What would you do?

[Mike Leary]

Russ and I are to the point of not trusting our 521 locator. I can't even remember how long we've had it, but its gotta be at least fifteen years. Can those be re-built, or is there something on the market that we don't know about that will do a better job?

[DanaMac]

Don't be a piker. S*** can it and buy a brand new one. Only pikers would dink around with trying to get it fixed.

Now who does that sound like? :)

[Mike Leary]

Don't be a piker. S*** can it and buy a brand new one. Only pikers would dink around with trying to get it fixed.

Now who does that sound like? :)

:::::sulks into a corner, has a good cry::::::

[Wet_Boots]

Why don't you have a backup?

[Mike Leary]

Because we're cheapskate piker lowlifes.

[DanaMac]

Because we're cheapskate piker lowlifes.

The first step is admitting it. Second step is taking a drink :drinkup:

[Mike Leary]

Russ has not much cash flow this time of year; I want his money before a locator.

[DanaMac]

I can't really help you, but I'm just wondering what it is or isn't doing that you don't trust it?

[Mike Leary]

The tone volume seems to have dropped off, even though we've replaced the batteries.

[Wet_Boots]

As long as there is volume, you have functionality. These things are too straightforward to go weird.

[Wet_Boots]

The tone volume seems to have dropped off, even though we've replaced the batteries.Clean out the earwax.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

send it in. Consider a used Ebay backup. I have one I may sell but I'm not ready to part with my 521 yet. Might use it in teaching newbies.

[Wet_Boots]

Consider a unit with an A-frame, if you're going shopping.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

A pulser? Fault finder? If you need a 521 you need a 521.

[Mike Leary]

Clean out the earwax.

That's the first thing I thought about. But Russ has the same poor results, and he's got ears that are 24 years younger than mine.

[Wet_Boots]

There are A-frame attachments for conventional locaters, too, from what I am told.

[AI Inc]

Russ and I are to the point of not trusting our 521 locator. I can't even remember how long we've had it, but its gotta be at least fifteen years. Can those be re-built, or is there something on the market that we don't know about that will do a better job?

I had 2 of them rebuilt either last yr or the yr before. $125 each. If I was you I would buy a new one and also have that 1 rebuilt.

[DanaMac]

I have two 521s. They've been used twice in 5 years or so.

[Wet_Boots]

Just buy six cases of beer and keep using the old one :drinkup:

[1idejim]

[QUOTE=Mike Leary;3384810]Russ and I are to the point of not trusting our 521 locator. I can't even remember how long we've had it, but its gotta be at least fifteen years. Can those be re-built, or is there something on the market that we don't know about that will do a better job?[/QUOTE}

Mike, if you and Russ are in a bind you can borrow my Pro-tech 600. Send me mailing instructions.

Jim

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

There are A-frame attachments for conventional locaters, too, from what I am told.

Who told you? Are you going senile? and provide a link for this 521 a-frame. I'm really thinking you are confusing a pulser with a locator.

[Wet_Boots]

Who says a 521 is all there is in the world of locators? Please. :nono:

[1idejim]

[QUOTE=Mike Leary;3384810]Russ and I are to the point of not trusting our 521 locator. I can't even remember how long we've had it, but its gotta be at least fifteen years. Can those be re-built, or is there something on the market that we don't know about that will do a better job?[/QUOTE}

Mike, if you and Russ are in a bind you can borrow my Pro-tech 600. Send me mailing instructions.

Jim

PM me mailing instructions. This is being posted by a friend over the phone.:laugh:

Jim

[Wet_Boots]

Expect a dead whole salmon in your mailbox....

[txgrassguy]

521's can be rebuilt - mine has at least twice.
The first time because there was an electrical problem.
The second time because my ex-wife's head was harder than I thought.
And I still can't find that damned battery box cover either.

[DanaMac]

521's can be rebuilt - mine has at least twice.
The first time because there was an electrical problem.
The second time because my ex-wife's head was harder than I thought.
And I still can't find that damned battery box cover either.

