SOLVED: Broken probe in fluke jack (289) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 12:10:46 am
content: Just bought a Fluke 289 and when I got it, found someone was good enough to break off a banana jack in the v-ohm jack. :/It can’t be grabbed. So I’m thinking of taking a “dremel” and drill bit to drill a hole in it, then use a screw to extract.Any other thoughts before going this route? And yes, I’m trying to contact seller. But, ya know, fleabay gotta fleabay.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 01:49:34 am
content: There are way too many styles of banana plugs. We'd have to see a picture before we could make useful suggestions. However, a Dremel sounds excessive.Ed

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 02:16:56 am
content: Thanks for reply!Here’s a pic. Someone clearly tried to fish it out. And sorry, don’t specifically mean dremel. I have a Proxxon setup with a small press, so that mixed with a micro-drill bit to make a hole, then use a screw to extract was my idea. Either that, or possibly some quick set epoxy on the end of a… “stick” to see if I could grab it and pull it out.Wish fluke would put a “through hole” so you could open and push out something stuck.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 04:16:57 am
content: Damn, that's ugly!The only thing I can think of is to disassemble the unit so you can get a better look at the jack and see if that triggers any other ideas. If not, the drill / screw may not work because as soon as the drill touches the banana plug, the plug will spin rather than let you drill it.It might be easiest to just replace the jack.Ed

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 04:23:13 am
content: Yup. Already took apart. No real access. Whole jack assembly is... difficult to replace. The jacks are built into the front plastic casing.https://www.ebay.com/itm/252185914152I might take it back apart. I just realized it uses IR to sense probe location, which means there have to be some small openings on the sides of the input jacks that maybe I could get a pick in there and work the guy out.And yeah, realize drilling might just spin the broken piece. =/ in which case glue on a stick may be other option. just worried about accidentally gluing the broken piece to the jack and really being stuck. har har.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 05:12:47 am
content: If there's no thru hole, maybe you could create one by drilling from the back. It wouldn't take much. All you'd need is a hole big enough for a stiff piece of wire, a tiny drill bit, a needle, something like that.Ed

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 05:21:57 am
content: So gave a shot to drilling and screw removal. It… is very stuck. Starting to think it’s either glued, or worse, welded to the jack.There doesn’t seem to be any damage in the board. And measurements are accurate, so I don’t see how it could have welded itself and not caused serious damage. I’m very confused. Would someone have glued an input into a meter?!I’m making slow progress, but it’s hard to tell if there will be anything left of input jack when I’m done.

author: inse
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 06:52:58 am
content: Maybe it has bent before breaking and thus is jammed in the jack now.I know from my work that the connector block of the 187 can be replaced as it happened already that the pins to the pcb have been broken.Maybe this also applies to the 289?PN is 659059 for the 187, not really cheap (€30.-), as a starter.

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2022, 07:30:30 am
content: Yeah, sadly not how this one works. They’re integrated into the casing and the PCB has metal connectors that screw to the terminals. Very odd design.Will keep at it. Hopefully seller will throw be a bit of a refund.

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2022, 03:06:23 am
content: update.Ended up with a 1/3 refund from ebay seller to cover replacement casing, which I'm waiting to order.But this evening, after a few sessions of drilling on the stuck plug in the jack with a proxxon and a carbide endmill, I managed to slowly whittle it down to being both A hot (at which point I could smell superglue burning), and was able to shove a pick through the side and yank it out. Someone had superglued the lead in... there's glue remnants around the end of the plug. WHY!? only thing I can figure is some QA station to keep employees from moving the lead?There is a small crack in the jack, I could have done that drilling... but no big deal. It'll get "fixed" when I replace the casing.*sigh*

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2022, 05:50:59 am
content: Yeah, I'd definitely replace that. But, congratulations on getting it out!That plug doesn't look like it would be nice & tight in the jack. I wonder if some genius thought the superglue would hold the plug into the jack? Result: one junked meter.Ed

author: staze
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2022, 03:35:22 am
content: Got a whole new front and back case off eBay (some Chinese seller that I’m assuming got from whatever plant does the molding) for pretty cheap ($75 including shipping). Swapped over internals and now have a working great meter!Sure, probably could have bought a 289 for same price… on a lucky day. But still came away positive. Replacement case cost less than my partial refund from seller.