Vallon VMH3CS Mine Detector

[Ferric Toes]

I've tighten the screws that hold the male plug on the upper shaft. The wobble has lessen, but the cracklings are still there. In fact they are not cracklings, but like a weak signal when the coil change direction when searching. Any one has a clue about it ? The coil seems OK, as the machine would give an error message if faulty.

Also, I'm looking for a manual to disassemble the Vallon. If someone could provide a link...

Try some contact cleaner/lubricant on the male pins and mating sockets. These detectors have mainly been used in very dusty environments and it penetrated everywhere. Another problem I found with some coils is that if you flex them, they give a weak signal. This seems to be due to the shielding material (Scotch 24) and the weave tightening and slacking off slightly as the coil is stressed. Not much can be done about it except get another coil.

As for the wobble, I have seen some detectors where the rear of the knurled coupler has been worn down internally by the dust with repeated use. This prevents it being fully tightened.

Eric.

[tifred]

Nice work MYNSTMASTER!
can you give us the reference of the coaxial cable and the connector?

[Myntmaster]

Thanks.
Everything is for sale on EBAY.
The cable is very soft, but very strong. PVC insulation + neoprene high wear resistance.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Damme-X...72.m2749.l2649

This one is better ..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Van-Damme-P...p1Hl6_hOnarLtg
-------------

I used these connectors on my Whites surfmaster and Garrett Infinium LS.
Garrett Infinium LS installed these connectors instead of the original ones.
Tested at a depth of 10 meters, there were no leaks.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IP68-Waterp...72.m2749.l2649
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IP68-Waterp...72.m2749.l2649

[brinbrin]

Crickey ! Armrest changed ! Yes !

[brinbrin]

Thanks for your answer. Is there a way to disassemble the male and female plug ? I've removed the three screws, but nothing move. I've used electronics contact cleaning for both with no results. When I bend the shaft where upper and lower shafts are attached, I can hear noise, so I guess there's a problem with the plug : Either bad contact (sand/dust worn contacts) or soldering/corrosion issue.

[tifred]

Great ! thanks for the info Myntmaster

[JohnnyRox]

Hello Gents, new guy here. I started detecting a year ago so I'm still quite new at this.

I've read through many pages and I'm fascinated. I currently own an Equinox 800 and I predominantly hunt the beaches of Long Island NY. I haven't read through the entire thread, so I don't know if my question has already been answered. How's the Vallon's depth on the beach compared to the Equinox. Reason I ask is because I'm interested in a buying a PI machine that can go deeper than my current detector but I'm on a budget and the Vallon would be great, if it can go deeper than my Equinox.

Thank you!

[F117]

The Vallon is a Great machine on the beach. It picks up Everything. And this is also its weakness as a hobby detector.
I don't have an Equinox, but the Vallon goes way deeper than my XP GoldMaxxPower eg.
When you are looking for a beach detector with great depth, the VMH3CS is the machine for you.
However, it is a PI detector without discrimination. You will dig a Lot of trash ! It was designed to detect a small firing pin of an anti-personnel mine.
This, combined with great depth may lead to magnificent finds of long buried items, but also to pain in the back after having dug a hundred holes with rusty nails, cans, ... and other trash.
I would never use the Vallon on farmland, but on the wet beach, this is definitely a winner and for me personally, this is the only machine I use on the beach.

[Ferric Toes]

Thanks for your answer. Is there a way to disassemble the male and female plug ? I've removed the three screws, but nothing move. I've used electronics contact cleaning for both with no results. When I bend the shaft where upper and lower shafts are attached, I can hear noise, so I guess there's a problem with the plug : Either bad contact (sand/dust worn contacts) or soldering/corrosion issue.

You were lucky to be able to remove the three screws as they are secured with a thread locking compound. However, that is as far as you will get as the body is also cemented to the telescopic shaft. Even if it wasn't the screws go into threaded metal inserts that are inserted from the inside of the shaft. You are dealing with a piece of military grade hardware which is over-engineered when viewed from the DIY and hobby viewpoint.

