DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working - Update - Fixed it

[N.J.THer]

Hi everyone,
I've had my DFX for quite a few years now and I absolutely love it. It has gotten lots of use and is starting to show some wear and tear. The pinpointing trigger switch has been sticking for months now but today it just stopped working. Has anyone had this problem and how did they fix it? I was thinking about sending it back to White's for a tune up and since we are getting into winter I will not miss it too much.

Has anyone dealt with White's repair services? Are they any good? Are they priced reasonably?

I'm sure the switch is an easy fix but I don't mess with any electronics.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
NJ

First of all thank you everyone for your input.

I decided to try fixing it myself so I ordered the switch from White's right before Christmas. I was away last week when it came in the mail but I sat down with it yesterday. Total time to fix was less then 5 minutes. Remove one screw then pop the clam shell case open. Remove the nut holding the switch in place. Unplug the old switch and plug the new one in. Replace the nut on new switch. Snap clam shell case shut then put screw back in. Complete.

I have absolutely no electrical background so I read a few things online before I attempted this but it could not have been any easier. The one thing I read online that I may not have thought of before doing this was to remove the battery before doing the work. I guess with the battery in if you touch the wrong thing with the screwdriver it could short out the detector.

 

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[U.K. Brian]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Quick turn round and their repair costs are not bad. I replaced a switch myself but it can't have been of the same quality as the ones Whites use as it started to fail after three years. The original Whites one had managed six or seven.

They will automatically check the rest of the detector over even with just a switch replacement so its worth sending it in.

 

[Sandman]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Brian is right about the White's service. The only one with better service is Tesoro which they fix everything for free for life. Turn around time is short this time of year.

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Thanks guys...funny thing is my switch lasted around seven years. I guess that is the life expectancy.

NJ

 

[Sandman]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Have you tried spraying the switch with an electronic cleaner? It might not be mechanical.

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Have you tried spraying the switch with an electronic cleaner? It might not be mechanical.

No, I have not...what is electronic cleaner and where can I get it?

Thanks
John

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Thanks guys...funny thing is my switch lasted around seven years. I guess that is the life expectancy.

NJ

Mine only lasted a year on my V3i, and I noticed lately it was sticking again. I decided to sell my unit and get a new one with a fresh warranty.

Normally I would tell you to send (the control box only) to Bob at Centreville Electronics in Manassas VA, but he has been ill and is not taking repairs at this time. Sending it to IL instead of Sweet Home, OR will cut a few days off the process.

. White's Midwest
Service Center

Electronic Exploration
575 West Harrison
Lombard, IL 60148
(800) 392-3223
(630) 620-0618
(630) 620-1005 FAX
[email protected]

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Thanks guys...funny thing is my switch lasted around seven years. I guess that is the life expectancy.

NJ

Mine only lasted a year on my V3i, and I noticed lately it was sticking again. I decided to sell my unit and get a new one with a fresh warranty.

Normally I would tell you to send (the control box only) to Bob at Centreville Electronics in Manassas VA, but he has been ill and is not taking repairs at this time. Sending it to IL instead of Sweet Home, OR will cut a few days off the process.

. White's Midwest
Service Center

Electronic Exploration
575 West Harrison
Lombard, IL 60148
(800) 392-3223
(630) 620-0618
(630) 620-1005 FAX
[email protected]

Thanks Neil,
I did see that Bob was not accepting any repairs until 2012 but I thought it was because of the holidays. I was not aware that he was sick. My trigger lasted around seven years but it has been sticking for a few months then last week it just stopped working. Since we have a new born in the house and it is winter time it could not have happened at a better time since my detecting was very limited anyways.

I've been thinking about getting an E-Trac or the V3i and I'm starting to lean towards the White's since that is what I know. That will not happen for a while unless a very nice gold ring with diamond setting turns up soon...lol.
Thanks again
NJ

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Thanks guys...funny thing is my switch lasted around seven years. I guess that is the life expectancy.

NJ

Mine only lasted a year on my V3i, and I noticed lately it was sticking again. I decided to sell my unit and get a new one with a fresh warranty.

Normally I would tell you to send (the control box only) to Bob at Centreville Electronics in Manassas VA, but he has been ill and is not taking repairs at this time. Sending it to IL instead of Sweet Home, OR will cut a few days off the process.

. White's Midwest
Service Center

Electronic Exploration
575 West Harrison
Lombard, IL 60148
(800) 392-3223
(630) 620-0618
(630) 620-1005 FAX
[email protected]

Thanks Neil,
I did see that Bob was not accepting any repairs until 2012 but I thought it was because of the holidays. I was not aware that he was sick. My trigger lasted around seven years but it has been sticking for a few months then last week it just stopped working. Since we have a new born in the house and it is winter time it could not have happened at a better time since my detecting was very limited anyways.

