Trouble With Transducer - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Jimmyz123 · 06-11-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyfisher70

Well I think it's the transducer, today was the first time I used this fish finder. I did not get any readings from the transducer, the fish finder's GPS was working just fine and the battery was fully charged. I did the install myself and I'm thinking I must have did something wrong that caused the transducer not to give off any readings.

Here is an image of the transducer installed inside my X-factor, it's underneath the seating area. It's slightly crooked but I didn't think it was enough to cause the no depth reading. It pretty much did not read anything, it's like if transducer were not plugged in, but it was and the connection seemed fine.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking I'm going to have to remove it and re-install it.

I recommend watching these videos. I did this installation and it works very well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEZ9_C1iKP0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u1d3...eature=related

What I see in the photo is looks as if the transducer may be a little tilted not completely center. I personally like using something a sponge or something to create a ring for the transducer to sit in.

Does your FF have a self test that you can run? How old is the unit? I'm wondering if your Ducer is bad.

Amish Ed · 06-11-2011, 09:54 PM

Even though it's tilted in shallow enough water you should get a signal. Call the manufacturer.

Jimmyz123 · 06-12-2011, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amish Ed

Even though it's tilted in shallow enough water you should get a signal. Call the manufacturer.

Good point.

GregAndrew · 06-12-2011, 07:48 AM

If you power it up and cannot hear any ticking noise coming from the Xducer then it is not working. You may also have a setting that turns off the Xducer which you would need to turn on. In deep enough water, even a slight angle could give you no returns on 200khz. Did you try the low frequency (50 or 83)? Those frequencies have a much wider cone angle which would make returns easier from an angled Xducer.

Flyfisher70 · 06-12-2011, 08:10 AM

Pulled the transducer off, well first I tried to pull it off but that was not happening. I ended up going to the kitchen and getting a butter knife and started to work it under the goop, marine goop sure is strong. Anyhow I was able to get the transducer off. BTW it's a new transducer, the fish finder is old but still works. The transducer was working up until I installed it with the goop inside the kayak hull.

Here is what it looked like after I took it off the kayak hull.

I see a huge bubble on the right side of the goop, I'm wondering if this might have been the cause. I tested the transducer again and it still works, it definitely has something to do with my install.

I cut out the goop so that you guys could take a look at the huge bubble that was on the right side of the transducer.

Yup, there was definitely a slight angle to the transducer. I'm going to have to go back and re-install or just take it down to OEX and have Andy install it correctly.

Any other feed back would be much appreciated.

Thank you much guys!

lterrero · 06-12-2011, 08:45 AM

Goop is an old fashion method, sooner or later a bubble will come up, specially with the kayak up side down on the sun; my best is wet transducer, just lay it flat inside the hull and put a little water about half of inch. I got a Hobie & I tight wrap it to the mast pole

Flyfisher70 · 06-12-2011, 09:53 AM

Okay, I believe I've found what the problem was or is, I'm thinking it's the GPS puck I have plugged into the unit, it's mounted just behind the head unit on a thin metal bar. The GPS puck is magnetized on the bottom, I'm thinking the magnet is interfering with the transducer somehow. For whatever reason it does seem like there is some interference with the transducer not sure if the magnet would be causing this a magnetic interference. I unplugged the GPS connection and the sonar started working. I have a handheld Garmin GPSmap 76 so this is just going to be a minor inconvenience.

06-11-2011, 09:54 PM	#2
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,906	Even though it's tilted in shallow enough water you should get a signal. Call the manufacturer. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

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06-12-2011, 07:48 AM	#4
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	If you power it up and cannot hear any ticking noise coming from the Xducer then it is not working. You may also have a setting that turns off the Xducer which you would need to turn on. In deep enough water, even a slight angle could give you no returns on 200khz. Did you try the low frequency (50 or 83)? Those frequencies have a much wider cone angle which would make returns easier from an angled Xducer.

06-12-2011, 08:10 AM	#5
Flyfisher70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 69	Pulled the transducer off, well first I tried to pull it off but that was not happening. I ended up going to the kitchen and getting a butter knife and started to work it under the goop, marine goop sure is strong. Anyhow I was able to get the transducer off. BTW it's a new transducer, the fish finder is old but still works. The transducer was working up until I installed it with the goop inside the kayak hull. Here is what it looked like after I took it off the kayak hull. I see a huge bubble on the right side of the goop, I'm wondering if this might have been the cause. I tested the transducer again and it still works, it definitely has something to do with my install. I cut out the goop so that you guys could take a look at the huge bubble that was on the right side of the transducer. Yup, there was definitely a slight angle to the transducer. I'm going to have to go back and re-install or just take it down to OEX and have Andy install it correctly. Any other feed back would be much appreciated. Thank you much guys!

06-12-2011, 08:45 AM	#6
lterrero Leo Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 482	Goop is an old fashion method, sooner or later a bubble will come up, specially with the kayak up side down on the sun; my best is wet transducer, just lay it flat inside the hull and put a little water about half of inch. I got a Hobie & I tight wrap it to the mast pole

06-12-2011, 09:53 AM	#7
Flyfisher70 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 69	Okay, I believe I've found what the problem was or is, I'm thinking it's the GPS puck I have plugged into the unit, it's mounted just behind the head unit on a thin metal bar. The GPS puck is magnetized on the bottom, I'm thinking the magnet is interfering with the transducer somehow. For whatever reason it does seem like there is some interference with the transducer not sure if the magnet would be causing this a magnetic interference. I unplugged the GPS connection and the sonar started working. I have a handheld Garmin GPSmap 76 so this is just going to be a minor inconvenience.