Whos having probelms with the Tri-Beam

[blackleech]

Im having issues with sensitivy on my Tri-beam, Im always having to turn the gain higher then I have to turn it down after a few minutes because of clutter but can see the jig normally again. This happens all the time any suggestions?

[Esox_Magnum]

Been alot of chatter about the Tri beams going bad, call Vex and see what they say.

[Wimbie]

Try making sure that the bottom of the puck is clean and ice free before putting it in the hole. Also once in the hole, wipe the bottom off with your hand if needed. Could be air bubbles. Hope that helps.

[blackleech]

I will contact them...kinda sucks as I was in limbo between this unit and the LX-5. Maybe I'll go and buy an LX-5 and try to sell this one to someone else. Thanks, guys.

[BehindtheHead]

i have been having problems with it. doesnt work on

20 degrese at all. no matter if im in 5 fow or 40.

[jwmiller33]

I will contact them...kinda sucks as I was in limbo between this unit and the LX-5. Maybe I'll go and buy an LX-5 and try to sell this one to someone else. Thanks, guys.

thats a real bummer man and i feel for you! i would think this should be covered by your warranty, or at least if you contact vexilar, they should fix it and make it right, being that you dropped several hundred dollars on a brand new sonar... sounds like vexilar is starting to slip and lose more and more market share to humminbird and marcum year after year.

[Ed Carlson]

Try making sure that the bottom of the puck is clean and ice free before putting it in the hole. Also once in the hole, wipe the bottom off with your hand if needed. Could be air bubbles. Hope that helps.

Very often this is the case, air bubble or tiny bugs build up on the puck face surface and will alter the sensitivity. Wipe it clean on your sleeve and it shakes out of it. This can happen on all ducers used on the ice.

If a beam setting does not work at all, as someone mentioned occurred to them, then it is likely a bad or damaged switch and is easily warrantied once you contact Vexilar.

I seen a total of "1" tri-beam ducer with this situation occurring so far this winter, out of maybe a hundred or so Vexilar FL series units equipped with the new Tri-Beams sold just in our store alone here in Fargo. Vexilar replaced the malfunctioning Tri-Beam in 2 days for him. I see him often and he continues to be very happy with his FL-22 HD and the Tri Beam. No further issues at all.

[quijibo]

Blackleech, That is exactly the reason I replaced my X67C, I hope it doesn't happen to my new FL-20 Tribeam too.

Adam

[IcerRon2010]

Vexilar will be more than happy to work with you on your problems that you are having. You have to give them a call. Real easy going, awesome people to deal with. Give them a ring, they had me fixed up by the next day.

[pulleye16]

The joys of buying new technology.

[BartmanMN]

I will be at Vexilar on Monday to swap my pro pack for an Ultra pack on my new FL-22. I will ask them about any reported issues on the Tri beam and report back.

I am sure they would take care of anyone who has experienced an issue.

[BLT100]

Hey guys. I'm an ultrasonic(UT) technician for General Electric and can tell you that even on a $15,000 UT machine you will have these fluctuations. When you change degrees it just takes time for the machine to catch up and filter out the noise. And I know what you mean because I run a FL-20 with tri-beam as well. I've run an regular FL-12 too and you can still see sensitivity fluctuations and I'm quite sure that other flashers are not exactly rock solid all the time either. On a final note, I'm generally not catching so many fish that I can't take the time to adjust my machine. And if I was, I probably wouldnt' need one. Good luck on the guys!

[BartmanMN]

Only reported issue that they told me at Vexilar was that they had to switch manufactures of the switch used on the tri beam. He said that the first manufacture kept 'filling' them to full and they were having issues.

I do not know if there is a way to determine who manufactured your switch or if any issues that you are experiencing are even related to this.

Plan to get my new unit wet tonight.

[fishwater]

He said that the first manufacture kept 'filling' them to full and they were having issues.

Ya know, with flasher fluid. In a pinch you can get by with draining the bad fluid out and re-filling with blinker fluid.

The two fl22's that I played with had the same 3 way switch box. Honestly, the switch is very cheap looking and feeling. My guess is that if they had been over filled, it was likely with solder. Maybe the odd performance was from shorting and running multiple contacts on the tri-pole switch? That might explain some of the irregular performance I experienced.

[WallyGader]

No problems with my tri beam, I love having the extra options for better tuning.

[BehindtheHead]

i called vexilar today. he sounded suprised with the problem like they always do. but they are sending me one under for free. hopefully it helps the problem.

[BartmanMN]

Put mine in the water for the first time today. Was impressed that in the 9 ft of water that I was fishing in, that I was able to keep the gain completely turned off.

Ran it next to my Marcum VX-1 with zero interference on both units and that was without using any interference rejection buttons. The unit is much louder than my Marcum, but from what I have read I guess that is normal for a Vex.

[JPowell]

No problems with my tri beam, I love having the extra options for better tuning.

X2

JP

[blackleech]

I did as suggested and cleaned the ducer head and the cup that holds it and am thinking that was the problem cause its working great now.

Cheers!!

[Ed Carlson]

Glad to hear you got it resolved.

More often then not, some form of surface contamination, bugs, or bubbles is the issue in this situation. Due to the units extreme sensitivity them tiny bubbles and bugs can be a issue sufficient to alter the readings and sensitivity.

Just remember to wipe the face of the ducer from time to time on your sleeve and it will be good to go. At night when the light attracts billions of them tiny critters into the ice hole is often the highest time of concern.