Fading Fluke 87 display surprise fix! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: jewelie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 08:48:19 pm
content: I've a very old original (first version) Fluke 87 with the classic fading display due to the deteriorating elastomeric zebra strips.I'd already tried most other fixes suggested bar a proper replacement strip.Unfortunately the plastic display mount clips have also deteriorated so badly that I dare not risk breaking another one, as I'd already lost two of the four.So, as a pure "Hail Mary", to see if it made any difference, the last time I was inside the case (which you had to do to change the battery in the first 87's) I decided to drop some Deoxit D100L under the strip, and give it a gentle massage. This was the pure liquid stuff that you apply with a brush, not the spray stuff.24hrs later......well bugger me, the display is near perfect. 😃And it still is, 6 months later, as you can see in the photos. 😲I know a proper fix would be a new 3rd party strip but I can't do that without spending proper cash and hunting down a new display mount too, and it's just not viable or worth it for me.I imagine there will be others in the same boat so I thought I'd share, just in case.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 09:01:08 pm
content: I had the same meter and the first time the display went bad Fluke fixed it under lifetime warranty. Second time they said they can't fix it any more and can only offer me $100 credit toward a 189 so I took it.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 02:23:06 pm
content: Quote from: BeBuLamar on November 19, 2024, 09:01:08 pmYou made the right decision BeBu, the 189 is a superior DMM and should never have been discontinued

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 02:50:21 pm
content: 187/189 were peak Fluke.It's all downhill after that.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2024, 03:11:50 pm
content: for the 83 87 lcd zebra the only trick i used was to compress the lcd plastic frame with some crafted metallic clampssince the zebra in the 83 sit on thinned traces in my case, i redid the solder, cleaned and put the clampnever failed again ? so far ... now you have ebay kits ..yes 187 189 where the best ever, alas the only problem is the screws posts inside the case who crack / fail over the years, powder with superglue to the rescue

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2024, 05:45:31 pm
content: Quote from: BILLPOD on November 20, 2024, 02:23:06 pmYes the 189 is my favorite meter. More than the 87V or the 289 and 287.About a month or so after I got the 189 Fluke reps contacted me asking me for an hour interview about their new meter. They showed me the simulator of the 189 on the laptop. I liked it but I didn't know the real unit is quite different. I didn't know that the real unit display contrast is too low and you almost always want to have it backlighted. I didn't know that it takes so long to boost up. I didn't know that it's so big. I didn't know that in resistance measurement it autorange very slowly. They asked me if I want to see the temperature display in both C and F and I said no. Only 1 unit at a time.Any way Fluke gave me $100 Home Depot gift card so it's cool.

author: jewelie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2025, 10:29:54 pm
content: And other 6 months.No deterioration.It looks like Deoxit D100L (the pure stuff) does fix the dreaded fluke zebra strips issue

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2025, 11:40:16 am
content: I imagine the deoxit cost more than new clips and zebra strips!.

author: jewelie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2025, 11:47:01 am
content: It's the very first version of the 87. I can't find a replacement zebra and display mount for it, at least not at a vaguely reasonable price. The Deoxit was £8 and has kept a lot of other things going. Would be delighted if someone told me there was a cheap zebra and display clip kit available for this original 87 though!

author: med6753
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2025, 03:46:24 pm
content: I have 87 Series 1 purchased new in 1997 and I have not experienced any loss of LCD brightness. But if I do I'll keep this fix in mind.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 06:20:30 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on November 20, 2024, 02:50:21 pm7 segment display all the way

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2025, 11:33:21 am
content: Quote from: BILLPOD on November 20, 2024, 02:23:06 pmMany years after I think I did make the right choice. I like it the best and I am glad I it's the meter I paid for with my money. I have several Fluke meters including the 87v, 287 and 289 but I didn't have to pay for them.