F5 hurts my elbow

[Sven]

Been swinging the new F5 the past couple weeks and noticed my elbow is killing me for several days or so afterwards (have tendinitis to begin with).
Never had this problem with the Tesoros. Didn't put 2 & 2 together until today. I went hunting, after 45 min. with the F5, pain was coming back.
Went to a different spot to try out my wife's Delta that just came in. This thing is light!! Didn't bother my elbow at all.

I sure do like the F5, hate to sell it but, if the Omega is as lightweight as the Delta and basically the same platform as the F5, it might be the way for me to go.

Another thought came to mind, adjusting the lower rod from the usual length of extension to a shorter length. The coil would be closer to my toes, my arm would not be extended out.
I did the adjustment in the house, seems to feel better. Will have to go out and try it.

Any thoughts, anyone else have elbow problems like this?

 

[Sven]

Found adding 1/2 foam to the inside of the armrest helps some. Maybe an extension to bring the armrest back another 3" will help as well, will make a quick one and see.
Thought maybe a straight shaft might works as well if similar to the one made for the AT Pro. Just was reading, the AT doesn't balance any better with it.

 

[MarkCZ]

The manuals of many detectors suggest while searching to not do so with your elbow bent, (I also have) well when I got the Whites 5900 it didn't take me long to change how I did things. I had to purposely practice swinging the detector and keep my elbow straight. Once I got the staff length adjusted right and learned how to swing the detector with a little body twist and a little shoulder movement then even the weight of the heavier detector wasn't bad at all!
I'm thinking your hunting and carrying the weight of the detector at your elbow. My brother still hunts with a bent elbow??

Mark

 

[Sven]

The manuals of many detectors suggest while searching to not do so with your elbow bent, (I also have) well when I got the Whites 5900 it didn't take me long to change how I did things. I had to purposely practice swinging the detector and keep my elbow straight. Once I got the staff length adjusted right and learned how to swing the detector with a little body twist and a little shoulder movement then even the weight of the heavier detector wasn't bad at all!
I'm thinking your hunting and carrying the weight of the detector at your elbow. My brother still hunts with a bent elbow??

Mark

Probably have been forever and never really noticed. Did also notice today, wrist angle, to far forward or backwards causes some pain. Maybe a wrist brace is in order and will have to use my arm band for tennis elbow again.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Sven was out with the F5 for three hours yesterday
never noticed any problem with my elbow when swinging it.
The only problem was I could only find pennies 75 of them and
very little other coinage ??? This was in a high school yard !
Was not checking any of the jumpy numbers but did find a junk ring.

 

[tabman]

The Teknetics Gamma is the lightest detector with a screen that I've ever swung. It feels about the same weight as a Tesoro Compadre.

tabman

 

[Sven]

Sven was out with the F5 for three hours yesterday
never noticed any problem with my elbow when swinging it.
The only problem was I could only find pennies 75 of them and
very little other coinage ??? This was in a high school yard !
Was not checking any of the jumpy numbers but did find a junk ring.

Have no problem swinging with my left arm either, may have to switch over...LOL



Here's my quick ID list I taped to my F5 but, a bit more condensed than below to save space. You'll get the idea.
Some denominations are not listed as you will be picking digging those numbers anyways duplicated as other coins.
DB=Double Beep


LOON 59-62 7-8(on edge)
TOON 58-61, 69-70 7-8 (on edge)
5 CTS 24-30, 53-60 6,27-29 DB (on edge)
25 CTS 68-72 6,7(on edge)
1 CTS 67-70.28-32
SIL FSCALE 59-60 ZINC
LC 60 ZINC, 59-60 DB
IND HD Penny 52 TAB

JEWEL THRESHOLD +5 OR MORE
Gain STABLE, 4 TONE, DIG 5CTS

More DEPTH THRS 0-1, Gain 90+

SILVER RINGS
78-80 25CTS
39-44 TAB
51-53 TAB
GOLD
18 FOIL
22-25 FOIL 22-27 BD
27-28 5CTS, 41-44 DB
30-34 TAB 5CTS, 49-51TAB
38040 TAB

 

[Digger 45]

The f5 seems to bother my back some and i shortened the shaft like you said and got it closer to my feet, this also helps to keep the arm straight and it is much better.

The funny thing the Tesoro Sand Shark with the box to the rear balances out so well that it doesn't cause back or arm problems.

So this tells you that something is wrong with the balance and can be adjusted, just keep trying things and something will work for you.

Good Luck

 

[tailofdog]

Yes i had the same problem with the F5. I really liked it but, the Elbow and shoulder did not.

 

[zeekeys]

Sven I hate to say it. Welcome to my world. I have had to give up very fine detectors because of arm problems. The balance or weight of the detectors. I have had only 2 detectors so far that have worked for me the DeLeon and the F70. I like TID detectors over beep and dig detectors. These detectors I have been able to pick up day after day and go out hunting for hours. I also prefer the 6" coils. Sven try a smaller coil? I don't much care for the 4" coil. Had them and got rid of those little guys. Do like the 6" or 5.75" coils. Hope you get it worked out. Happy Trails....Z

 

[Mike Hillis]

I don't know what to say, Sven

I don't have any problems swinging the F5, unless I put the 11" coil on it. Then I have to modify my swing a little to include some body movement or my arm and shoulder will get more sore than normal.

