Fluke 45 handle repair

[dorkshoei]

I bought a Fluke 45 off eBay.  It was unusual as it had the handle and it was not damaged.

Well, it was not damaged in the listing but the handle arrived broken due to the sellers totally crap packaging.

Looking at the break,  it's a very porous plastic.  Almost granular which sparkles in direct light.   

Has anyone successfully repaired this type of handle.  If so, what method/adhesive did you use.

Unlike the 34401a there doesn't seem to be replacement (China) source for handles.

Thanks!

[coromonadalix]

You have to know witch platic type it is, and maybe some adhesive would be able to stick ??   

but i have some doubts,  if you put some pressure on it while rotating the handle    not sure it will hold? i think they kinda stretch outside the meter casing when you need to position the handle ?

[dorkshoei]

You have to know witch platic type it is, and maybe some adhesive would be able to stick ??   

but i have some doubts,  if you put some pressure on it while rotating the handle    not sure it will hold? i think they kinda stretch ouside the meter casing when you need to position the handle ?

Issue is whether I trust the repair.    Maybe ok for the purposes of raising the angle of display but I doubt for carrying purposes.

Stupid eBay sellers.

[edit: I found a replacement handle on a different forum and bought it]

[lowimpedance]

 I would try drilling 2 small holes into the ends at the break on each side as best aligned as you can. This is so you can glue in 2 metal pins in for reinforcment, (small steel screws with the head cut off for example). Then using an epoxy such as 'JB weld plasticweld' to pot the pins in and glue the joint all at the same time. Don't forget to mask of before hand to keep the mess from spreading to far along the handle. Carefully shape after curing. Probably best to leave a decent amount around the joint to provide some strength. Hopefully it will be strong enough
 Unfortunately it will never look pristine but if it makes it functional again that will sadly be the price to pay. Even after doing the above it still may not be strong enough and may need further additional bracing each side of the break. Good luck either way you go to fix, would be interested to see how you go with the repair.
 Just to note I have repaired a HP5314 and a R&S RF attenuator handle with the above method, but the plastic could be different.

[bdunham7]

Handle, painted  848205

Those are actually not easy to break!  I hope the seller has compensated you.

I believe it is the same as the 8840A/8842A series handles and this guy has some.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-8840-Series-Handle-Light-Grey-NEW/173866256484?epid=1120842033&hash=item287b3c8864:g:sqAAAOSw4RZbHocs

[Stray Electron]

  If it's broken in the middle of a straight section, I've repaired handles like that by slipping a long piece of heat shrink tubing over the handle and then shrinking it in place. The HS with the glue inside works best. The handle will still flex a bit at the break but the HS tubing will hold it in one piece and you can use it as a handle again.

[bdunham7]

Thanks.  According to the 8840A manual,  the handle is "handle, painted, dark umber 810127"
Dark umber according to google is a brown but that listing is for grey,  it does look the same.

I have a bunch of 8840A and 8842As roaming around here and I've seen both color handles on them.  I think the early ones were brown and the later the lighter color.  There's no part number on the handle itself and I can't find a light colored one right now.  If you want, measure the handle as precisely as you can and I'll compare it to mine. 

[coromonadalix]

the ebay link seems the right handle, you're already in the usa,  should be less than the posted shipping fee ??

[dorkshoei]

I already bought a replacement from a diff source.  Cost me more but it's def the right part.  Thanks for the help.