I own a heathkit IM-28 :) Mine works absolutely excellently! I LOVE my VTVM! The meter plastic looks absolutely great and all the capacitors were replaced. Thanks for the video, I enjoy seeing other people with the same test gear that I have :)
I've been using the newer SM5228 version of this meter since the late 70's. I use it mostly for doing radio alignments, can't beat an analog meter with a large meter face for finding peaks/dips. I converted it to solid state when I got it back when the conversion kits were available. The only issue I've had with the meter movement is over time it's movement starts to become erratic. It's a common issue with swinging needle movements when the plastic cover builds up a static charge. I've always just wiped the meter face down with a bit of dish soap to eliminate the problem. Nowadays there's plenty of anti-static sprays available that likely provide longer service, but I always have dish soap and it costs next to nothing so that's all I've ever used. I'd be very nervous about using electricity to exercise a movement though, too much risk of damaging the coil. Like other folks have commented, I've always simply disassembled the meter, cleaned and lubricated the movement. On a few occasions I've found tiny bits of metal stuck to the magnet that would jam the meter movement at random places.
I appreciate your time and effort to share! Thank you. I offer the following truly without criticism... I only intend to help. You may want to broaden your thinking. You have a meter that is working poorly. You are applying power to cause it to work, before repairing it, thinking that it needs to be exercised. Well, that may work, to some extent... If the lubricant in the meter has degraded and become gummy, the heat from straining the meter may melt it and things may improve. Or, the shear force of forcing the meter into action with additional power may break loose dirt and corrosion. In either case, you are forcing the meter into action with power. That is very likely to damage it. I would suggest that, once the meter problem was discovered, it would be better to cut all power, open it up and do a visual inspection. This is true for any mechanical device issue. Though meters are delicate devices that require care, their operations are fairly clear and a visual inspection is generally sufficient to suss out the issue. If no broken parts are discovered, then cleaning and lubrication are indicated, before applying power again. There are good videos on the clean/restoration procedure. Mr. Young's advice is sound. So, suggesting to your viewers to apply power to a frozen meter may be risky advice. Maybe do a followup video of opening the meter, inspecting it and cleaning it. I hope you hear my heart and know that I am not throwing stones. I have used such methods, myself. But, sometimes additional eyes and minds see things that we are to close to. HTH.
I have found such fixes as this are usually only temporary. If the meter continues working, then, no worries! But if it does fail again, remove the meter cover, or remove the meter from the case, and loosen and tighten the screws on the meter movement frame, front and rear, especially the screw with the wire terminal under it. That is where corrosion sometimes builds up and causes the movement to not conduct. If the meter still fails to move, use 1.5 volts through a 1K ohm resistor, and touch the different parts of the frame after the wire connector, to see if it moves. If not, then the other spot where the wire attaches to the coil might be the bad spot. If the unit fails with both wires at the coil and nothing moves, the coil is open, and needs repair, or replacement. but be careful of the springs at each end. The springs sometimes lose continuity, and need to be repaired by soldering them over at each end, I have a meter like that at the moment, and the only repair is to replace the meter coil, but the only recourse I have is to replace he meter.
@@MaxsGarage t worked on Aircraft instruments for 36 years, and that was one of the many things I found by experience, even tho the boss never accepted the idea.
I own a heathkit IM-28 :) Mine works absolutely excellently! I LOVE my VTVM! The meter plastic looks absolutely great and all the capacitors were replaced. Thanks for the video, I enjoy seeing other people with the same test gear that I have :)
I've been using the newer SM5228 version of this meter since the late 70's. I use it mostly for doing radio alignments, can't beat an analog meter with a large meter face for finding peaks/dips. I converted it to solid state when I got it back when the conversion kits were available. The only issue I've had with the meter movement is over time it's movement starts to become erratic. It's a common issue with swinging needle movements when the plastic cover builds up a static charge. I've always just wiped the meter face down with a bit of dish soap to eliminate the problem. Nowadays there's plenty of anti-static sprays available that likely provide longer service, but I always have dish soap and it costs next to nothing so that's all I've ever used. I'd be very nervous about using electricity to exercise a movement though, too much risk of damaging the coil. Like other folks have commented, I've always simply disassembled the meter, cleaned and lubricated the movement. On a few occasions I've found tiny bits of metal stuck to the magnet that would jam the meter movement at random places.
I appreciate your time and effort to share! Thank you. I offer the following truly without criticism... I only intend to help. You may want to broaden your thinking. You have a meter that is working poorly. You are applying power to cause it to work, before repairing it, thinking that it needs to be exercised. Well, that may work, to some extent... If the lubricant in the meter has degraded and become gummy, the heat from straining the meter may melt it and things may improve. Or, the shear force of forcing the meter into action with additional power may break loose dirt and corrosion. In either case, you are forcing the meter into action with power. That is very likely to damage it. I would suggest that, once the meter problem was discovered, it would be better to cut all power, open it up and do a visual inspection. This is true for any mechanical device issue. Though meters are delicate devices that require care, their operations are fairly clear and a visual inspection is generally sufficient to suss out the issue. If no broken parts are discovered, then cleaning and lubrication are indicated, before applying power again. There are good videos on the clean/restoration procedure. Mr. Young's advice is sound. So, suggesting to your viewers to apply power to a frozen meter may be risky advice. Maybe do a followup video of opening the meter, inspecting it and cleaning it. I hope you hear my heart and know that I am not throwing stones. I have used such methods, myself. But, sometimes additional eyes and minds see things that we are to close to. HTH.
Thanks I have a couple of VTVM with meter issues this may help me fix them.
I have found such fixes as this are usually only temporary.
If the meter continues working, then, no worries!
But if it does fail again, remove the meter cover, or remove the meter from the case, and loosen and tighten the screws on the meter movement frame, front and rear, especially the screw with the wire terminal under it. That is where corrosion sometimes builds up and causes the movement to not conduct.
If the meter still fails to move, use 1.5 volts through a 1K ohm resistor, and touch the different parts of the frame after the wire connector, to see if it moves. If not, then the other spot where the wire attaches to the coil might be the bad spot.
If the unit fails with both wires at the coil and nothing moves, the coil is open, and needs repair, or replacement. but be careful of the springs at each end. The springs sometimes lose continuity, and need to be repaired by soldering them over at each end,
I have a meter like that at the moment, and the only repair is to replace the meter coil, but the only recourse I have is to replace he meter.
Good information, thanks! I’ll try these things out and see what happens.
@@MaxsGarage t worked on Aircraft instruments for 36 years, and that was one of the many things I found by experience, even tho the boss never accepted the idea.