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Lighter Replacement Shafts On Sovereign

C

Critterhunter

New member
I'm curious if there are any aftermarket shafts for the GT that are a good bit lighter than the stock straight shaft. Or, is anybody using the upper and/or lower shaft from another machine to give it less weight? First I'd be curious if there is a carbon lower rod for other machines that you've used on it and if it required any modifications to join to the upper shaft or for the coil to mount properly? Secondly I'd be interested in hear if anybody has replaced the upper shaft with one from another machine that is much lighter as well?

I've also been kicking around the idea of finding a one piece carbon tube that I can cut to the current height I have my upper/lowest rod set at. It wouldn't be adjustable but that's not a problem once you've picked your length to cut it at. I'm willing to bet you'd drop a bunch of weight by doing this. Just curious if aftermarket coil mounts are available to insert and glue into it so I wouldn't have to destroy the stock lower rod to use it. If anybody has the inner and outter diameter of the stock shaft I could use that to look up a carbon tube blank with the same size off the web. I am still trying to figure out though what type of carbon tube would work best. They have different types with spiral wraps, cloth weave, and so on. I'm guessing you'd want to pick one that would be better suited to the left/right swinging stresses put on the detector while hunting.

Think I've heard of people using the lower rod from a Tesoro but are those carbon? What about the lower carbon shaft from a Whites? If I go that route I could probably replace the upper shaft with an aluminum blank to drop weight there as well.
 
Critterhunter, I use 7/8'' outside diameter broom handle for upper shaft and 1/2''PVC pipe for lover shaft. It works grate for me.
 
Great idea. Thanks. Do I have to pay you to install it? :biggrin: Sorry, couldn't resist. Different thread. I saw in the mods forum that people have used those aluminum crutches for the supper shaft on a Sovereign. They already have the arm cup and a hand grip on them. Great idea. Looking for a single crutch at a few local re-sale/good will shops but so far no luck. I just realized (using a magnet) that the upper shaft on the GT is aluminum. Man, being that heavy it must be real thick stuff. I was just comparing it to a aluminum tube of same diameter from a window cleaning extension pole and it's much lighter than the Sovereign shaft, yet feels just as stiff and strong. I'd prefer the crutch idea though because no need to add a hand grip. They almost look like they are meant for a Sovereign. I'm ordering a lower Whites rod as well. They look carbon to me and are light but the website says "fiber". Wonder if that's carbon fiber? Anybody? I'll be posting weights before and after as my GT goes on a diet with batteries, shafts, etc. Machine is so much lighter already with a S-5 coil on it. Also threw a pair of Energizer Lithium AA batteries in it (non-rechargable, just off the shelf batteries made with lithium). Those things feel like 1/3rd the weight of a normal 8 pack and will give you much longer run times. By the way, I think rechargable AA Energizers way a lot less than normal store batteries too.
 
Hello,
I tried XP detectors 3 parts shaft. It is well built, fiberglass lower shaft and it enters easily in a little backpack.





What I hate of Minelab shafts (straight or "S" shaped) is length!!! :ranting:
Also, You can mount on it original Minelab arm cup and rear bracket to fit control box in, or use hipmounted.
All the best,
 
Go to Doc's Place. http://www.kamakazi.com/ He carries a composit shaft. It is pricey.....but this thing is industructable. I have been bouncing it off the biggest waves the pacific ocean has to offer for over 4 years. It is strong and light....also a must if your tall....

Dave
 
This is a Whites shaft that I installed a water proof Shadow X5 onto. It's high strength aluminium upper, middle and the lower is carbon fiber. They don't come any lighter I have looked every where.
 
Wow, that's one nice looking water machine. What made you decide to build a water unit with a Shadow?

I've got the lower "fiber" (I'd assume carbon as they look that way on my Whites) rod coming for my GT. At $10 you can't beat the price for that. Even if it isn't carbon I know they are light as a feather from other Whites units I've owned. I would guess the normal Whites rubber washers and nut will work fine with a Minelab coil? Still looking for an aluminum single pole crutch (or certain walking canes should work) as they already have an arm cup and grip on them that I think you can adjust. Seen some pictures in the mod forum and they look like they arm made for a Sovereign. If I can't find any I'll just pick up an aluminum blank of the same diameter but lighter than the Minelab upper shaft. Come to think of it the Minelab arm cup would have to be used unless you made a bracket to hold the mount that the control box snaps onto. The Minelab arm cup also seems a lot heavier than it needs to be. Anybody have any ideas for that?
 
Living in Georgia I hunt lakes and nothing beats an X5 on small gold. When I go to Florida I use one of my Excals since they do better in salt water.
 
I'm trying to find out for sure before I order one. Does the lower carbon fiber shaft from a Whites fit inside the stock GT's upper shaft tight with no problems, other than maybe having to drill out your adjustment pin holes?

I've got an aluminum blank from a window cleaning pole that is the same diameter as the stock GT upper shaft, just as stiff, but much lighter since it's not as thick. Since it fits my lower GT shaft perfectly I just want to make sure the Whites shaft will also fit this thing before ordering. QXT Pro had to go (for a while, anyway) so I could make room for an M6 in my hangar, so I don't have a Whites lower shaft laying around to see if it's going to fit.

Has anybody used the lower shaft from a Whites on a Sovereign and were there any modifications you had to make?
 
Thanks! Any advantage to ordering the "Tall Man" lower rod instead of the regular size lower one? I see on Whites home page it's 10" longer but they are both $10. Only thing I can figure is the tall man lower shaft would allow me to cut down the length of the upper shaft more to save even more weight. Note that I'm not talking about the Tall Man middle rod. I mean the lower one for the coil..

Also curious if these things are really carbon because they only list them as "fiber". I wonder if that stands for carbon fiber or if it means fiberglass? I know they sure do look like carbon and I can't imagine them being any lighter. If it is some type of fiberglass they sure got the competition beat on materials.
 
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