in there clean the pot surface (looks black like a magnet) with some good non-residue contact cleaner and the "feelers" as well that are supposed to contact that surface. You can also bend the little feelers down a hair to make sure they are making good contact with the surface area. In order to get a POT apart you may have to bend back a c-clip style clip at the end of the shaft and then it will pull apart. Most POTs either fail due to grime build up on the surface or feelers or because one of the feelers is no longer making good contact with that surface. By cleaning and adjusting them most will be fine. Some also will use a little note book paper as a very mild abrasive and "sand" the POT surface before cleaning it with the non-residue electrical contact cleaner.

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK and make sure you are not compromising the detector being water tight in some fashion.

 

[seaweednh]

If you determine you need a board, (I had a threshold problem and the board needed changing) look at E-bay. Bill, formally of Minelab is out on his own and has some refurbished boards for sale. I've dealt with Bill before and he has saved me hundreds of dollars. It is worthwhile to keep his e-mail on file.

Regards,
Ron