Does the telescopic shaft lock up solidly with the bigger locking collar at the body end? Sometimes this is worn, giving slack at that point. Check that the three screws holding the long body tube are tight and that the insert that locks into the groove adjacent to the hex screw on the underside of the locking collar is in place. Sometimes it has been broken and fallen out. Its purpose is to prevent the top tube rotating in the body box. Lastly, check that there is an O ring in place under the smaller collar and round the housing part of the seven female pins. If this is missing, it will cause some slack and also the connector when screwed to the coil shaft will not be water sealed.

Eric.

[Ferric Toes]

The Vallon is a Great machine on the beach. It picks up Everything. And this is also its weakness as a hobby detector.
I don't have an Equinox, but the Vallon goes way deeper than my XP GoldMaxxPower eg.
When you are looking for a beach detector with great depth, the VMH3CS is the machine for you.
However, it is a PI detector without discrimination. You will dig a Lot of trash ! It was designed to detect a small firing pin of an anti-personnel mine.
This, combined with great depth may lead to magnificent finds of long buried items, but also to pain in the back after having dug a hundred holes with rusty nails, cans, ... and other trash.
I would never use the Vallon on farmland, but on the wet beach, this is definitely a winner and for me personally, this is the only machine I use on the beach.

I have found that when searching in fields or farmland, it is better to use the mineral mode. As well as eliminating any ground signal it appears to detect considerably less iron without losing detection range on non-ferrous items. More testing needs to be done and it remains to be seen if the effect is the same on a beach.

Eric.

[F117]

More testing needs to be done and it remains to be seen if the effect is the same on a beach.

Thanks for the tip, Eric ! I will try mineral mode the next time on the beach.

- Bernard

[Rocketdemon]

"The Vallon is a Great machine on the beach. It picks up Everything. And this is also its weakness as a hobby detector.
I don't have an Equinox, but the Vallon goes way deeper than my XP GoldMaxxPower eg.
When you are looking for a beach detector with great depth, the VMH3CS is the machine for you.
However, it is a PI detector without discrimination. You will dig a Lot of trash ! It was designed to detect a small firing pin of an anti-personnel mine.
This, combined with great depth may lead to magnificent finds of long buried items, but also to pain in the back after having dug a hundred holes with rusty nails, cans, ... and other trash.
I would never use the Vallon on farmland, but on the wet beach, this is definitely a winner and for me personally, this is the only machine I use on the beach".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Works for me to!

[JohnnyRox]

What kind of depth do you get?

[brinbrin]

Great and deep machine. A little heavy, and you may not swing it for 4 hours, but it will detect a paper staple at two inches if you have good hearing. But no way it can be used on dry sand, where there is a lot of trash. Wet sans at low tide is better (and that's where rings are lost when swimming at high tide).

[brinbrin]

You were lucky to be able to remove the three screws as they are secured with a thread locking compound. However, that is as far as you will get as the body is also cemented to the telescopic shaft. Even if it wasn't the screws go into threaded metal inserts that are inserted from the inside of the shaft. You are dealing with a piece of military grade hardware which is over-engineered when viewed from the DIY and hobby viewpoint.

Does the telescopic shaft lock up solidly with the bigger locking collar at the body end? Sometimes this is worn, giving slack at that point. Check that the three screws holding the long body tube are tight and that the insert that locks into the groove adjacent to the hex screw on the underside of the locking collar is in place. Sometimes it has been broken and fallen out. Its purpose is to prevent the top tube rotating in the body box. Lastly, check that there is an O ring in place under the smaller collar and round the housing part of the seven female pins. If this is missing, it will cause some slack and also the connector when screwed to the coil shaft will not be water sealed.

Eric.

Thanks for your replies.

The three screws were lose (?) but yes, I guess I will not go further - This parts are not to be disassembled. I'll put the screws back on with a drop of silicon.

The O-ring between the telescopic shaft and the body is cracked, still in one part, but cracked. Can I replace it by another ring ? I guess any O-ring could do, right ?

And The housing of the female part of the plug definitely lacks its O-ring since I bought it :-(. Here again, plumbing O-ring would do or should I buy the genuine part from Vallon ?

Best regards,

MC