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Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! #11519632 04/04/16 12:44 AM
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jnogreen Offline OP
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Unit is 4 yrs old Saturday the sonar worked fine half the morning then started losing bottom definition an not showing depth - - - temp and time showing on screen. Switch to down scan works fine also side scan works fine. ??? How could I troubleshoot? is it the hds 7, the lss 1, or the transducer. Help!!!


Fishing is....
Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11519766 04/04/16 01:40 AM
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grout-scout Online Sleepy
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Sonar transducer might be going out, which one are you using? If the DI/SI worked then it's not the LSS transducer.


Where were you fishing at?

Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11547883 04/17/16 02:24 PM
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Thank you Grout-Scout. So I didn't know they were separate ducers I thought the shoot thru the hull was for the dash mounted silly me so there's another ducer somewhere in my boat. So the cheapest thing for me to do to troubleshoot my problem was to buy a new transducer. Found one online at the gps store 60 bux shipped went to the lake yesterday hooked new ducer to unit and held it in the water yep it worked. Now next step to get it mounted. I never had one go bad. Which raises question for new topic. Why did it go bad?

Last edited by jnogreen; 04/17/16 02:25 PM.

Fishing is....
Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11547984 04/17/16 03:11 PM
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How many graphs do you have? Bow & console I assume, was this at the bow? What brand of boat? Before you go crazy on your boat please answer these.

Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11548375 04/17/16 06:13 PM
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Ok I have a Nitro Z6 lowrance 5x in dash. Mounted the hds 7 on the right side of console. Nothing up front yet. I think I found the ducer for the dash mount but not sure. I was able to pop the hds 7 ducer loose. Wondering now what Dremel attachment to use to start removing the old epoxy.


Fishing is....
Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11548539 04/17/16 07:30 PM
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Since the transducer came free so easily I'm now wondering if over a period of time did this epoxy shrink down and create an air pocket between it and the hull? I was able to slip a tyewrap end between the ducer and the epoxy on one side. Hmm.
The other question comes to mid when the epoxy cures it generates heat heat is bad for electronics, so is there enough heat generated that would speed up the break down of the components inside that plastic housing?


Fishing is....
Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11548686 04/17/16 09:18 PM
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Transducers have a crystal in them. It's an analog thing that vibrates at high frequency, and it's a bit fragile. Sometimes they simply self-destruct. No, the epoxy cure doesn't generate enough heat to hurt it. No need to overthink this. You may not have another failure in your lifetime. It happens, but not a regular failure to expect.

Even the Lowrance supplied epoxy doesn't always get a great bond with fiberglass - especially if the installer didn't rough up the fiberglass surface first. I've found that the old epoxy will often pop up in nice size chunks leaving a clean surface for the new installation. That is, if you can get tools to it to knock it loose. I had to move a transducer in my boat recently. I was able to get the old epoxy up using a chisel laid very flat to the bilge so that it wedged under the epoxy without digging into the hull. I tapped that with a the side of a small hammer as this let me get more swing angle. I had it clean in a matter of minutes. You might try that if you have room.

A sharp wood chisel can be a good tool to try, with the flat side of the blade turned down toward the fiberglass.

Last edited by Flippin-Out; 04/17/16 09:20 PM.
Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11549105 04/18/16 01:07 AM
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A few of my observations over the years. The pd model (puck) is easier to epoxy down than the skimmer model, if you had a skimmer I can see why it popped loose so easily. I have a Skeeter and they have a recessed hole in the hull to mount the pd style ducer; but it's a mother to clean out the old epoxy. I think I used a regular screwdriver, a wood chisel, a hammer, a few beers and lots of cussing to get it clean.


Make sure you at least sand the area flat and clean it with acetone. Or was it aircraft cleaner? I think acetone; but it's been awhile since I had to do it.

Oh and don't be so confident that the transducer was properly installed to begin with, most of the shops are a joke. It's about money to them, not a great installation.

Last edited by grout-scout; 04/18/16 02:29 AM. Reason: I hate my iphone
Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11549140 04/18/16 01:18 AM
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I have had several go bad. I now have a collection of them under my back floor drain. I have tried to remove them put they are not budging. I use PC7 epoxy. It is a grey and like putty. Some strong stuff. HD use toe carry it but not sure they still do. I comes in 2 film cannisters.


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Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11549221 04/18/16 01:52 AM
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Stump jumper, if it's that permanent, why keep using it? Lowrance sells pucks with epoxy included. They also say to use what they provide as other products may not meet their specifications (such as product density). While that putty style product may hold extremely well, it's certainly not as flowable and may not be as dense as the Lowrance-supplied epoxy when cured. I'm not sure how you can insure no air bubbles with a putty as air can be trapped during placement of one surface against the other.

Maybe your choice of a completely different type of epoxy not recommended by Lowrance (and a putty at that) has something to do with why you are accumulating a collection of failed transducers. I've been running 3-4 transducers on my boats since the days of flashers and have yet to have one fail. Half of those were probably epoxyed in place.

Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11549314 04/18/16 02:31 AM
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I have never had one actually fail, I replaced mine because it came with a flasher and the flasher was dead & discontinued.

I use the Lowrance epoxy as well.

Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: grout-scout] #11549601 04/18/16 11:08 AM
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[most of the shops are a joke]
only about 90% of them and that number rises every year


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Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11549956 04/18/16 03:01 PM
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So, I keep thinking about this.

If you have 2 graphs, then you should have 2 sonar ducers. Are you sure you have 2d sonar on the hds7 or did they just run a LSS transducer to it? Does the 5x have a sonar transducer? You should have all kinds of transducers on that boat, 3 of them.

Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11550213 04/18/16 04:51 PM
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The down and side scan is mounted external, I thought all this time that that transducer integrated all
freqs 83 / 200 + 455 / 800 and that the ducer that was easily seen in the bilge was for the dash mounted 5x. I think there is a puck type for the 5x in the bilge underneath all the hoses a pumps I found a smaller dia cable coming out of the wire loom going into something I assume is the third ducer. After 54 yrs if its black and everything around its black and the sun aint shining on it I cant see it even if it hit me in the face.
The whole confusion all began with the external an me thinking that took the place of all that was needed and thanks to you instead of just plugging connectors and turning it on and going looking for fish. I see how everything works. I had no Idea the Sonar ducer was a separate entity. I almost spent $3000 on a HDS 9 Gen 3 with 3D. whew!


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Re: Lowrance hds 7 gen 2 problem HELP! [Re: jnogreen] #11551339 04/19/16 02:18 AM
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Well, I'm glad you didn't get the 3d just yet. Seems to be a few bugs with it right now. Lowrance did just release a new transducer called the Totalscan, it has chirp 2d sonar & SI/DI built into 1 single transducer. It only works on gen3 graphs though and it would only work at slow speeds, best for trolling motor applications or small slow boats.

If you ever need help with something shoot me a PM, I can come over and give you a hand.

cheers

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