Minelab Excalibur II Cord Rot?

[GotAU?]

I have a Manticore and recently purchased waterproof headphones for it, as I’m considering doing some snorkeling detecting on a beach vacation we are planning later this year.  But I was also wondering if Minelab has ever updated the cords on their newer production years for Excalibur II’s?  There’s quite a few very low cost used ones for sale, and I’m noticing they all, if not most, have coil and headphone cord rot where you can see the bare wires inside them, which can lead to internal flooding inside the coils and the detector case. I’m just wondering if there was ever a production year manufacturing change for updated cords that aren’t defective and don’t do that, or if it’s just from lack of care by owners with those units?  One look at the low cost ones on eBay and you’ll see what I’m talking about, plus there’s quite a few threads on the web where people are discussing this issue and Joe Beachnut, a member here, has a personal post online about how to fix it, but it’s not an easy one.

[Tony]

I think a lack of preventative maintenance is the main culprit. My Excalibur II looks like new and gets a basic freshwater rinse at the beach showers. Back home the whole unit gets submerged in a 6 foot long plastic tub full of freshwater.......I take apart the whole unit and everything is soaked for a good half hour......knobs are turned, stems released, all cables are massaged underwater, headphones submerged.....you get the idea. And afterwards, 303 Marine Protectant is applied to all cables and even the Excal body. I believe the main culprit is allowing salt residue to dry on the cables and this sucks the oil from the coils and headphone cables....and then the rot sets in....literally. Excaliburs are expensive and I am happy to not give Minelab any more of my money through being lazy with lack of care. And it should go without saying not to leave the unit anywhere but in your home. Sorry I have digressed somewhat.....but to your question and I am unsure if the cable composition has changed. I feel the earlier light grey cables were more resilient to salt and sun than the later more "rubbery" style of cable.

I have 3 spare 8" Minelab Tornado coils......interestingly these were bought as new "old stock" coils still in their plastic bags but all three had their cables starting to perish so who knows what damaged these.......they simply dried out and some sort of silicone grease or 303 would have prevented this damage if applied earlier in their lives.

*** I think it's important that the cables aren't set in position for years and years... they need moving, manipulating and lubing to possibly prevent this sort of drying out ***

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

Unfortunately still the same.. 

 

All that Tony said is 100%, they require attention as soon as you purchase and constantly forever care. Once they set for a period of time or turn that chalky color the deterioration has started. And like Tony said, when they are wrapped around the shaft for a bit of time and you try change them to another shaft, could be issues. As much as the excals cost Minelab should include a bottle of 303 Aerospace spray with each new machine with directions. But I guess that would be admitting fault.

 

 

[GotAU?]

@Tony, @Joe Beechnut OBN

Thank you for your input! It makes sense that there’s an issue due to owner negligence, but it sounds like Tony’s 3 bagged coils never saw salt water and did the same. I wonder how many Equinoxes, CTX’s, GPX2300’s and now Manticores have the same issue after time if they’ve seen ocean water. 

I used to do marine fisheries work on salmon, and we had different types of instruments like flow meters, O2, and temperature sensors that we’d hang overboard when trawling. I worked with a bunch of slobs, and instead of putting the sensors back in their cases, these often saw the worse treatment like being stored in metal deck boxes on the boats,  where musty and often wet life jackets were also stored all year, including summers in 100+ heat, and then being used almost everyday for 4-months per year by numerous people. Sometimes they were also stored in their black Pelican cases on deck, and were never babied with lotions or bathed in fresh water and their cables held up over the 10-years or so that they used them. I guess something really may be up with that coil insulation on some of the Excaliburs, and what you guys are pointing out is good advice though for all of us, and I should treat my manticore the same way after going to the beach.

Id still like to get an Excalibur sometime- as I would like to try snorkeling with it at some of the popular beaches and coves here beyond the reach and depths most beach detectorists go. I’ll keep looking at options and will take your advice. Thanks, I really appreciate it!

-Anthony

[Joe D.]

   Thanks GotAU? for posting, and to the experienced responders too! I figure like most stuff exposed to the elements, they generally need more than just a wash, on occasion! Most things we use are petroleum based, and definitely degrade; even indoors, albeit slower! I just ordered some 303 marine protectant from Amazon! I have been doing my detectors with spray wax after every couple of beach runs, but i see i should be paying closer attention to my coil cables! Several of which, i have protected with abrasion covers, but they are easily removable for occasional cleaning!🍀👍👍

[okara gold]

57 minutes ago, GotAU? said:

@Tony, @Joe Beechnut OBN

Thank you for your input! It makes sense that there’s an issue due to owner negligence, but it sounds like Tony’s 3 bagged coils never saw salt water and did the same. I wonder how many Equinoxes, CTX’s, GPX2300’s and now Manticores have the same issue after time if they’ve seen ocean water. 

 

I never had a coil cable problem with 2 different Excals, an Equinox, or Manticore, but had 3 coil cable failures with my Garrett ATX. All 3 happened within the first year of use. Upon receiving the unit back from Garrett for the third time, I opened the housing where the cable connected to the body and gently twisted it several times. The outer cable coating broke apart in my fingers.

This happened right out of the box. I understand since then, (2018) Garrett has fixed this problem.

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

Never seen any issues with other water machines (Whites, Garrett and Fisher) I have owned over the years and I abused them.....specially my excaliburs, never rinsed any of them off, Early on I did spray them with Mcnett Silicon Spray later Trident divers spray, then I went to 303.  No doubt they use poor quality cables on the excaliburs. Over the years 2013 to 2016 I bet I replaced over one hundred BBS machine coil cables, Sovereign/Excalibur..I no longer do it other then for friends................ but the Repair Center in Alum Bank Pa does them if anyone has a issue. Just ask for Keith..

https://www.detectorrepair.com/

[GotAU?]

Joe- appreciate the info- a lot! I am impressed with the quality of your repairs shown in your video on Facebook. It was nice of you to share that information there.  I’ve done some cable connector repairs also, albeit not like yours, on some of those sensors I posted about and also making various custom cables for video, antennas and audio.  Again, not as complex as what you’re doing, as your use of epoxy on the connectors was superb.

And for those wanting to fix there own cable- could work with other detectors as well…

https://www.facebook.com/groups/455025694699643/permalink/2978906422311545/?mibextid=wwXIfr
 

Thanks for posting that, Joe!

[Tony]

Cable care is just part of my maintenance routine......they shouldn't need this much attention but they do.

Cable degradation is simply oxidation......the "chalkiness" that Joe describes is the beginning of the damage and then the rubber becomes more like a plastic....cracks and tears begin.

I plan to use "PUR" cables when the time comes.....this type of rubber exhibits the best protection from the environment and are actually designed for continuous bending and movement (not that that is essential for a coil cable). Very good UV and saltwater resilience as well.

Treat your coil cables like your wife or girlfriend and all will be well (usually 🥰)