Whites MXT Pro - Need Advice, Please

[Cyndee]

My father bought a Whites MXT Pro in 2010 for gold hunting. He used it a few times and then it set, for a longtime. He passed away recently. I got the detector out of the closet to hopefully use to find jewelry and relics. Unfortunately, a couple batteries were corroded, which I cleaned up. However, when my husband went to clean up the piece inside the box, outside the battery box broke off. Sorry, I don’t know all the proper terms. My question is, should I invest in a new box, if one can be had, or sell it and get something newer? There is an elliptical DD coil as well. Is there a good fix for this issue? Many thanks for your assistance.

[Steve Herschbach]

17 hours ago, Cyndee said:

My father bought a Whites MXT Pro in 2010 for gold hunting. He used it a few times and then it set, for a longtime. He passed away recently. I got the detector out of the closet to hopefully use to find jewelry and relics. Unfortunately, a couple batteries were corroded, which I cleaned up. However, when my husband went to clean up the piece inside the box, outside the battery box broke off. Sorry, I don’t know all the proper terms. My question is, should I invest in a new box, if one can be had, or sell it and get something newer? There is an elliptical DD coil as well. Is there a good fix for this issue? Many thanks for your assistance.

The batteries are contained in a removeable battery holder, eight AA cells, alkaline or rechargeable. Battery leakage is usually contained inside the battery itself, which can easily be rinsed up and maybe cleaned with a toothbrush. I am not sure what actually broke however. If it was one of the tabs inside of the battery holder, they are available as replacement parts for about $13.00. You can just get another battery holder for about $20. Used MXT Pros have been selling for $300 - $600 so certainly worth it.

Battery Holder

Clip Repair Kit

White's AA Battery Holder for many models, part#802-7150

 

Clip Repair Kit for Battery Holder pictured above

[Cyndee]

It is what touches the two contact points on the end of the battery box. That’s what’s broke.
I got the box clean inside and the two contact points (little squares) outside. I really appreciate your help. I want to keep it and use it since it was my Dad's and will probably work fine for me.

[Cyndee]

It’s the part that makes contact with the battery box itself.

[Steve Herschbach]

Ok so it’s the contact clip inside the battery compartment?

 

Thats more of a bummer. The clips are harder to obtain and might be soldered to the circuit board. Not sure about that @Geotech can hopefully help. It also involves opening the box up and removing the board. Not too hard but it purely depends on you or somebody you know being willing to tackle it. Here is the only video I could find in a quick search, there may be better ones. I’ve opened up a few myself, I’m not a tech, but they were made to be easy to service.

Be patient, may get more tips but it might take a day or two.

Clips on eBay (out of stock as I post) https://www.ebay.com/itm/256087291753

 

[Geotech]

The battery contacts are soldered to the PCB (and also have screws) but are not hard to replace. Either of the Centerville repair facilities should have them in stock (Search). You can either order the contacts and replace them yourself if you know how to solder, or send the control box in for repair. Replace both even if only one is broken. There used to be an $80 minimum charge, not sure if that is still the case but this should be close to the minimum.

[Cyndee]

Perfect Geotech. That’s what I needed to know! Many thanks for all the help.

[Steve Herschbach]

Thanks Carl. Good to hear Centerville still an option, I’ve not kept up. I changed my parts links to point at them.

https://centrevilleelectronics.net

[mntnflyr4fun]

I live in lebanon or. and centerville has a rep. here, Todd who was the repair guy at Whites for all the time I was doing stuff with them is here. I have bought some stuff from him and emailed him last fall and he is still doing business as the West coast rep. 

Good guy, very qualified.