Minelab F3 Service Manual
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Minelab F3 Service Manual

Minelab F3 Service Manual

Metal mine detector
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F3 Metal Mine Detector
Version 4: Febrary 2010
Part No: 4904-0004

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Summary of Contents for Minelab F3

  • Page 1 F3 Metal Mine Detector Version 4: Febrary 2010 Part No: 4904-0004...
  • Page 2 F3 Field Service Manual WARNING THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS MINELAB ELECTRONICS LIMITED RIGHTS TECHNICAL DATA OR RESTRICTED RIGHTS DATA OR BOTH.  Minelab Electronics This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    CONTENTS Section Page Introduction Mechanical & Functional Testing Mechanical Testing Functional Testing Disassembly & Reassembly Procedures Introduction F3 Tool Kit Electronics Pack Coil Speaker Pod Handle Wiring Loom Armrest Shafts 3.10 Battery Pack Fault Finding Procedures Introduction Trouble Shooting Table...

  • Page 4: Introduction

    Servicing the F3 can be conducted within the field (under clean and dry conditions) or at local depots. No special tools are required, but it is recommended that the F3 Service Tool Kit be used.

  • Page 5: Mechanical & Functional Testing

    F3 Field Service Manual Mechanical & Functional Testing Figure 1: F3 Packed in its Hard Case Whenever a detector is returned for servicing, mechanical and functional tests must be completed to confirm and/or identify the fault. Figure 1 illustrates the complete detector when packed in its hard case.

  • Page 6: Functional Testing

    Mechanical Testing. Confirm that all components are present in the hard case and unpack, fully extend and insert batteries into the F3 as described in the F3 Operations Manual. Figure 2 identifies the major components of the F3. During mechanical testing check the: ●...
  • Page 7 If the correct tones are still not heard refer to Section 4 for faultfinding procedures. Noise Cancel Test. The test ensures the F3 successfully completes the noise cancel procedure required whenever local electrical interference is present. During the test, the Noise Cancel button, wiring loom and electronics pack are checked for correct operation.
  • Page 8 Once the Threshold Tone has increased in volume, press and immediately release the green ground balance button. (Figure 5) NOTE If the ground balance button is not immediately released, the F3 will commence the Ground Balance procedure. Figure 5: Audio Reset ●...
  • Page 9 Slowly move the ground balance test piece from approximately 150mm (6ins) above the centre of the coil towards the centre of the coil and confirm that a rise in Threshold Tone occurs. This confirms that the F3 is detecting the mineralised content of the ground balance test piece. ●...
  • Page 10 The red and yellow endcaps are detected by the electronics pack due to magnets located within the endcaps. The black endcap has no magnets and represents the default sensitivity of the F3. This means the black endcap, if dislodged, will not cause an alarm because the detector is already operating at the default sensitivity.
  • Page 11 ● Switch the F3 off and on – this will revert the detector to default sensitivity. Move the detector coil over a large metal target checking that the LEDs light up in the correct way.
  • Page 12 Minelab’s application software. The Test Piece Test as described above is not suitable for use with the F3 and a yellow endcap. Where sensitivity testing is to be conducted using a specific customised configuration, it is the responsibility of the user to provide an appropriate target with which to confirm the sensitivity of the detector satisfies operational requirements.

  • Page 13: Disassembly & Reassembly Procedures

    Whenever a unit is replaced, mechanical and functional testing as described in Section 2 must be completed. F3 Tool Kit. The F3 Tool Kit (Part No 3004-0018) is required to disassemble and reassemble the F3. The tool kit (Figure 9) comprises: ●...

  • Page 14: Electronics Pack

    F3 Field Service Manual 8007-0023 UPPER SHAFT BLACK F3 9511-0097 WIRING LOOM F3 SHAFT/HANDLE COIL CABLE (PART OF 2021-0054 COIL F3) 8009-0007 RETAINER PLUG F3 COIL PLUG (PART OF 2021-0054 COIL F3) 3004-0036 ELECTRONICS PACK KIT SVC F3L 3004-0001 ELECTRONICS PACK KIT SVC F3...
  • Page 15 If a retainer plug is not fitted connect the coil cable pull through from the F3 Tool Kit to secure the coil cable. Alternatively, the cable can be secured by tying the plug to a length of string.
  • Page 16 F3 Field Service Manual Figure 12: Correct Fitting of the Wiring Loom into the Electronics Pack NOTE Take great care when connecting the wiring loom plug to the electronics pack. DO NOT force the connection because this could damage or break the connector on the printed circuit board.

