Do I have a bad transducer?

I have had the same vexilar fl8 for a really long time. I am pretty sure my dad bought it around the time I was in high school, and I graduated in 2001. (Not 100% positive though). My question is this…lately I have been having issues with the unit returning signals. It picks up the bottom, and will sometimes pick up my jig, but hardly ever fish. I know there are fish in the area, because we can mark them with my helix all day long. I also get a bunch of what looks like interference even when I am not near other units. It doesn’t seem to help to push the IR button either. I thought that maybe I was getting crosstalk from my helix, but my buddies fl8 never has any issues next to me, so I am not sure that is the problem. Lastly, I have noticed that it almost always seems like the flasher has to “warm up” before it will register anything. I am wondering if my transducer is going bad, or if the whole unit might be done for? Anyone had a ducer go bad? What would I be looking for if that were the case? I really want to keep it for my daughter to use if it is possible to just get another transducer since she is really getting into fishing. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks a ton!

Could be your transducer, but on a unit that old i would be thinking it was more the brushes on the motor that need replacing, they wear down and need to be replaced after so many years. Lots of info on how to do it yourself, or, take it into the Bloomington shop and they’ll fix you up.

Thank you very much! I will give it a try.

Before you send it in, try a different battery. If it does the same thing, try swapping with your buddy’s transducer. Check your pins on the unit and transducer cord, give them a dab of dielectric grease. If it’s still acting up, send her in or order a brush kit and repair it yourself.

Thanks for the ideas. I will try them. Like I said, I would love to keep it around for my daughter to use since she is getting into fishing. Thanks again!

So I was able to check the transducer via the hard floor test. It is still working fine. I can also hear it clicking, so I think I am ruling out the ducer. I also have a new battery, so I am ruling that out as well. Going to try to clean the brushes first and check to see if they need replacing. Anyone done their own? It looks fairly straightforward from the instructions, but I just don’t want to mess it up. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

I sent an old fl8 in about 8-9 years ago and they cleaned it up and only charged me shipping.

That’s incredible! I am not too far from the offices, and we are going past there all the time since my wife’s family is from the cities. I may just try to swing in and have them work on it. If I can get it running well again for the cost of parts and a small fee, it would be worth it to have for my kids. Thanks!