ML 2000sd - To mod or not to mod

[Bullant]

Hello one and all, this is my first post (hope it’s in the right place) as I am a new member and indeed will be new to prospecting when I get delivery of a ML 2000sd off a mate in Townsville.
I live on the Mornington Peninsula and work in marketing for an animal health products manufacturer and travel throughout Victoria.
I can see an opportunity to combine my trips away for both work and play by spending week-ends in the golden triangle and either precede or follow these with a couple of days of business calls.
I’m buying the 2000 at a great price but realize it is not cutting edge technology but I have read on this forum that some members have had great results from them and that their performance can be improved with modifications.
Would any members have direct knowledge of mods that would improve the 2000’s performance and importantly a reputable company that could carry out such mods.
Being a complete novice and new to all of this I would also appreciate advice on whether it is easier to start at particular sites to get some experience before moving to more challenging sites.
For me prospecting will be a way to take a break and get some fresh air and exercise but of course if some gold happens to get in my way while I’m digging holes I’m not averse to picking it up.

[Doug]

Hello one and all, this is my first post (hope it’s in the right place) as I am a new member and indeed will be new to prospecting when I get delivery of a ML 2000sd off a mate in Townsville.
I live on the Mornington Peninsula and work in marketing for an animal health products manufacturer and travel throughout Victoria.
I can see an opportunity to combine my trips away for both work and play by spending week-ends in the golden triangle and either precede or follow these with a couple of days of business calls.
I’m buying the 2000 at a great price but realize it is not cutting edge technology but I have read on this forum that some members have had great results from them and that their performance can be improved with modifications.
Would any members have direct knowledge of mods that would improve the 2000’s performance and importantly a reputable company that could carry out such mods.
Being a complete novice and new to all of this I would also appreciate advice on whether it is easier to start at particular sites to get some experience before moving to more challenging sites.
For me prospecting will be a way to take a break and get some fresh air and exercise but of course if some gold happens to get in my way while I’m digging holes I’m not averse to picking it up.

At least 2 members here have modified Sd2000's so I expect that they will be able to provide you with some good advice. The only person I would recommend to do mods is Ismael Jones  at:
http://www.minelabmods.com/joomla/
doug

[Doug]

 Here is the link to Ismaels mods for the sd2000
http://www.minelabmods.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=128&Itemid=42
doug

[IBGold]

  Hi,
I agree with Doug I run a modified 2000 done by myself but would not entertain doing it for anybody else if you are going to get anybody to modify you 2000 Ismael is definitely the one to go to you will not be disappointed.

Regards, Ian.

[Gary]

At least 2 members here have modified Sd2000's so I expect that they will be able to provide you with some good advice. The only person I would recommend to do mods is Ismael Jones  at:
http://www.minelabmods.com/joomla/
doug
[/quote]

G'day,

I had my 2000 modified way back in 2002 by Ismael and again a few years latter with the addition of further modifications. A hick-up existed with the 2nd modification and he requested I returned it to him and he identified the problem and returned it at no extra cost.

The old girl is still running sweet as the day he first modified it.

Here is a couple of Pics.   





Regards,
Gary.

[Doug]

At least 2 members here have modified Sd2000's so I expect that they will be able to provide you with some good advice. The only person I would recommend to do mods is Ismael Jones  at:
http://www.minelabmods.com/joomla/
doug

G'day,

I had my 2000 modified way back in 2002 by Ismael and again a few years latter with the addition of further modifications. A hick-up existed with the 2nd modification and he requested I returned it to him and he identified the problem and returned it at no extra cost.
The old girl is still running sweet as the day he first modified it.



Regards,
Gary.
[/quote]

Thanks Gary.Could you explain what mods you have had Ismael do and how you run them?
doug

[Gary]

Thanks Gary.Could you explain what mods you have had Ismael do and how you run them?
doug
[/quote]


G’day Doug,

Over the years I tried several settings and frequencies and have been running with the MODE switch in the BALANCE 11 or CH2 as some call it which use transmit magnetic pulse periods that will detect small nuggets far better than BALANCE 1 or CH1 position with transmit pulse periods more suited to large nuggets. It is recommended to run in SEARCH MODE which really combines both Modes to detect either small or large gold.

I have found when in GB2 mode my 2000 seems to operates with a SMOOTHER threshold even more so when running at a higher voltage of 8.1 volts which I decided on as my maximum input voltage. These settings combined with my VCO set at its highest frequency (3.1 Mhz) and using either my Commander 8” Mono or stock 11”DD I believe my 2000 is now running the sweetest since returning to detect with it after parting with a 3000. However as expected I am unable to wind up the Gain using these settings with 25% max if ground allows.

There were different series of 2000s produced and mine is one of the early series so maybe a later series could operate smoother using another setting.   

Now my own in-ground tests have shown the above settings produced impressive results with my NF 18” Mono on larger targets at depth which is surprising although recently at a rather nasty test site over some extreme HIGHLY mineralised ground these settings struggled big time and convinced me to use nothing other than a DD coil due to the type of ground I detect.

