Vexilar getting Dim

[NE IOWA ANGLER]

I have an older FL-8 and this season while on the ice it appeared to be less bright than before. Thinking my battery was going bad I replaced it with a new battery. No change. Is there a way to check up on it's brightness, or is it just my older eyes? Thanks for any help.

[NE IOWA ANGLER]

I have an older FL-8 and this season while on the ice it appeared to be less bright than before. Thinking my battery was going bad I replaced it with a new battery. No change. Is there a way to check up on it's brightness, or is it just my older eyes? Thanks for any help.

[KEVLAR]

Having run Vexilars for many years, I would guess that you need to send it in to Vexilar, so they can replace the motor brushes. These brushes work similar to most electric motors and over time parts ware out. You did nothing wrong, but you must have used it a lot.
I am still using Vexilars and probably always will.

Here is a # (952)-884-5291. Very good people to deal with and
fast turn around.

[KEVLAR]

Having run Vexilars for many years, I would guess that you need to send it in to Vexilar, so they can replace the motor brushes. These brushes work similar to most electric motors and over time parts ware out. You did nothing wrong, but you must have used it a lot.
I am still using Vexilars and probably always will.

Here is a # (952)-884-5291. Very good people to deal with and
fast turn around.

[BGunn]

Very easy to fix, This is from vexilar;

How to Clean You FL Unit's
Brush Contacts
|
Remove the two screws from the back cover, unplug the power and transducer jacks from the PC board, and remove the back cover. Next, remove the control knobs from the front of the case (the allen size is 1.5mm). Remove the four screws that hold the PC board in place and remove the board.

Using compressed air, blow out all of the brush dust from in and around the wheel assembly and wash the front case, inside and out, with soap and water.

To clean the brush contacts, make a tool by stapling a small piece of fine sandpaper to the end of a popsicle stick. Connect the rear case power jack to the PC board and turn the unit on. Be careful of the spinning wheel! Insert the tool you made between the board and the spinning wheel. Clean the three brass rings until they are shinny. Run the unit for at least 30 minutes at room temperature to re-seat the brushes. This should increase your light intensity to where it was when the unit was new.

If the brush contacts are worn significantly, you should replace them. You can order a brush kit here, under FL Series Accessories:
http://www.vexilar.com/purchase/direct/direct.html
Be sure to read the instructions available before you order, so you are sure you can do the job.

If you want to send it in for us to do, it will cost you around $60 plus shipping and it will be here for about five days.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No matter where you go in life.......There you are!"

Bill Gunn

[BGunn]

Very easy to fix, This is from vexilar;

How to Clean You FL Unit's
Brush Contacts
|
Remove the two screws from the back cover, unplug the power and transducer jacks from the PC board, and remove the back cover. Next, remove the control knobs from the front of the case (the allen size is 1.5mm). Remove the four screws that hold the PC board in place and remove the board.

Using compressed air, blow out all of the brush dust from in and around the wheel assembly and wash the front case, inside and out, with soap and water.

To clean the brush contacts, make a tool by stapling a small piece of fine sandpaper to the end of a popsicle stick. Connect the rear case power jack to the PC board and turn the unit on. Be careful of the spinning wheel! Insert the tool you made between the board and the spinning wheel. Clean the three brass rings until they are shinny. Run the unit for at least 30 minutes at room temperature to re-seat the brushes. This should increase your light intensity to where it was when the unit was new.

If the brush contacts are worn significantly, you should replace them. You can order a brush kit here, under FL Series Accessories:
http://www.vexilar.com/purchase/direct/direct.html
Be sure to read the instructions available before you order, so you are sure you can do the job.

If you want to send it in for us to do, it will cost you around $60 plus shipping and it will be here for about five days.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No matter where you go in life.......There you are!"

Bill Gunn

[NE IOWA ANGLER]

Thanks guys for the advice. I sent it to Vexilar this morning for them to do the repair and cleaning. Is this a great site for advice or what????? Thanks again.

[NE IOWA ANGLER]

Thanks guys for the advice. I sent it to Vexilar this morning for them to do the repair and cleaning. Is this a great site for advice or what????? Thanks again.

[perchjerker]

thanks for posting that. My Vex is a teenager. Its still bright. Nice to know about this.

[perchjerker]

thanks for posting that. My Vex is a teenager. Its still bright. Nice to know about this.

[NE IA ANGLER]

To my great astonishment the delivery guy just dropped off my VEXILAR at 12:30 today. It was returned all cleaned, brushes checked and all ready to go. The best part was------------No charge!!!!!!!! You can bet when I really do wear out my old Vexilar I'll replace it with another Vexilar. It would be great if more businesses operated like this company.