Clean and check your metal detecting equipment

I am a full time detectorist so I use my down time making sure I do not have any more unexpected down time due to metal detecting equipment failure. 
I use several different pieces of metal detecting equipment in some pretty harsh environments, from swamps and oceans to deserts and mountains so I take great care to clean and maintain the tools of the trade.
Traveling to metal detect actually helps me to keep on top of cleaning and maintenance, taking metal detectors apart to pack gives me a chance to clean and inspect search coils, shafts, cables and control boxes for damage.
I also clean and inspect the tools I take to help me recover targets, from travel scoops and relic spades to hand digging tools, because in my opinion cleaned equipment simply lasts longer. 
Salt, sand, shell and grit all do a number on your metal detecting equipment if you do not clean it off, causing metal detector shafts to lock up and hide any equipment problem from being seen before its too late to repair.
Cracks or splits on the bottom of search coils or in search coil cables can be easily repaired if they are caught in time, saving you from a costly search coil replacement but not before spoiling a good treasure hunting opportunity.
Like many other things in life, problems always occur when you least want them or expect them.
If you own a waterproof metal detector you have no reason not to give your metal detector a good rinse off after every time you use it, most non waterproof metal detectors now have waterproof search coils. 
I remove my search coil cover and thoroughly rinse the search coil and coil cover every time I finish metal detecting at a beach or in a swamp for the day, always inspecting the bottom of my search coil and the search coil cable connection.
In the heat of a hunt you do not realize how many times the bottom of your search coil cable gets snagged or brushes against things that could potentially cause damage to your search coil cable, you cannot fix what you cannot see until it is too late. 
You would be surprised what two simple metal detector parts made of nylon you rely on the most and if they break you are probably done for the metal detecting day.
Im talking about metal detector arm cuff straps and search coil bolts, always travel with a spare of both if possible just in case they break. 
Try swinging a metal detector without an arm cuff strap, just as difficult try finding something to hold your search coil in place when your search coil bolt breaks. 
A frayed or split arm cuff strap is telling you its time to replace it, a gunked up uncleaned search coil to shaft connection point is one tightening turn away from a broken search coil bolt.  
If you have telescoping type metal detector shafts its even more important to keep them clean and just because you cannot see your search coil cable / control box connection it does not mean you do not have to keep that connection clean.
Preventative maintenance is always the best way of insuring you are out searching instead of spending money and waiting for repaired metal detecting equipment to show up from the service center. 
I also make a point of keeping traveling to detect equipment just that, traveling to metal detect equipment.
Travel metal detector shafts or travel sand scoops are very prone to locking up if you use them all the time between trips and you do not bother to take them apart to clean them.
Pin-pointer speaker slots are notoriously bad for clogging up with mud, you'll have fun picking away at dried mud if you dont keep an eye on them. 
The same applies to metal detector control box speaker openings, keep em clean.
To prevent damage after cleaning and inspecting your metal detector, never leave it to dry in the hot sun or leave it in a hot vehicle, store it in a cool place like you would any other piece of electronic equipment.
Apply a thin coat of lube to pin-pointer cap seals, usb cap seals or metal detector battery door seals, to prevent caps from locking up and cracked seals, make sure you wipe any extra lube off the surrounding area when you are finished.
Every piece of metal detecting equipment you own probably has a weak link, once you know what potential problems you have to watch for you can avoid problems down the road.
Make the most of your metal detecting down time by cleaning and inspecting your money makers, look after your metal detecting equipment and it will look after you.