Metal Detecting

Well my racer is well and truely out off action now

The top half of the stem is made of one piece of tube and where it passes through the LCD control box just after the s bend it has sheered off.

It is literally in the dead centre of the control box and I can see the weakness where it has happened. For whatever reason there is a 8mm hole drilled through the stem and this is where it has broken away, the sideways swinging back and forth has caused pressure where the hole is drilled just after the bend.

Unfortunately there are a lot of delicate wires running round that part and I can that it has frayed at least 2.

Gutted is not the word

Doesn't sound very good at all mate, I feel for you. Best to email Cavit at Makro and see if they will send you a replacement as it doesn't sound as though it is fit for purpose.

Already done it with a video showing the issue. Was looking forward to a good dig session tomorrow but that's gone out the window. It's a great detector but I am losing real confidence in it after already going through two coil bolts and also the stem lock and now this !

Andy

It does sound as though there are a few problems coming to light with the Racer. Hopefully they will get it sorted asap and you can get out again.

andyb wrote:Well my racer is well and truely out off action now

The top half of the stem is made of one piece of tube and where it passes through the LCD control box just after the s bend it has sheered off.

It is literally in the dead centre of the control box and I can see the weakness where it has happened. For whatever reason there is a 8mm hole drilled through the stem and this is where it has broken away, the sideways swinging back and forth has caused pressure where the hole is drilled just after the bend.

Unfortunately there are a lot of delicate wires running round that part and I can that it has frayed at least 2.

Gutted is not the word

Hi
Sorry to hear about another problem with the racer.
Any chance of picture so other people can check there detector.
because if this is a manufacture or design problem makro should do a recall its just not good enough.
regards
paul

Gutted for you Andy, just done a Google search and cant find anything so hopefully just an isolated case.

It's a shame it seems plagued by problems. I was all set to get one but was put off by the issues. Performance wise it seems brilliant, it needs new stronger bodywork! Hope you get it sorted quickly.

Teething problems, had similar issues with the Deus, bought the missus one in 2010 and said to leisure promotions that the arm rest was to weak. They said it was okay but proved right when the arm rest fell apart. Deus sent an new one and reinforced their new arm rest. I am sure that Makro too will get the racer right in the end and we are acting as field tester for these companies so a few hiccups along the way for a good machine is worth the hassle.

Sorry to hear that Andy. I must be one of the lucky ones...bought mine when they first came out from the MDF auction site and not had any issue at all! Probably only got about 60 hrs of detecting in though with this machine...keep flitting between the Nokta Fors Core and the Racer.

Hope you get your problem sorted...if it's a design weakness then you would like to think the Makro customer service dept will assist you in the best way they can!

Keep us posted on how you fare.

This problem has been seen on Tek T2's occasionally. There's holes drilled through for two bolts that hold the handgrip to the stem, and these create a weak point. Swinging a big heavy coil repeatedly can eventually fatigue the metal. There will also be a hole for the cables to pass through (linking battery box and display/control box), I've not seen that hole, but it's probably 5mm plus diameter.

seems a very clear case of not fit for purpose. As your contract is with the retailer I would package the whole thing up and send it back to them.

should be an easy fix
and if its just past the bend it is were the tube stretches the most when bending

Just realised the reason for the large drill hole! It's where the wires come out the stem on its travel from the battery compartment to the display unit. Defiantly a design fault. It should have been a smaller hole with a gromet in it to stop the wires chaffing, definalty should not have been a 8mm hole in a 15 or so stem!

I would like to check mine for signs of stress but I take it the break is under the foam. Any pics?

No it's not under the foam buddy it dead centre of the LCD control unit it where the wires go up into the unit from the stem. Will get some photos tomorrow for you mate