HH
Mike

 

[Sven]

Not the detector as much as it's a bad aged joint swinging detectors, casting fishing rods, pull starting boat motors, bottle digging, manual machine operation etc.
Will have to make some adjustments and work around it. I think some of the current pain is Xbox controller related, reliving my youthful days racing motocross on the tube.

Ideas are forming in my brain on how to make the F5 a lightweight balanced machine. I have a broken F5 coming in to tinker with.

 

[Sven]

Looks like I was on the right path of curing my achy elbow problem when I thought about adding the high density foam to my arm rest.
Then added to that thought.

Using the F5 arm rest popping the foam inside seemed to help. This little bit of a rise off the arm shaft maybe the clue. Grabbed my wife's Tek Delta
arm rest which is wider and already extended up higher and attached on the F5. Hmmm feels better. Then put the foam in place which raised the position my forearm would be in.
After I slid my hand and forearm in place noticed it felt soooo much nicer, world of difference. Seems to balance nicer as well.

I also moved the arm rest to the last position hole on the s-handle, I'm tall with long arms. Changed to a Minelab GT foam grip. Lower coil rod has been positioned in the upper most
hole in the middle shaft.

Here's an extra feature the foam will add if attached correctly, adds a bit of pressure on the correct muscle of the forearm to help prevent tennis elbow like commercial devices like I own.
The Delta arm rest seems to support the F5 better when lying on the ground.

P.S. Placing the F5 arm rest on the Tek Delta actually made it feel much better than the one I took for the F5. Win-win situation.

 

[Digger 45]

When i use the 11" DD coil it hurt my back here is what i have done to take care of this problem, give it a try.

At a good hardware store you will find magnets, pick the round one about one inch in diameter with a center hole it it, screw it to the butt of the rod behind the arm cuff, then when using the 11" coil i use a metal weight and stick it to the magnet and counter balance the coil and it takes away the stress on the arm and the back.

Give it a try you will have a couple of dollars invested and have many combinations of balance to use.

 

[Dave J.]

Some good ideas in this thread-- the arm rest sub, the magnet-powered counterbalance, and shortening the shaft. ML grip I don't know anything about and therefore can't comment.

A lot of people like to get that searchcoil way out in front and then swing the thing like crazy. Past a "certain age" that'll wear you out. They may cover a lot of ground, but poorly. If a site is productive you should slow down and "clean it out" (although we know there's not really such a thing as a truly cleaned out site).

Generally speaking, the rear of the searchcoil should be about 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) in front of your toes. And of course, your shoes better not have any metal in them. This position allows you to sweep in a relaxed manner while keeping the searchcoil parallel with the ground surface. You're working with the ergonomics of the machine, not against them.

--Dave J.

 

[Krychu]

I have this in my Fisher... ergonomics is better, than without this

Greetings, K.

 

[Mike Hillis]

Dave, that coil position is for skinny people

Us larger folks need the coil a little further out in front so we can see the ground.

Actually if I have it too close in, then my neck starts to hurt from looking down at my toes. Headphones add weight to your head and when its looking down at your toes for a couple of hours my neck really gets sore. I can take a sore arm. Can't take a sore neck.

So I keep my coil about 18" in front of me. My lower rod is fully extended. That alieviates the sore neck and then I modify how I use my body to sweep the coil. Light coils like the stock coil and the 5x10" DD are no big deal. The 11" gets a little nose heavy. I suspect the 13" DD Detech coil will too.

I do like the idea of switching out the arm rest. I'm going to try that meself.

HH
Mike

 

[osgood]

Digger 45, there is something to be said about the "counter balance" affect. Ive noticed on some of the higher end machines (hey goes for weed whackers too), there seems to be more length adjustment in the housing end. There is a fine adjustment where as you noticed the housing end if pivoted in the right spot, off sets some of the coil weight by providing some slight lift. Lengthening the shaft and or as you suggested, literally adding the small amount of counterweight can make a difference. CO

 

[Sven]

When i use the 11" DD coil it hurt my back here is what i have done to take care of this problem, give it a try.

At a good hardware store you will find magnets, pick the round one about one inch in diameter with a center hole it it, screw it to the butt of the rod behind the arm cuff, then when using the 11" coil i use a metal weight and stick it to the magnet and counter balance the coil and it takes away the stress on the arm and the back.

Give it a try you will have a couple of dollars invested and have many combinations of balance to use.

Will dig out some parts and see if it works and report back

 

[Sven]

Spent a little time moving the foam back and forth and found a position that fits my forearm. With just enough extra on one side that puts slight pressure on the muscle tendon that
commercial products for tennis elbow do. ... Now this really feels pretty good. Played with lower shaft adjustment and can't decide if the upper most hole or the second hole feels better. A toss-up.

So I was looking thru my parts box and came up with a padded armrest pad for a Minelab. Hmmm, let's see what that feels like. Now that's even better placed over the foam pad!!

Dave J. mentioned he didn't know what the Minelab grip was helping. Well, those of us with big hands find it's much easier to hold onto a larger diameter grip in a more relaxed manner.
Just for the sake of it had another Minelab grip and placed it offset a bit on front of the handle where finger wrap around. Felt nice as well, will have to explore the possibly making a grip to fit my hand, just like those who have a firearm with custom made grips. Gee whiz always a another project to tinker with...LOL