Can we get this Fluke 87 DMM back working?

In this video let's see if we can get this Fluke 87 DMM back working. It is not powering on and instead we can hear it making a Low clicking sound from the buzzer with no display at all. This is the second Fluke DMM in a row that was a really easy fix and I hope you find it interesting. Many times the 87 series will have zebra strip (elastomeric edge) issues or even a LCD issue. Sometimes they also have a bad or loose wafer switch or broken solder joints on the jacks. I thought I would go ahead and share some of these easier fixes in case it helps someone else. Thanks for watching!
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[@ElectromagneticVideos]

I had never heard of Rheo Lube - looks like its perfect for switches like that. Its always great watching someone else fix for built stuff because you always learn something!

[@georgedavall9449]

Thrifty Tool Shed on another level

[@ThriftyToolShed]

Thanks for your kind comment!

[@ThriftyToolShed]

Thanks so much for your kind comment!

[@jonathanridder]

Great video. I use that exact model as my main DMM. Luckily no problems with it for the last ~20 years.

[@AlbertMartinez11]

Excellent and to the point troubleshooting, diagnosing and repairing.

[@georgedavall9449]

Excellent!

[@LilasTools]

Great work as always, so many times electronics just need a little cleaning and good to go! 👍

[@offgridwanabe]

You make troubleshooting look easy.

[@ThriftyToolShed]

Thank you for your kind comment! I really enjoy working on tools and items!

[@MrMexanik066]

​@@ThriftyToolShedhi man I have fluke with issue no high voltage measuring AC/DC .can you share circuit board diagram ?

[@ThriftyToolShed]

@@MrMexanik066 If it is a fluke 87 you are in luck since Fluke shared the service manual with us. Some of the newer meters they don't. Here is a link to fluke for 87 for example. www.fluke.com/en-us/search/fluke/?query=Fluke%2087%20manual

[@Tonyplat98]

Love these Fluke 87 meters they last very long time if you treat it right. I too have the 87 version 3 like yours it's a fantastic meter.

[@mtkoslowski]

Good job. I have a Fluke 87. If it ever farts in church like that one, I’ll now know what to do.

[@electroddxful]

Great repair🙏👍🙏👍

[@juancarlosguevaramunoz2813]

Saludos desde Venezuela 🇻🇪, video genial

[@walakotv7451]

Thanks for this vid.Sir 💪

[@4693howe]

We had some one use our fluke 726 process calibrator (30V limit) to try to read Hz on a VFD running on 240V. Needless to say it didn’t turn on any more. Started heating up until we removed the batteries. It was under warranty thankfully, or I would have at least tried to open it up and see what all had fried. They ended up having to send us a brand new one as the old one was so damaged.

[@ThriftyToolShed]

It was really good it was under warranty for sure! Thanks for sharing. Hope you are doing well Chris!

[@daviddevillers6790]

Probably 25-30 years old? A quick lube job and it is ready for more. Well done!

[@ELECTROxigeno76.]

Exelent vídeo,..

[@mambrake]

I have the Version 4 and shows 75kohm always and the voltage is below by 5 volts. I noticed two of the K575 Varistors burnt.

[@E85_STI]

My fluke has no sound or backlight but the board has some corrosion so maybe I can find the parts online because I cleaned them up and no dice.

[@piccadillypainting2826]

Yep sometimes it's just a fluke! 😉

[@franciscomendoza6192]

Donde compro el display para mi fluke 87 true rms

[@osamagamal-hf9ri]

to : thrifty tool shed can you make a video about making fluke 87 multimeter .

[@ratah405]

Hello, I need a 187FLUKE-187 True rms Multimeter chart, thank you very much, or where can I find it shematic

[@peterharizon8390]

I had fluke87v accedintally damage when i change same value of these two fuse its work not accurately reading in all range on setting

I have a fluke 83 that everything works on it works but the capacitor tester option. It just does not read anything when checking a capacitor. Any idea what would be wrong with it? Thanks John

[@ThriftyToolShed]

The first thought in my mind would possibly be the range switch not making good contact and causing that. I should also mention that the early flukes like the original 85 and 87 models did not have a very high capacitance range at all. The 83 maybe similar. I have been told many times over the years that a older Fluke DMM was bad and not reading capacitors and it ended being that the cap was too large a value to even show any reading just OL. The older Fluke Cap range was almost useless for many of us. The newer DMMs are much better starting with the 87III if I remember right and the 87V is even better.

[@jdmccorful]

What brought you to consider the problem was contacts being dirty?

[@ThriftyToolShed]

I have seen the contacts cause issue before even though not acting exactly like this one. Also, once I took the cover off and turned the switch around a couple times it started working on uA mode and it wasn't before. I also had the issue with the last fluke I worked on with the Microcontroller chip or ASIC chip was the issue as far as cleaning it well got the meter back working. That's why I went ahead and cleaned them both and the jacks while I was spraying. Thanks for your comment!

[@autolancegega599]

Anyone knows where I can get the lcd screen for this meter. My meter screen got blotched ( black patch ) , need a replacement .

[@ThriftyToolShed]

I do not see a 87 LCD for sale these days. You can find the 87V still available. Not sure how backward compatible they are though! www.ebay.com/itm/266136252993?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=-vb0EET_SWy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=D_qZMHXJQNK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@ThriftyToolShed]

I see this one now also... www.ebay.com/itm/325246531976?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=md8J9gHORN2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=D_qZMHXJQNK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[@Swenser]

The plastics fluke used was so bad. Two of.my flukes are hanging together with 50 tubes of super glue.

[@ThriftyToolShed]

🤯

[@mp1454]

😀👏♥️👍👍👍👍👍

[@northyland1157]

Flukes have lifetime warranties.

[@ThriftyToolShed]

IF the failure is from the manufacturer's defect. IF model is still in production (not your lifetime, the meters availability). IF you are the original owner. Fluke has been known to honor some of repairs in the past in spite of this though for sure! That's good of them. The original 87 I would not expect them to. I see the meters come back unrepairable and end of product life and an estimate for the newer replacement model. Fluke also does not have a lifetime warranty on all meters.