Appearances can be deceiving.... here's another photo to show where I'm measuring without the plug stuck in it... On my shaft the upper arm cuff fits fine the lower part of the arm cuff there's a gap in between the shaft and the lower arm cuff... that's what caused mine to crack!

I received the new redesigned lower plastic piece yesterday but I didn't have time to post. As you can see by the photos the new piece is designed a lot stiffer with thicker crossmembers and a thicker Center Post and what you can't see is that the alignment has been changed.... the new piece I received fits the shaft tightly, the old one was loose  and fit real sloppy.... I believe he fixed the problem of breaking the equinoxes control pod inserts!

Now as to the lower arm cuff not fitting properly I have a photo included with the size of the flat spot, Steve if you could measure yours I would appreciate it?

I should know better then to buy something that was just released... I worked for an OEM for 15 years and everything new that we released would take time to work the kinks out... 

And I forgot to mention if you have one of the old style lower plastic pieces get a hold of Tony hunt and he'll ship you a new one!

On 7/30/2019 at 9:44 AM, Chase Goldman said:

Where do you get this new bottom piece (the detector “foot rest” part) for the Equinox arm rest? Is that a custom piece you can only obtain from Tony?  My stock Equinox arm rest does not properly mate up with the telenox shaft for some reason.  I gave up fooling around with it after about a half hour of frustration.

Obtained this other telescoping shaft for Equinox that comes with a built in arm rest.  Plan to assemble it this weekend.

 

I don't think he has a specially made plastic part yet.

Hey Chase, when you get that new shaft put together, let us know what you think about the fit and finish? 

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Hmmm, sorry to hear that. Yes, using an aftermarket rod is entirely at your own risk and I personally would not expect much satisfaction on any damage occurring to Minelab parts due to the use of aftermarket items. If I see a bad fit issue that may cause issues I’ll be doing something about that before I bolt things together. 

Ah well, I went ahead and ordered one anyway already, so will report back later. Mine’s coming direct from the supplier so should be latest version. $159 including shipping so not bad. At least I won’t run over it!

I'll take one step back farther, as soon as I noticed that the fit or alignment wasn't right I contacted the seller who couldn't help me so I contacted Tony hunt...  Tony's first explanation of this problem was that it was pulled from the mold wrong! He didn't tell me don't use it because it'll break your Equinox! He said he was going to send me out a couple new ones... And so the story from him keeps changing... Then it was a couple broke, and now I'm the only one having this problem! So why redesign the lower piece if it wasn't a problem?

The tele-knox shaft is not what I expected! Although made very well I'm having a couple major problems... First the lower plastic piece that bolts the control pod to the shaft doesn't line up properly, and even though I had the bolts tight there was wobble in the control pod to shaft... so when you tighten up the allen head bolts it pulls on the inserts at an angle, add the wobble and bang all the inserts bust out of the control pod! Almost enough to make a grown man cry!

Second because the shaft is not round it's flat at the bottom where the rail is... the bottom arm cuff will crack! I've been dealing with Tony hunt let's just say it's not going well! Tony is in total denial of the lower arm cuff cracking he says that's Minelabs problem! He admitted to having a couple units break that's why the redesign of the lower plastic piece.. I don't have a new one yet to check!

So to my fellow detectorists buy at your own risk! I will update if I ever received the new lower plastic piece...

I included some photos sorry the one of the lower pod with the inserts ripped out I've already repaired twice thanks to the tele-knox! 

On 7/21/2019 at 3:36 PM, mn90403 said:

Did you get a replacement as well?

 

I'm actually on my third control pod, the first flooded the second just started going into reset mode all by itself you'd be metal detecting along and bang you'd look down and it was resetting...

I wanted to also add that I did the Tony Eisenhower mod to the Minelab waterproof headphones... it made a huge difference drowning out all the background noise and now I'm happy with my headphones!! 

11 hours ago, Russell Banks said:

I am using the minelab waterproof headphones on my 800. I found them initially quiet due to the waterproof membrane so I tried changing the tone pitch. Using 2 tones I found that pitch 20 really punches through very loud, on a quiet beach I have to turn the volume down. Try changing the tone pitch, it worked for me.

I'll second that! Two tone, pitch 20 brings out the volume!

