Mk 1 Box renovation.

[Brimmer 220]

Right, after many years of great service, and a couple of overhauls as well, our last mk1 box is giving up the ghost!

This is the last one of three that was overhauled probably 7 yrs ago by deben.

It's got to the point where i'm missing the tube now when digging, as the queit knocking sound is sometimes not working, throwing out the reading. And i'm somebody that need to know where i'm digging to! (not into bolters and netting up to be honest!)

I like to tinker around with things, and having a good look round inside the mk1, i think the problem can only be the mechanism underneath the dial/wheel where a contact must be made on a variable scale.

Does anybody know how to take this apart for cleaning, as it's so small i'm struggling to see how it comes apart! (and yes my old man warned me what would happen to my eyesight!)

I will probs destroy one to find out how in the near future, but has anybody done it?

think i'm going to have to splash on a mk3 very soon!

Edited November 29, 2008 by Brimmer

[akton 15]

try and get some cleaner on the contacts from maplins

 

HERE

[Brimmer 220]

That looks like the sort of stuff that could help cheers. I've tried brake cleaner and wd on it, but it's still the same. Might give that stuff a go.

Have you tried it?

If not does anybody know's how this comes apart (without the use of a big hammer!)

[akton 15]

use it all the time,you will be surprised how much crap comes out of the contacts,this will also protect it from any moisture aswell.

[stealthy1 3,964]

The brass piece with the screw in thread looks like its been machine clampped, from the pic it looks like the brass wheel that holds the contact is bent, is it like that on the other MK1's you have?

[Brimmer 220]

I'll try the spray first, but like you said stealthy, the brass pinion should we call it? looks like it has been machine clamped on. (could not see this when looking by eye, only in the piccies).

Will pull another box apart now and look!

[will.f11 24]

get a couple of jills mate, you wont have to dig so much then anyway, PM diggermad on here, he has the number of a guy called mick, who refurbishes MK1 boxes. So he may well manage to fix yours for you. Goo luck mate

[Brimmer 220]

get a couple of jills mate, you wont have to dig so much then anyway, PM diggermad on here, he has the number of a guy called mick, who refurbishes MK1 boxes. So he may well manage to fix yours for you. Goo luck mate

Cheers Will yer young bug, i'll try that out! I've got a couple of jills mate,(5 of them!) they just get beat up all the time off the northern rabbit!

[stubby 175]

it looks like the bottom contact is badly worn, you can see two silver lines merging together across the whole contact, maybe rather than trying to referb that, and as you have a few to canibalise, why not try to get hold of a new rotating switch, Im sure MAPLINS would have something, the type thats on a train set power supply, turning it gives more power to train thingy, and attaching it on the outside of box through the plastic,

[stealthy1 3,964]

You could file off the machine clamped piece to take it apart, after cleaning and inspection, cut two grooves in the pinion to place a circlip to hold it all back together.

[MikeTheDog 153]

Don't use WD40, it's an insulator amongst other things so it will probably make things worse. That solvent from Maplins looks the pukka stuff or you could use methylated spirits.