I love it. :laugh: You don't post too much here, but every time you do, there is a crack about the ex-wife. I would love to have some drinks and hear the stories.

[bcg]

I have two 521s. They've been used twice in 5 years or so.

I've used mine twice in the last week. You should come spend a summer in Tx with those 521's.

[DanaMac]

I've used mine twice in the last week. You should come spend a summer in Tx with those 521's.

No that's all right. I'll take the manifold right near the house where the copper comes out, but thanks for the offer. :waving:

[AI Inc]

I use mine a lot for add ons and rebuilds.

[bcg]

No that's all right. I'll take the manifold right near the house where the copper comes out, but thanks for the offer. :waving:

Copper? I've had to sweat one pipe in 3 years.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Who says a 521 is all there is in the world of locators? Please. :nono:

enlighten me.

[DanaMac]

Copper? I've had to sweat one pipe in 3 years.

I might sweat 3 copper freeze breaks before 10:00 AM during the spring.

The way 95% of the homes are set up here:

Copper service line comes in from underneath the basement concrete slab
Water meter in basement (or crawlspace)
Copper is teed after the meter with a ball valve and drain installed
Copper line feeds between floor joists and out the exterior wall
PVB or RP installed just after the copper exists the wall
Copper (or PVC by some hacks) into the ground and a manifold with5'-10' of the house
Copper is usually transitioned to PVC right before it goes into the ground

[mitchgo]

When I took the 521 reciever apart last month I was amazed with the simple circuitry inside. If something electrically was bad inside it would still take a long time to diagnose and probably isn't worth any time to repair it.

The transmitter ( I didn't take apart) would be a much easier thing to repair electrically.
My boss just picked up a utility locator, they are pricey but man is it nice and easy to use.

[Wet_Boots]

If anyone out there has an oscilloscope, just take a look at the output of the transmitter of your locator, and see how simple the thing is.

[bcg]

I might sweat 3 copper freeze breaks before 10:00 AM during the spring.

The way 95% of the homes are set up here:

Copper service line comes in from underneath the basement concrete slab
Water meter in basement (or crawlspace)
Copper is teed after the meter with a ball valve and drain installed
Copper line feeds between floor joists and out the exterior wall
PVB or RP installed just after the copper exists the wall
Copper (or PVC by some hacks) into the ground and a manifold with5'-10' of the house
Copper is usually transitioned to PVC right before it goes into the ground


Sometimes (about 25% of the time) we have copper service lines for commercial stuff and occasionally on residential that is on a 2" meter. IN the City, we're required to connect like to like up to the BPV but after that, it's all PVC. The only copper I've had to deal with was on a very small apartment complex (8 units) where I put in a single zone drip system. The service line to the units there was 3/4" copper so I had to go copper to the PVB but that's been it. Everything here is PVC but there's no frost line here. Even our "killer freeze" a couple of weeks ago only got cold enough to break the plastic guts in teh Febco PVB's. I had 1 PVC fitting break and that was on a section about 9" long between the brass PVB and a braass fitting with a hose-bib in it. I think if that had been PVC from the PVB to the ground, it would have been fine.

I don't really mind sweating pipe but, it's nice to not have to stock all the copper fittings in addtion to PVC from 1/2" through 2", plus drip line, funny pipe, etc. I'd really have a hard time finding room for copper fittings in the van honestly.

Mike - just buy a new 521. Everybody should have a spare.

[1idejim]

Expect a dead whole salmon in your mailbox....

thought you had me didn't ya boots, they can have either or both

russ, try the headphones they're the weak link

say the word guys, the locator will be in the mail if you need it

jim

[1idejim]

My boss just picked up a utility locator, they are pricey but man is it nice and easy to use.

what you guys get, mitch?

don't get too cocky about the locators being easy to run, those words will come back to bite sometime. i've got 10yrs running various locators and still call a full time locator for advice from time to time. have fun :)

[HokieAg07]

We have four 521's and one Pulser and we have sent a few back to get "tuned up" and they come back way more sensitive. That being said Id just send it in, 15 years is a long time, Im suprised it hasnt had to be tuned up before now.

