Explorer SE and Sunray probe question

[grumpy]

Morning;
Just got the SE back from Minelab to be repaired last week and was supposed to had new board or something installed? Now the question is when we put on the machine ( any of 4 coils used) and hunt a bit it seems to work but doesn't seem to have the depth it used to so we air tested it and garden tested it and it seems to prove to be on the weak side. Probally in my mind but we have several hours on this girl so ?
The problem is when I turn on the probe to use it sometimes it works just fine (tho very very limited reach) but sometimes when you turn it on it growls like a wild wife on a forgotten aniv. and to stop it you have to switch back to coil and then back to probe. I dont think there is anything wrong with the probe it has not given me any problem just the machine went to acting wierd and giveing really wild numbers is why it went in for repair.
Guess we are wondering if there is still a reliable repair since Sandy, and nearly everyone there is gone now that the co. changed hands? Can you send one back across the pond to get it FIXED? Just curious. Hate to have to buy a new one everytime they go funky . I really dont call 1200 dollar machines disposable machines.
Any tips or ideas apreciated.
Grumpy

 

[pat (chicago)]

try the 'easy' things: do a restart/reset; make sure all connections are tight. also try the machine without the probe connected...run it like it came out of the box.

good luck!

pat

 

[Erik in NJ]

The SunRay switches have been know to go bad - esp. the older ones that had the full rubber boot. My boot fell off (I remember this was a fairly common problem) and then the switch finally went bad as dirt probably got into it. I can't see any other reason for the probe to make it howl unless you left the machine in pinpoint mode or something. Try cleaning the connection and try another SunRay probe if you have one or can borrow one.

 

[Yeasty]

The SE with an X1 Probe will howl at you when switching between "coil" and "probe" when in the PINPOINT mode. Make sure you are out of PINPOINT when you flip the switch. This anomoly is mentioned in the instructions for the X1.

Pete