Jim in Idaho

No, it has a nice seat. The top of the seat is about 1" above the fender so it doesn't show in the video. I got the seatback frame built yesterday, and will get it installed tomorrow. Jim

Yeah...that would be bad, for sure. The downside of these is they're slow. Top end of about 25 depending on gearing. Mine's geared extra low, so top is about 20. But enormous torque in low range. These also have no suspension, or differentials, so shouldn't be used on pavement. But we outdoor-experienced guys understand that out in the desert or mountains 20 miles is a LONG way, so speed is not a big deal. I think the reason they don't make them is no market to speak of. Everybody wants to "baja" on them, and these Coots don't work for that. They made and sold about 10,000 of these between '65 and '85, and then the 4 wheelers came out, and that was the end. Somebody resurrected the brand, a few years later, with a model that had hydraulic drive instead of mechanical, but they only lasted a couple of years. Experts estimate there's only about 1,000 of the original Coots left. I've got one more, and know of 4 others a guy has that I'm going to look at this summer. There's no money to be made with them...I'll never get even my labor hours out of them at $10/hour...just enjoy making things that don't work operate again. Jim

Thanks...I'm going to take a few weeks away from Coots, and then start in on the other one I have...it's in REALLY bad shape. I also know of 4 others I'm going to look at this summer. Might end up buying them, too. I'm a glutton for punishment, I guess. Jim

Geof, I never find any nuggets. Thankfully I enjoy the hunt nonetheless.😄 Jim

Jason, here's a few pics of it slightly articulated. Note all 4 wheels are in contact with the ground. It will articulate 40* max.

Yes, Matt, they're fastened...LOL Thanks! Jim

Dave, you have no idea how happy it makes me to see your post. GGVG seems like a lifetime ago, and I've often wondered what had happened with you. I don't hunt much anymore. Occasionally, I get a guy wanting me to teach him howling, but that's about it. Prospecting has become my outdoor challenge in the last 10 or 12 years. I hope to never outgrow it. You were one of the most skilled callers I've known, and I've known more than a few. Jim

I'll get some video of that, Jason, but it's snowing like crazy today. Jim

I spent almost 400 hours in my cold shop this winter. I rebuilt a "COOT" ATV I bought in Utah last fall. When I bought it, it didn't steer. One kingpin was frozen, and the other 3 were very stiff. The engine had a stuck valve. The wheels needed new u-joints at each kingpin, and the worm gearboxes, and transmission needed seals. Wiring was shot, and the body needed prepped and painted. The wife and I decided we wanted to offroad together rather than wrestle individual 4 wheelers, and not wanting to spend big bucks on a side-by-side, and being a handy guy, this is what we ended up with. It's 4 x 4, articulated, 12hp, amphibious, and has a cargo capacity of 1,000 lbs. Top speed is 20, and in low range top end is walking speed. Will climb a 32* (70%) slope fully loaded. Should get us and our gear wherever we want to go, though slowly...LOL Jim

Thanks guys. I guess technology has more than madeup for the ultra-high frequency when it comes to VLF's. At one time that freq. advantage was the ne-plus-ultra for gold machines. it appears it no longer is. Jim

Ya know, Steve, I thought the Gold Kruzer would replace the Bug 2, being of high frequency. What happened with the Kruzer? I was interested for awhile, but it seems there's not much interest. Jim

I wouldn't sweat it, Steve. The answers do help others besides the OP's. As we go through life, we're bound to run into the occasional butthead. Irritates me, but nothing we can do about it. Jim

"Of course Gen 1 does not have a vernier GB, perhaps because the GB is not to touchy (critical) in finding the quiet GB position. Having not used a SL, I am guessing here." Actually, the Pro version of the Gen 1 (made for Australian use) has a "fine adjust" control. And, the more GB you dial in, the less sensitive it is. In effect, you are telling your detector to ignore a greater range of signals. The less GB you can use, along with having a stable machine, the better. Jim

The problem with the TDI SL, and I don't know if it exists with the other TDI models, is that the GB "range" is fairly wide. Much moreso than VLF units. I installed vernier controls on mine, so I could easily obtain a GB setting that just "barely" quiets my detector. I think it makes a difference. Jim

I have Reg's chart taped to the bottom of my SL. If I haven't used the SL for awhile, it's good to be able to refer to it. Jim

The problem can have many causes. Shape, porosity, alloys, etc. This problem is why ML's have so many adjustments, including variable timing. To find everything you may have to go over the same ground multiple times, with varied settings, but that beats leaving gold behind, though some will still not be indicated. Jim

Yes...the TDI manifests the same issue, and to a greater degree. Jim

I should probably test the DC resistance of this ML coil, and also the inductance, and see how those specs compare to a different mono coil made for the TDI. However, the Sadie is not made specifically, for the TDI, and it works great on them, so maybe it doesn't matter. Jim

Yes...it's been known for a long time that you can use ML coils on TDI's, but not the other way around. Jim

Jim, before you go that trouble, let's wait and let the snow and ice melt around here, and let me do some testing with this coil. Then that might make an interesting comparison. There must be some electrical difference between them, or why the different labels? Unless it was done just on the ones they eventually exported to the states. Maybe initially they were included in a package deal or something on a GPX 4500, or other, and had the ML label, and then they started the TDI labels for some reason. No way to know. I'll keep you updated, in any case. Jim

I don't see mine listed. This coil, is black, with a white Razorback label. The label says Razorback....Professional ML Series, and below that "5 x 10". Jim

Many thanks! I hadn't noticed it was in the chart. I'll go back and take a look. If it's close to Sadie performance, I'm going to be glad I bought it. I really like the narrow profile. Great for hunting in the rocks and brush. Jim

Karelian, I bought a Razorback 10 x 5 this past winter. Have you done any testing on that coil? I'm curious to see how it does, but my local ground is covered with "global warming" this morning. Jim

I'd be willing to bet sizeable money that Mike meant to type .5gram, and not .5 grain when he did that test result. The chance of any TDI seeing any gold as small as .5 grain at 10" is somewhere between slim and zero...LOL Jim

Interesting. I've never seen a poor test result, on any of the TDI models, that showed the Sadie being anything but near the top of the list for small gold, and one of the best at moderate depth. Have no idea what Mj is talking about. I know my experience, and testing, of the MJ 5 x 9 was disappointing. So much so that I sold it. I do use a MJ 8 x 11, however, which I have found superior to the 12" DF with my machines. Maybe MJ never tested the TDI SL with a 16v battery pack. Jim