  • Page 17: Coil

    F3 Field Service Manual Coil. Figure 14 illustrates the major parts involved in removing and replacing the coil. 3004-0003 COIL KIT SVC F3 3004-0038 KIT SVC COIL RETAINER, contains pt 1 & 3 2004-0037 RETAINER COIL BLACK F3 2021-0054 COIL F3...
  • Page 18 F3 Field Service Manual Figure 16: Removing the Coil Retainer ● Lift the lower shaft with lower camlock assembly out of the coil top. ● Carefully pull the coil cable out from inside the shafts. ● If necessary, remove the coil pin for use with the replacement coil.
  • Page 19 F3 Field Service Manual NOTE Once a coil pin is fitted to a coil cable, it is not necessary to fit a coil plug retainer. ● Connect the coil cable pull through to the coil plug. (Figure 18) Figure 18: Coil Pull Through Connected to Coil NOTE If a coil pull through is not available a length of string can be used.
  • Page 20 F3 Field Service Manual NOTE It is important that the curly cable or coil cable pull through is not twisted, as this will change the number of turns in the curly cable. If the correct number of turns is not present, the curly cable may stop the shafts from retracting correctly.

  • Page 21: Speaker Pod

    Figure 23: Fitting the Coil Retainer ● Reconnect the electronics pack to the coil cable as described in Section 3.3.b. Speaker Pod. Figure 24 illustrates the major parts of the speaker pod. 3004-0017 KIT SVC SPEAKER POD ASSY F3 KIT SVC F3L SPEAKER POD 3004-0037...
  • Page 22 To replace the speaker pod. When replacing or reassembling speaker pods it is important to note that an F3L speaker pod is only functional on an F3L configured detector. Similarly, the standard F3 speaker pod is only functional on the F3 detector. To reassemble the speaker pod: ●...
  • Page 23 F3 Field Service Manual Figure 27: Fitting Speaker Pod onto Handle ● Ensure the wiring loom plug emerges from the handle into the speaker pod in the correct position as shown in Figure 28. Figure 28: Correct Position of Wiring Loom Plug (Red Arrow) ●...

  • Page 24: Handle

    RIGHT HANDLE HALF (part of HANDLE L+R 3004-0016 KIT F3) LEFT HANDLE HALF (part of HANDLE L+R KIT 3004-0016 4002-0038 NUT STANDARD SS F3 4309-0037 DUSTCAP EARSET F3 8301-0031 SWITCH ASSY SLIDER F3 9511-0097 WIRING LOOM F3 SHAFT/HANDLE 4003-0062 BOLT M4X20 SKT SS...
  • Page 25 F3 Field Service Manual To assemble the handle: ● Position the right handle half onto the upper shaft. ● Lay the wiring loom into the cable channels and ensure the wiring loom plug exits the top of the handle in front of the upper screw boss. (Figure 31) Figure 31: Right Handle with Wiring Loom Correctly Positioned ●...

  • Page 26: Wiring Loom

    To disassemble the handle, follow the instructions given in Section 3.6.a. To disconnect the electronics pack, refer to Figure 34 and proceed as follows: 8007-0023 UPPER SHAFT BLACK F3 9511-0097 WIRING LOOM F3 SHAFT/HANDLE COIL CABLE (PART OF 2021-0054 COIL F3) 8009-0007 RETAINER PLUG F3 Page 26...
  • Page 27 13 0703-0097 COVER RIBBON CABLE F3 Figure 34: Electronics Pack NOTE The F3 and F3L use different electronics packs and should not be interchanged unless the correct speaker pods (F3L requires the speaker pod with LED display) are also fitted. ●...
  • Page 28 F3 Field Service Manual To remove the split grommet, use fingers to open the split wide enough for the ribbon cable to slide through. ● Gently pull the wiring loom through the spine of the upper shaft toward the handle and remove it.
  • Page 29 F3 Field Service Manual Figure 38: Correct Fitting of the Wiring Loom into the Electronics Pack NOTE Take great care when connecting the wiring loom plug to the electronics pack. DO NOT force the connection because this could damage or break the connector on the printed circuit board.
  • Page 30 F3 Field Service Manual ● Route the wiring loom around the cable router on the side of the bulkhead cover. (Figure 41) Figure 41: Wiring Loom Routing ● Refit the sensitivity endcap. To assemble the handle, follow the instructions given in Section 3.6.b.

