Sticky Lower Shaft. I have a question if your having same issue.

[Smack]

If you have not read my prior sticky lower shaft note, just know I am having issues with the lower shaft catching as I try and adjust it. I contacted Minelab and they sent my out a replacement shaft.

I received my replacement lower shaft. I set it up this evening, and it was actually harder to adjust that the original one. So I took the unit apart and looked into the upper shaft to see what in the heck was going on. On the inside I could see four long wear marks. These marks showed where the lower shaft was catching while trying to adjust. I could see on the lower shaft four skid marks, for lack of a better term, that lined up with the internal markings.

I am still talking with minelab, but in the meantime, if anyone that has the same issue could take a look at the inside of their upper shaft and see if there are wear marks like mine, and if someone without the issue could look in theirs and see if there are wear marks. I would be greatly interested in your findings.

Thanks for the help. Again this is not a huge issue, and I love the CTX3030. Just bugged about how much effort it takes to make little adjustments on a spanking new detector.

Here is what mine looks like.
[attachment 237511 2211221.jpg][attachment 237512 22112211.jpg]



Steve

 

[EtracTom-AdirondacksNY]

You might have it cocked inside the upper shaft and it's grabbing it. When I got mine I looked and on the lower shaft there is a small raised part at the upper end of the shaft and it has corresponding slots in the upper shaft so with my detector control head facing upwards and while looking at the control face with all the buttons take the coil and lower shaft and make the coil vertical with the bottom of the coil facing to your left while looking at the conrol head face, now slide the shaft ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE UPPER SHAFT then rotate it 90 degrees counterclock wise so the coil now faces bottom down as it would be for when your sweeping/hunting now it should slide easily in and out.

I found you have to slide it ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE UPPER SHAFT FIRST before rotating it so as that small raised portion can go into the correct groove in the upper shaft so as to slide in and out properly. Mine does so easily and smoothly without having to push up or down on the shaft nor stand it straight up. I just unlock and adjust to where I want and then relock.
Hope this helps ya out.

 

[Smack]

Putting the shaft in correctly is simple. I have carefully followed the instructions and am aware of the little knob and the slots ect. It seems the upper shaft inside diameter of my CTX is to snug. At first I thought it was the lower shaft was to large, but the replacement was even worse. As you can see in the photos that it is rubbing all along the inside of the upper shaft. This makes it sticky and difficult to adjust.

Just currious, and if your not having any problems like mine, can you look inside the upper shaft and see any wear marks like on mine?

It would be very helpful to find out if the marks are just normal or associated with the problems I am having.

Thanks for you reply.
Smack

 

[Gonehunting]

I spoke to a technician at Minelab about this issue.. Call and ask to speak to one of the techs. The shaft is made to be taut. They would like to hear from you again on this.. Thanks...GH

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

The next time I take it apart I will look. I did it a couple of days ago and and it was so hard getting it out I don't want to do it again. When apart there was no visable sand in the shaft.It drags as if it were loaded with sand and the sound makes me cringe thinking its taring up the shaft!
BCNJ

 

[pspr]

Did you slide open the control box and run water through there and out the shaft opening? That got that gritty sound out of mine. Just make sure the cables are connected tight first.

 

[Smack]

I have not hunted in the water yet. No sand or grit in mine. I hope to someday once I get near some water.

 

[jas415]

I was having the same problem and I did a bit of experimenting. I found that if the coil is placed flat on the floor/gound, and the unit as vertical as possible, to retract it all I have to do is release the latch and it slides right down. To extend it I do the opposite. Sometimes I place a toe on the coil to hold it here but it comes out very easily if the unit is vertical. If I try to retract or extend it while I am holding it, with my left hand on the lower shaft and the right holding the handle, I have lots of difficulty either retracting or extending. Try the verticl thing and see if it helps.

 

[Smack]

I was having the same problem and I did a bit of experimenting. I found that if the coil is placed flat on the floor/gound, and the unit as vertical as possible, to retract it all I have to do is release the latch and it slides right down. To extend it I do the opposite. Sometimes I place a toe on the coil to hold it here but it comes out very easily if the unit is vertical. If I try to retract or extend it while I am holding it, with my left hand on the lower shaft and the right holding the handle, I have lots of difficulty either retracting or extending. Try the verticl thing and see if it helps.

I get the verticle thing, and that does help, I was looking to see if you have the same scuff marks inside your upper shaft. Some people have no problems adjusting the lower shaft length. I was comparing to see how many have the scuff marks and if that is normal to find, or if it is just the ones that have the issue.

Minelab is happy to check my unit out, but I dont want to be without it while the sun shines, will wait until the weather turns and the ground is frozen again.

Thanks
Smack

 

[dazmond66]

Lifting the bottom stem slightly upwards whilst opening and closing seems to do the trick, i think the problem is that the weight of the coil affects the angle of the stem causing it to stick.

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

I was having the same problem and I did a bit of experimenting. I found that if the coil is placed flat on the floor/gound, and the unit as vertical as possible, to retract it all I have to do is release the latch and it slides right down. To extend it I do the opposite. Sometimes I place a toe on the coil to hold it here but it comes out very easily if the unit is vertical. If I try to retract or extend it while I am holding it, with my left hand on the lower shaft and the right holding the handle, I have lots of difficulty either retracting or extending. Try the verticl thing and see if it helps.

Wel I have to say these forums are a world of knowledge. This works so well.
Thanks Steve

 

[EddieB]

Hello Smack, I just received my 3030 on Thursday and inserted the lower shaft as instructed and am having the same problem. I haven't had mine out detecting you but have adjusted the lower rod several time, all with some effort involved. I just took it apart for the 4Th time and have noticed those scuff marks on the inside of upper shaft along with some light scuffing on the lower shaft along with the tab on the lower shaft having some wear. It needs some lubricant but who want a oily detector. Will be calling Minelab tomorrow. Thanks for the posting. EddieB

 

[Smack]

Hello Smack, I just received my 3030 on Thursday and inserted the lower shaft as instructed and am having the same problem. I haven't had mine out detecting you but have adjusted the lower rod several time, all with some effort involved. I just took it apart for the 4Th time and have noticed those scuff marks on the inside of upper shaft along with some light scuffing on the lower shaft along with the tab on the lower shaft having some wear. It needs some lubricant but who want a oily detector. Will be calling Minelab tomorrow. Thanks for the posting. EddieB

Be careful about lubrication not sure what is safe with the carbon fiber.

 

[MHirschmann]

My shaft has the exact same 4 grooves/scratches as yours inside. I initially had problems with my rod sticking but I figured out that if I slid the lower rod in/out perfectly straight, as others have mentioned, that it would slide almost by itself. It takes some getting used to. I don't think this is a design flaw, but rather a tight fit, which isn't necessarily bad because it keeps the sand/grit out. As long as the lower rod is perfectly straight, it will slide trouble-free. If it is off-center at all, it's wasted energy trying to slide the rods and causes the marks you mentioned. Hope this helps. -Marc

 

[Reeseb]

I just pulled out my lower shaft after several water hunts. It was easy to remove the shaft, but some pretty gross funk came out and ended up on the kitchen floor. I think I'll start rinsing things out after each hunt. I was hunting in fresh water so I didn't about it.

 

[Smack]

I am hoping the more times I use it, that the normal wear will make it slide easier.

Good idea to clean it out after each water hunt