Minelab X-Terra 70 Lower shaft issue

Evening all,

I purchased a second-hand x-terra 70 in very good nick. The couple I purchased it off got it from Miners Den in Sydney in Sep 2008.
Looks brand new. Couple stated that they'd only used it < 10 times. It's condition supports that statement.

Re-assembed and used the unit today for the 1st time. Electronics working 100%.
I noticed (to my disappointed ) that the black yoke on the lower shaft was loose
( and would spin around on the shaft) and could also come off the shaft.
Minelab replacement item: http://www.minelab.com/aus/products/consumer/accessories/shafts/lower-shaft-black-

Inspection of the yoke and shaft shows that its just wedged on. ie: no bolt/grove to keep the yoke on. It can easy spin.
Easy to guess that by not putting the x-terra down on its stand properly, caused the x-terra to shift/move, and the coil to spin on the shaft as the x-terra fell over and rolled flat on the ground.

I know a replacement shaft can be purchased for $44. However my belief is that I could easy end up with another spinning yoke by one day not placing the x-terra down on its stand correctly.
To me, this is a design fault in the lower shaft. ie: yoke should be bolted on or some tounge/grove mechanism used to stop yoke spinning.

At this stage, I'm considering drilling and using a nylon bolt to hold the yoke still. I don't think glue is an option

Q: Is this a common issue with the x-terra shafts?

thanks -b.

Brian think you might have to go with a combination of superglue and the nylon bolt idea if the whole yoke is spinning.

G'day brianincnb & welcome to the forum

I have never had that come loose from the lower shaft, (GP & GPX detectors) but the shafts are basicly the same. I have however been told that it can happenby someone that experience your same problem.

I think they just glued it back in with hot glue gun glue etc.. There are plenty of glue types to try, even try "Sikaflex" Sikaflex 265 should do the trick.

cheers dave

G'day brianincnb had the same problem with a gp stem... Repaired with super glue make sure it is lined up properly when putting together... Hope this helps...

Cheers.

Mike.

hi,

thanks for the suggestions.

it is annoying when your detecting and your coil flings off!

I ended up ordering some 6mm nylon bolts off ebay and drilled the yoke today.
I realized that I should of drilled the yoke hole side ways, but that can be next time.
I place a drop of superglue on the nylon nut to lock it on.

I should of drilled through the e in "MineLab":


The head of the bolt now keeps the shaft up off the coil:




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