I've been thinking about getting an E-Trac or the V3i and I'm starting to lean towards the White's since that is what I know. That will not happen for a while unless a very nice gold ring with diamond setting turns up soon...lol.
Thanks again
NJ

In my experience, once it starts sticking it is only a matter of time before it snaps off. For your type of detecting I would recommend the V3i over the E-Trac, not because I use one but the V3i excells on tiny targets that the E-Trac barely detects including deep cuff buttons and small gold.

 

[Dirty Money]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Hi everyone,
I've had my DFX for quite a few years now and I absolutely love it. It has gotten lots of use and is starting to show some wear and tear. The pinpointing trigger switch has been sticking for months now but today it just stopped working. Has anyone had this problem and how did they fix it? I was thinking about sending it back to White's for a tune up and since we are getting into winter I will not miss it too much.

Has anyone dealt with White's repair services?
Dealt with Sweet Home, OR

Are they any good?
They are absolutely outstanding!

Are they priced reasonably?
I found them to be more than fair!

I'm sure the switch is an easy fix but I don't mess with any electronics.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
NJ

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

I sent an email to Bob last friday but after Neil mentioned that he was sick I sent an email to White's main service center on Monday and still no response.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

I sent an email to Bob last friday but after Neil mentioned that he was sick I sent an email to White's main service center on Monday and still no response.

You will get a quick answer if you call (541) 367-6121. They are 3 hours behind us, so 11AM until 8PM is the best time.

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

I sent an email to Bob last friday but after Neil mentioned that he was sick I sent an email to White's main service center on Monday and still no response.

You will get a quick answer if you call (541) 367-6121. They are 3 hours behind us, so 11AM until 8PM is the best time.

Thanks Neil...I've been pretty busy at work so an email worked best for me but I will give them a call tomorrow. I would like to try to get it fixed by year end if possible.

NJ

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Finnally got around to calling the service center yesterday. After speaking with them I decided to attempt the repair myself. They are mailing out the toggle switch today. According to them it has a plug attached that just needs to be unplugged and the new switch plugged in. No soldering or splicing required...I think even I can handle that. We will see what happens.

NJ

BTW I can't believe how dependent I've become on the pinpoint mode over the last 5-6 years. Since the detector still works I took it out last week during a lunch hour and I was completely thrown off my game. I could not stay focused without the trigger working so I finally gave up after 20 minutes.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Finnally got around to calling the service center yesterday. After speaking with them I decided to attempt the repair myself. They are mailing out the toggle switch today. According to them it has a plug attached that just needs to be unplugged and the new switch plugged in. No soldering or splicing required...I think even I can handle that. We will see what happens.

NJ

BTW I can't believe how dependent I've become on the pinpoint mode over the last 5-6 years. Since the detector still works I took it out last week during a lunch hour and I was completely thrown off my game. I could not stay focused without the trigger working so I finally gave up after 20 minutes.

It is even worse with a DD coil. The 950 is not too bad, at least the target is near the center.

From what I read posted by people who have done the toggle themselves it is an easy fix, but make sure you mount it correctly or the pinpoint will be forward instead of back.

 

[N.J.THer]

Re: DFX Pinpointing Trigger Not Working

Finnally got around to calling the service center yesterday. After speaking with them I decided to attempt the repair myself. They are mailing out the toggle switch today. According to them it has a plug attached that just needs to be unplugged and the new switch plugged in. No soldering or splicing required...I think even I can handle that. We will see what happens.

NJ

BTW I can't believe how dependent I've become on the pinpoint mode over the last 5-6 years. Since the detector still works I took it out last week during a lunch hour and I was completely thrown off my game. I could not stay focused without the trigger working so I finally gave up after 20 minutes.

It is even worse with a DD coil. The 950 is not too bad, at least the target is near the center.

From what I read posted by people who have done the toggle themselves it is an easy fix, but make sure you mount it correctly or the pinpoint will be forward instead of back.

Thanks...

 

[N.J.THer]

All fixed and as good as new...until I break it again.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Awesome!

 

[rjw4law]

WD 40 works pretty good

 

[N.J.THer]

WD 40 works pretty good

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't think that would have worked in this case. The trigger was not stuck...it just stopped working. I could still pull it forward or push it back into the lock position but it would not switch over to the pinpoint mode.

Thanks
NJ