Fluke Frequency Counter Repair

I recently repaired an expensive Fluke frequency counter with a spritz of DeoxIT® D5. A friend brought a unit to me that he had recovered from the trash at his company. The indication was that the “ovenized” crystal oscillator was dead.

I found that the oscillator was ok but the signal was getting lost somewhere along its path to the gating circuitry. Using an oscilloscope, I traced the signal down to the point where it entered a slide switch that was used to allow the unit to switch between the internal oscillator and an external oscillator.

I saw the signal on one side of the switch, but nothing on the other side. I told my friend that the switch was the culprit. One short spritz of D5 and a few actuations later, and the frequency counter came to life.

Needless to say that made a believer out of my friend especially since it just saved him at least $500. He now has a nice "free" frequency counter in his amateur radio shack. He went out and bought a can of his own for future use.

Sam Reaves

NOTE:
DeoxIT® GOLD
DeoxIT® GOLD GxL (formerly ProGold GxL)
DeoxIT® SHIELD
DeoxIT® FaderLube (formerly CaiLube MCL)
DeoxIT® FaderGrease (formerly CaiLube MCL P20 & P40)
DeoxIT® Grease Type M260 & L260 Paste (formerly CaiLube Grease)