[mitchgo]

what you guys get, mitch?

don't get too cocky about the locators being easy to run, those words will come back to bite sometime. i've got 10yrs running various locators and still call a full time locator for advice from time to time. have fun :)

Yeah I hear yah , I hate when I start tracing ghost signals.
Um I'm not to sure on what brand and model he got, I will have to look at it again. It's pretty fancy.

It looks like this , I found this online. ( metrotech 9860 dlxt) but it has a few more gadgets. Like the leak detector. I could play around with it all day.

[1idejim]

Yeah I hear yah , I hate when I start tracing ghost signals.
Um I'm not to sure on what brand and model he got, I will have to look at it again. It's pretty fancy.

It looks like this , I found this online. ( metrotech 9860 dlxt) but it has a few more gadgets. Like the leak detector. I could play around with it all day.

the metrotech and the rycom are similar in abilities, i think you'll like it a lot.

i'd have the rycom if it weren't that i got "ol yeller" cheap and it has the A frame for earth faults, which i need to brush up on btw.

mitch, you can carry test sets in your box to keep your ear tuned up, in the 521 and the pro-tech i carry a station master and a solenoid with aligator clips attached so that i can tune up before i locate, i helps more than you would think.

i would really like to do nothing but locate, troubleshoot, and leak detection but i don't think that's in the cards :)

[Wet_Boots]

some old yellers are on da Bay right now, including the A-frames

[Mike Leary]

i carry a station master and a solenoid with aligator clips attached so that i can tune up before i locate, i helps more than you would think.

Good idea, thanks. :clapping:

[txgrassguy]

I love it. :laugh: You don't post too much here, but every time you do, there is a crack about the ex-wife. I would love to have some drinks and hear the stories.

Dana, it's been almost four years since all of this crap started and I am still drinking free on these recounts. You know where a guy in a bar starts in on his wife or ex then someone says I know a guy, etc.?
The only problem is all of mine are true and I have the police reports to prove 'em.
Sorry to hijack the thread.

[Rotor_Tool]

Not sure what a new 521 runs, but a vendor informed me that the lead product manager from Progressive landed at Armada Technologies. You can pick up their version of the 521 (Pro700) for $500.00 plus shipping.

http://www.armadatech.com/prod.php

[Mike Leary]

Thanks for the link, RT. That looks like cool stuff.

[bcg]

I've bought some of the Armada stuff, it feels kind of cheap, like the plastic used in children's toys. Progressive's stuff is really put together better and I think I only paid like $700/ea for my 521 locators.

[Kiril]

Don't be a piker. S*** can it and buy a brand new one. Only pikers would dink around with trying to get it fixed.

Now who does that sound like? :)

You forgot fool .... Only a fool piker would dink around with a 15 year old POS. :laugh:

[Mike Leary]

You forgot fool .... Only a fool piker would dink around with a 15 year old POS. :laugh:

Always good to hear from the redundant peanut gallery.

[Kiril]

Always good to hear from the redundant peanut gallery.

Need to be Leary of the daily dig. :laugh::waving:

[txgrassguy]

The original Progressive 521's are built quite well and are worth rebuilding.
I haven't seen the newer version from Armada and I haven't bothered with any other wire tracer as my 521 does what I need.
All I have in mine is two rebuilds as I got it free due to another alleged golf course superintendent (and don't even get me talking about that waste of human flesh - he and my ex would make a great pair) stating categorically it was "broken" and he literally threw the thing in the garbage.

[Inspired]

The original Progressive 521's are built quite well and are worth rebuilding.
I haven't seen the newer version from Armada and I haven't bothered with any other wire tracer as my 521 does what I need.
All I have in mine is two rebuilds as I got it free due to another alleged golf course superintendent (and don't even get me talking about that waste of human flesh - he and my ex would make a great pair) stating categorically it was "broken" and he literally threw the thing in the garbage.

Ha ha ha. Gotta love those type A's.