Any techs here ? Furuno advice needed.

[Lucky_Phill]

Hi guys,

I have a Furuno 668......... yes, a dinosaur but still as good as it gets these days.

A while ago the transducer broke away. It actually broke the porcelain bracket that gets bolted to the stainless transom mounting bracket. This was fixed, at the time, with Sikaflex and was doing OK for 2 years.

This has now given way and despite my attempts to re-Sikaflex it, it will not stay attached.

So, I believe I have a couple of options.

1. Buy new transducer ( if they still make that model ) and install. BIG, job...really is due to the way the cables are run on the boat and the small holes it went through.

2. Buy a thru-hull 1kw transducer and install... if they make a 1kw for the 668 ?

3. Cut off the cable at the best possible place and join new transducer cable to it... this is my main question.... can this be done ?

I really need " expert " advice on this.....

I know I could possibly use a resin or some sort of 2 pac to glue the transducer and bracket together, but is this really solving the problem ? And, if the transducer needs to be adjusted, it cannot , once the resin has hardened.


All advice appreciated.


Cheers Phill
.
.
.
.
.

[lethal098]

Phill although not an expert trying to join sounder cable would be a dificult job, it is a shielded wire than would require precise joining to ensure the sounder worked correctly, I would look at trying to get a new transducer although it might be a pain in the arse to run it would be well worth it. Temporarily you could just epoxy it back on but you never know how long it would last, it will prob break when you are on your first day out halfway to fitzroy, That would be a bitch!!!

Cheers Lee

[TheRealAndy]

You can do it, the sonar is audio frequencies so there is no major issues there. However the main problem will come later down the track when you solder joins start to corrode and the 2 metals start to creep. This can cause noise and offsets in the cable and may result in strange things appearing on your sounder screen.

Me personally, I would go through the effort of pulling a new cable through to the unit itself. Pain in the arse, but a job done properly the first time is a job done once.

[finga]

So the plastic is snapped then Phill??(with 2 L's)
If so what about trying the correct glue?
Weld make a heap of different types of glue for different plastics.
I have some Weld (can't remember the number but it's for acrylics) in the shed if you want to try that.

If it's porcelain I have some mega-poxy if you want to try that.

[Lucky_Phill]

Guys, I would rather fix the current transducer..... and Mr Finga is probably right, with the correct " glue " it can be done successfully.

I have contacted a couple of Furuno " people " to get their advice.

The cost of a new transducer etc would not be that far from a new FCV585 anyway... doh !




LP.
.
.
.
.
.
.

[STUIE63]

Phill if it was me I would try and fix the old tranny and if that was not an option then if a new tranny was the same for your head unit and for a 585 then buy a new tranny . if it wasn't the same then I would cut my losses and just buy the 585 complete

[stue2]

Phil if the 585 is out of reach the 620 is still very good. The 600 if you can find a good second hand one is well worth the coin and it runs a P66 which will work on a 585 and a 620 I am told. I have had both of these older sounders but IMHO the 600 gets the nod.

That if the tranny cant be fixed.

I'm will TheRealAndy, I think a join will eventually let you down.

Cheers, Stu

[TheRealAndy]

Phil if the 585 is out of reach the 620 is still very good. The 600 if you can find a good second hand one is well worth the coin and it runs a P66 which will work on a 585 and a 620 I am told. I have had both of these older sounders but IMHO the 600 gets the nod.

That if the tranny cant be fixed.

I'm will TheRealAndy, I think a join will eventually let you down.

Cheers, Stu

Its not out of reach me thinks, its just not quite as capable as Phill's old beast. Have a play with the one on re-bait now and you will understand. I saw one on ebay the otherday, and I think it was dearer than the new stuff.

[Lucky_Phill]

The FCV 585 has all the features of my old girl, but with the added option of accepting a 1KW tranny.

The 668 has a 6" screen, so I can't go any smaller than that. old eyes. That rules out the 620.

I have yet to " play " with a 585, but will find someone who has one and run the specs.


LP.
.
.
.
.
.

[beardedone]

Hi Phil, I am a Furuno tech(retired) Buy a P66 transom mount transducer. It doesn't even need to be branded Furuno (they are airmar transducers with Furuno on the box). Cut and join the cable using heatshrink. Make sure you join the the shield. It is simple. Do not put a 1kw on the FCV668. It won't handle it. Honestly this is very simple fix. If the sounder is still good just replace the transducer with a currrent model. I have done this for people many times. If you order a transducer from furuno for a FCV668 all that we used to do is cut off the plug off a current model and change it.

I see fishon have them for $87.95 you should be able to get one in Aus for not much over $100.
Give trymax a ring and ask them to put the eight pin plug on it if you are unsure of joining the cable.

[mossy43]

Phil I have the same sounder and all I did was ring Taylor Marine told them what I wanted and they advised me to get onto BCF tell them that you have spoken to them and get them to ring them and tell them who to speak to and order the transducer (P66). They will cut the old plug off and put the new one on for about $10 I think all up about $160. beardedone is right in what he is saying as well.

[Lucky_Phill]

beardedone, yes, I am aware of the airmar and contacted a tech, his response was:-

Good afternoon Phill,

Thank you for your email regarding the Airmar P66 transom mount transducer.

The P66 refers to the housing design of the transducer and there are various models of this available to suit different sounders i.e Furuno, JRC, Lowrance, Koden ect.

The P66 models we stock are configured for the JRC FF60 sounder and as such will have different connector (7 pin conaxal) fitted to that of the Furuno FCV668 (8 pin Mic style I think).

I would recommend contacting Trymax Marine as they are dealers for the Furuno range of products and would certainly be able to assist you with the transducer.

mossy43, yep. all good, long time no talk, hope the bay is firing for you up there ?

Next stop.... Trymax marine and quite likely a new transducer.... P66, that is.

Although I do like the look of the Furuno FCV 295.. 10" screen, but $'s at the moment are not there. Having said that, the USA and Aus exchange rate is very very good !!

Cheers.

[beardedone]

No problem Phil. By the way when people rang Taylors in Bris to talk to a tech it was either me or John they spoke to. Just John now as I have gone back to my home town in Vic.
Don't forget you have the correct connector it just has to be put on the new transducer

[Lucky_Phill]

From Trymax marine....

Hi Phill.

The transducers with the older style 8 pin plug are no longer available through furuno.

We can however put the correct plug on a furuno supplied P66 Transducer.

Cost including supply and fitting of plug is $175 for DEPTH and TEMPERATURE ONLY - in the past we have found that speed often doesn't work properly when adapting transducers from different / newer sounders.

If you would like speed it will be $250 but we make no guarantees it will work.

Thanks, Blair.

[beardedone]

Yes they are correct Phil, Trymax know their stuff.