  • Page 31: Armrest

    LEFT ARMREST HALF (part of ARMREST L+R 3004-0015 RIGHT ARMREST HALF (part of ARMREST 3004-0015 L+R F3) 8008-0005 CAM LEVER F3 8008-0026 PRESSURE BLOCK ARMREST F3 8008-0030 WEAR PLATE F3 8005-0018 STRAP ARMREST F3 Figure 42: Armrest Component Parts To disassemble the armrest: ●...

  • Page 32: Shafts

    F3 Field Service Manual To refit the armstrap use Figure 43 as a guide: Figure 43: Lacing the Armstrap (View from Coil) Shafts. The following procedures detail shaft disassembly/assembly and should be followed in order until the component to be replaced is accessible. Figure 44 illustrates the components of the shaft assembly.
  • Page 33 F3 Field Service Manual Middle Camlock Assembly Upper Shaft Lower Shaft 3004-0011 CAMLOCK KIT LOWER SHAFT F3 8007-0022 CAMLOCK BODY LOWER F3 8008-0031 PRESSURE BLOCK LOWER F3 8008-0030 WEAR PLATE F3 8008-0029 CAM LEVER LOWER CAMLOCK F3 4308-0008 PIN LOWER CAMLOCK F3...
  • Page 34 8008-0022 PRESSURE BLOCK UPPER F3 4308-0003 CAMLEVER PIVOT PIN 8008-0021 CAMLOCK BODY UPPER F3 UPPER SHAFT BLACK F3 (not part of Camlock 8007-0023 Kit) Figure 47: Upper Camlock Assembly To reassemble the upper camlock: ● Refit the upper camlock body to the upper shaft, ensuring that that the square hole in the camlock body is aligned with the cut-out in the upper shaft.
  • Page 35 F3 Field Service Manual Figure 48: Upper Camlock Positioned on Upper Shaft ● Place the tail of the upper pressure block into the recess in the rear of the upper camlock body and push the block down into the square hole. (Figure 49) NOTE Ensure that the pressure block does not protrude too far into the shaft.
  • Page 36 MIDDLE SHAFT KIT SVC BLACK 3004-0008 3004-0012 CAMLOCK KIT MIDDLE SHAFT (not shown – see next figure) 8007-0024 MIDDLE SHAFT BLACK F3 8003-0019 COLLAR SHAFT MIDDLE F3 Figure 50: Fitting the Middle Shaft ● Slide the middle shaft into the rear of the upper shaft with the square hole facing down.
  • Page 37 F3 Field Service Manual Figure 51: Reassembling Middle Camlock Assembly ● Slide the middle shaft all the way into the upper shaft and close the upper cam lever. ● Open the middle cam lever. To reassemble the lower camlock and shaft: ●...
  • Page 38 F3 Field Service Manual ● Holding the detector and lower camlock assembly upside down (to prevent the lower pressure block falling out) slide the lower camlock assembly fully onto the lower shaft with a twisting motion. Figure 54: Attaching Lower Camlock ●...

  • Page 39: Battery Pack

    0703-0126 BATTERY TUBE BP F3 0703-0079 CAP FRONT BP F3 RIVET (part of TETHER WITH RIVET KIT SVC 3004-0005 BP F3) 0705-0015 PANEL ASSY LID BP F3 (BATTERY PACK LID) 0703-0098 FACEPLATE CAP FRONT BP F3 Figure 56: Battery Pack Component Parts Page 39...

  • Page 40: Fault Finding Procedures

    ● Electronics Pack The F3 is designed so that line replaceable units can be exchanged between detectors without the need to calibrate. This means that where spare parts are not available and more than one detector is faulty, then parts from one detector can be used to make another serviceable.
  • Page 41 F3 Field Service Manual On switch on, the ● check the coil plug is firmly secured to the electronics pack “Coil Fault” tone ● inspect coil cable for damage – if no damage replace occurs - “low pitched electronics pack double tone every ●...
  • Page 42 F3 Field Service Manual ON/OFF slide is very ● disassemble handle and remove dust and dirt difficult to move Armrest will not ● loosen middle bolt move ● disassemble armrest and clean ● replace armrest Coil does not remain ● replace friction blocks...

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