I thought the battery was dead, but it is not.
I removed a small tab at the top, and found these 4 traces.
The two outer ones show 1.4 volts (as though coming straight from the battery).
The small plastic tab (shown) has what may be some electrically conductive paint.
I re-inserted it, and it worked properly for a few seconds.

Does anyone have any experience with this (Harbor Freight Item 98563).

How can I fix it?

Thanks,

Gary

 

I think I got it working.
There were 4 tiny screws on the back, under the label.
I removed them, and soon found I couldn't disassemble it further with risking damage.
So I replaced the 4 screws (one of them is a machined screw thread), and tightened them securely.
Two other small set screws across the top bar apparently control the friction roller. I snugged those up a bit as well.
Anyway, I've turned it off and on several times now, and it's working fine.
It seems to be precise as well.
Thanks for looking.
Gary

 

I was going to say throw it in the trash and buy a new one, they are really inexpensive (cheap). Glad you got it working.

 

I had just run to get my copy of the caliper. On mine, the cover you removed just covers four contacts. There is no little metallic gizmo on it like you show. The 4 contacts are for reading it externally, like you see with Mitutoyo and other brands. The Mitutoyo and HF protocals are different.

Glad you got it fixed.

John

 

My guess is that the screws (or at least one of them) had come loose over time, and that caused it to fail to make good contact.
That being said, it might be advisable to tighten the screws every year or so.

I recall throwing away more than one battery, sometime last year when a similar thing occurred.
I thought they were dead (and they are not cheap... in Battery speak...

Glad I checked the battery with a meter this time.

It's always good to salvage a tool whenever you can.

Thanks,
Gary

 

Inasmuch as the operation of such instruments is based upon electrostatic (i.e. capacitive) coupling to the 'rack' they are highly sensitive to moisture and other (polar) contaminants -- Should you experience further difficulty try wiping the rack with a cloth moistened (but not wetted) with an evaporating chemical dryer (e.g. 'neat' isopropanol)

Best regards
HP

 

These calipers just turn off the display when you hit the 'off' button, and as a result run the battery dead in a month or so. Remove the battery if you aren't going to use it again that day. The LR44 batteries are pricey if you buy them at a hardware store or even at Wally World, usually a couple of dollars each. I buy them in bulk, as our kitties' red dotmakers (toy lasers) use the same batteries. I bought a couple hundred of them for around $10 USD, delivered. They are old batteries that still have a full charge, but some of them tend to leak, so I don't leave them in anything important/expensive.

 

As Sarge says, I remove the battery after using.

 

Two very good tips.

I took the battery out just now.

For frequent users that would be a pain, but luckily for me I don't use this caliper that often.

I really prefer the old "Dial Caliper" that I have at home.

Thanks,
Gary

 

in case anyone wanted to see the coupling portion of the circuit board. Mitutoyo digital depth gage in repair. dirt and grit gets between the board and the slide rail and acts like sand paper. gotta keep em clean and dry.n