8 minutes ago, dewcon4414 said:

I dont know why anyone who has ever used the yellow would think these would be different....... they just changed the plug.   They had low volume on the CTX as well.   BUT...... id have to say they are dive ready/sealed very well.   As a water guy..... im kind of used to having to change out a shaft and phones...... so the price of this machine REALLY helped.   Bummer on the machine...... second one like this....... just wonder where the leak is....... it must be the seal used for the screen?   

 it's too bad about the yellows.... I'll ask Minelab tomorrow when I call them. I've only worn them about 7/8 hours to me they're one of the most comfortable set of headphones I've had, no pain whatsoever from my ears or head!

Here's my finds from one beach with the Equinox, in about 70 hrs! The little ladybug toe ring weighs .4 grams! And the one that has like spun gold on it rings in exactly like a penny 21 it's 585 European gold

Thanks Norm! That's the plan!

54 minutes ago, Norm S said:

Send it Thursday you will have it back next thursday. They turn it around in one day. They won't even get it until Monday afternoon. Sent mine in twice. 

12 hours ago, Jackpine said:

Sorry to hear that I'm sure ML will take care of it in their usual quick fashion.  I hope it doesn't become a regular issue (fingers crossed)

Already got an RMA... I will put it in the mail on Thursday! But what a horrible time to go down right on 4th of July weekend!

12 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

12 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

Bummer.  Hope they turn it around quickly.  Was it mounted on the stock shaft or did you transfer it to an Anderson or something like that?  It shouldn't matter but I have seen reports of water intrusion into the battery cavity area through the mounting notch hole on the stock shaft (plus the issue of water/sand collecting in the lower shaft as there is no accommodation for drainage) which shouldn't matter because the battery and internals are still sealed by double o-rings, but who knows what happens with corrosive salt water just sitting there in the cavity eating away at stuff where it can't be easily flushed without removing the control pod after each detecting session.  Seems something might deteriorate over time.

Re: the headphones, I have seen people receive several that are only putting out 45db and others that are putting out closer to 75 - 80db, so I think ML may have a QC issue with their h/P supplier.  You might want to look into that with ML and ask for an exchange as part of your warranty repair.

 

Stock shaft.  I've never even took the Pod off to look at it...

I hope your right on the head phones!

My Equinox has been under the water at least 40 hours before this happened! The first thing that I noticed was interference, like the cell phone being too close... then she just went dead!!

Bummer!

And for anyone thinking about getting the Minelab waterproof headphones? Put on your headphones, turn the volume on your machine down to somewhere around 14 and see if you'd like to hunt like that? That's how low the sound is on the Minelab waterproof headphones!

Surely the waterproof headphones were an afterthought for Minelab because I don't think you could hear them if you were under water breathing through a hookah or air tanks!

I'm not sure but maybe they can come up with a download that will help with the volume! 

I'm just waiting for Minelab to get back to me so I can send it in.....

Other than all the little and now an end of days problem........  I love this machine! I have over an ounce of gold jewelry that I have pulled off one beach in about 70 hrs of detecting! 

And a quick search of the internet they sell for 500.00

I made a waterproof connector using the cover plug for the WM - 8 module... using my Dremel I carefully cut a hole in the top and had to slightly widen the two ribs that come down inside the plug... becareful not to mar the edge of the plug where it seats against the O-ring ( red arrow) clean it all up with acetone or denatured alcohol... then use 3M 4000 sealant it's good for plastic! You can find it in any Marine store! I first screwed the plug in to the head of the machine then I coated the plastic of the 1/8 in headphone jack and inserted that through the hole I made making sure it plugs all the way into the machine if you're not sure turn it on and check! I then added the glob to the end to make sure it's sealed! Remember everybody you're at your own risk when you make anything for your machine! I have about ten hours on it! 

Just another way of discriminating junk before you dig it!

6 hours ago, cobill said:

ML needs to provide an update on their waterproof headphones.

I will second that! 

9 hours ago, Morris said:

 

Well there you go! $1370.00! I actually thought it would go up to around 1,500

The Equinox will go down in metal detecting history as the game changer!

This is what I've been waiting to see! How much is a general public willing to pay for an equinox 800?

Nice adapter you made! But I'd like Minelab to release the waterproof headphones, I feel like I'm only doing 60% of the beach without them!

After reading all the forums I told my friends that received their Equinox to do a factory reset right out of the box and I did the same thing with mine and I have not had any problems so far....

2 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

I'm sure you stood up and announced to the girls,  "Hey mind if I snap a pic?" rather than just sitting there in your beach chair pretending to be reading something on your phone.

Don't portray on to other something you would do! I happen to take a picture every time I walk up to the beach when I have my phone on me and by the way I was metal detecting not sitting in my lawn chair....

Good eyes!