Now the BEST ADVICE I can give to anyone operating a standard 2000 or a modified 2000 is from a well known prospector who says the main weapon at your disposal when looking for gold is having absolute confidence in your machine, when working properly the modified 2000 will pick up most targets, it just requires more input from the user. If the 2000 is all you can afford then concentrate on what the machine is capable of rather than what it might miss.. Learn what it is trying to say to you, imagine that the audio response is a type of code with a message of a gold nugget embedded within, all you have to do is break the code then you will know what to listen for.

The main thing to remember with the modded 2000(and the originals) is the duration of the signal response, it is very broad. Because of this move your coil over the ground at a very steady pace.

Now I believe there is a modification that improves that signal response however perfecting your swing technique will be one of the biggest advantages available to you.

Regards,
Gary.

[Gary]

Oh I forgot to mention what mods I’ve had for to my SD2000.

: A 4-Position Frequency Switch.

: A VCO fitted to access further frequencies which can aid to find the quietest frequency to operate with.

: An extra GB pot added which allows extra GB adjustment to Balance 11 in highly mineralised ground.

: GAIN modifications with 2 pots added, one for Balance I the other to Balance 11. 

: An external Sakina Box with 12v to 6v adjustable Voltage Regulator and an Audio amplifier.

 : An external Mono switch Box

Regards,
Gary

[Gary]

Lastly

: Home made plastic End Plate guards with Support Legs.

Cheers,
Gary

[BuckAu]

Hi Bullant,
As Doug said I would recommend Ismael he did an excellent job on my 2000.

Plenty of negatives about some other modder but all positives on Ismael's mods.

further and I wont mention names unless its OK by them. Theres a couple of very clever techs that are members here.
That have performed there own mods and one of those gentleman may even be the original person whom came up with a  mod to the SD2000 that others are now using.

I will let them elaborate If they feel they wish to.

But as Ian said doing it for yourself  or for someone else Is a different scenario.
Regards BuckAu

[gef12]

Hi Bullant
I also have a modded 2000 ... have done all the same mods as Gary plus a few extras.  Some of the others are variable damping, upgraded power supply, internal shielding, and a lot of upgraded components within..
Ismael should be the one whom can help you.
cheers and have fun with it.

[Mechanic]

Hi Bullant,

I would spend some time learning your machine before you jump in and get it modded. That way you will know what effects the mods had and if it was worthwhile. Yes I do have a very modded 2000 and as far as I know there is no one who offers to do mods to the extent that mine has been done to. There is a lot involved with what I have done to mine. I don't know that your machine will be able to detect 0.05g nuggets in noisy ground, if at all but you will have more sensitivity on quiet ground like white mullok heaps. Get yourself a good spread of coils too to give yourself the best chance of success. There are still plenty of nuggets within the range of the 2000, you just have to put the coil in the right spot. When you find that, let me know!! If your a really luck bugger, you might find a decent sized one and then you could upgrade to a later model down the track. I also want to point out that I have only ever modded my machine, and don't intend doing anybody else's. Oh and minelab will never repair your machine if it fails after it has been modded, but there are quite a few people who can/will.

Find yourself a piece of ground that you find a bit noisy and mark out the noisy spots so you can find them later, then you an compare the machines ground handling ability. Also test depth with targets like bullets, coins and gold and write the results down.

Cheers Mick

[Bullant]

Firstly, thank you all very much for your advice and encouragement. It’s good to know there are so many knowledgeable members on the forum.
 
It does of course make a lot of sense for me to use the unit unmodified to start off with to be able to determine performance comparisons post mods.

I did as suggested and wrote to Ismael Jones and received the reply below:  

Hi Merv, I am sorry but I am no longer doing mods at the present. If you have a tech savvy person I can email the instructions to do it. I do believe that the mod instructions are available on my website from memory.

Regards
Ismael Jones
Perth, Western Australia

Hopefully when Ismael says “at the present” he intends to return to doing mods in the future. I will have a look at his website to see what mods are described.
Merv

[eurekagold]

great post guys good info and advice 
the sd2000  cheap enough to pick one up these days its battle proven
and still produces the goods great machine
eurekagold

[1Halfgram4three]

Hi, have a coiltek 450mm DD and a minelab gp series (white in colour, about half the size of the other one)

So does anyone know which coils at the monment 2012 would be the best for a modd. minelab 2000? As my understanding is the coils I have are only good for highly mineralised ground, as I go mainly go to Warwick (which seems to have only small gold their) compaired to that of Gympie or Clairmont.
So I'm guessing a smaller coil,  would be better for where I go?
I'm not sure if new coils fit the older machine.

[BuckAu]

Hi 1Halfgram4three ,

Just sent you a pm mate.

Regards BuckAu 

[Mechanic]

G'day 1.543,

All coils should work with a modded machine. However, if you are using high frequencys to find small gold I would suggest using a small coil.
Yes the new coils fit the older machines, I have a 8X6" nuggetfinder and it is grouse for finding small bits...

Cheers Mick

[The Modern Day Prospector]

With the constant huge price increase of new ML PI machines $6700 for the 5000  when it first came out, and the expected prise rise of the next model ? do you think modding of older SD, GP machines or even GPX series will start to become very popular than forking out many thousands for the next model.

[1Halfgram4three]

I think that some people will always spend as much as asked to have "the edge"
Others will spend what "they can affored" and even may upgrade on along the way.
How many buy these detectors for thousands and use once or twice then store in the cupboard (drop off's)