Multimeter Spoons

[AJHD]

Hey guys, I have the needle style backprobes. Those are easy to find and cheap.

But I'm looking for the "spoon" style. I can literally only find 2...

The Electronic Specialties part #616 version is available on Amazon and AESWave.

616 Spoon Probe Backprobers

616 Spoon Probe Backprobers

www.esitest.com

The second version I found is made by Caterpillar part #7X-1709 though I can't find an official CAT link and I have no idea if they are made anymore. All I can find is a few eBay links and random links with no pictures or info.

Does anyone know where I can buy a set of the legitimate CAT version?

Does anyone know of any other versions other than ES and CAT? Something I can actually buy.

 

[decableguy2000]

Have you tried ProbeMaster or Pomona??

 

[AJHD]

Have you tried ProbeMaster or Pomona??

No, but I will.

 

[AJHD]

No, but I will.

Checked Fluke, Pomona and Probe Master. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything "spoon" shaped. I only see round or needle shaped probes.

 

[stonesfan68]

Probemaster has a flexible back probe lead that should work-

Probemaster 9192

or will it not be flexible enough?

 

[AJHD]

Probemaster has a flexible back probe lead that should work-

Probemaster 9192

or will it not be flexible enough?

I already have that style. But that's not what I'm looking for.

Again, I'm specifically looking for spoon style pins, but round or needle shape.
Basically the spoon style is almost like a 1/2 round tapered shape.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Hey guys, I have the needle style backprobes. Those are easy to find and cheap.

But I'm looking for the "spoon" style. I can literally only find 2...

The Electronic Specialties part #616 version is available on Amazon and AESWave.

616 Spoon Probe Backprobers

616 Spoon Probe Backprobers

www.esitest.com

The second version I found is made by Caterpillar part #7X-1709 though I can't find an official CAT link and I have no idea if they are made anymore. All I can find is a few eBay links and random links with no pictures or info.

Does anyone know where I can buy a set of the legitimate CAT version?

Does anyone know of any other versions other than ES and CAT? Something I can actually buy.

The cat dealer has the cat ones, still in production. $65ish (******** price) for the set of 2. Only ones worth a ****. Take care of them.

 

[Rabid Badger]

You might shoot 2ndGearRubber a message. He's the specialty probe connoisseur around here.

 

[AJHD]

The cat dealer has the cat ones, still in production. $65ish (******** price) for the set of 2. Only ones worth a ****. Take care of them.

Thanks for confirming they are still in production. Not sure if I can get an employee discount, $65 is a lot for 2 leads.

I will have to ask one of the guys at the shop when I'm there. I've got other CAT things I want to buy anyway.

 

[decableguy2000]

Checked Fluke, Pomona and Probe Master. Unfortunately I couldn't find anything "spoon" shaped. I only see round or needle shaped probes.

Was worth a shot. Just ordered a Pomona set of leads for my home meter.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Thanks for confirming they are still in production. Not sure if I can get an employee discount, $65 is a lot for 2 leads.

I will have to ask one of the guys at the shop when I'm there. I've got other CAT things I want to buy anyway.

$65 is the discount price IIRC.

 

[Zewnten]

Thanks for confirming they are still in production. Not sure if I can get an employee discount, $65 is a lot for 2 leads.

I will have to ask one of the guys at the shop when I'm there. I've got other CAT things I want to buy anyway.

Welcome to Cat tools, sometimes they're a great buy, other times... ouch

 

[Stobal]

Thexton sells some that are alligator clips on one end and spoons on the other. Search for Thexton 914.
Matco will sell you the same ones at twice the price.

Thexton 914 Back Probe Spoons | eBay

The Thexton Back Probe Spoons,No. 914, are specifically designed to access electrical circuits from the rear of the connector to prevent piercing wires and possibly damaging the circuit. A perfect way to round out your collection of other Thexton Back Probes.

www.ebay.com

 

[no704]

Never heard of these before. Cool idea. Will be following.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Never heard of these before. Cool idea. Will be following.

Cat is big on backprobing circuits at connectors to do diagnostics and the ones they sell are shaped to reliably make connection in Deutsch and amp seal connectors, particularly 16 and 18 ga, without doing damage. The good news is that they are really the only pricey specialty leads you need most of the time, most of our diagnostics relies on basic multimeter use.

 

[AJHD]

Cat is big on backprobing circuits at connectors to do diagnostics and the ones they sell are shaped to reliably make connection in Deutsch and amp seal connectors, particularly 16 and 18 ga, without doing damage. The good news is that they are really the only pricey specialty leads you need most of the time, most of our diagnostics relies on basic multimeter use.

They are on my required tool list along with some Deutsch crimper & pin tools. So I wanted to find a decent set. Looks like I'm buying the spoons from CAT when I get the chance.

On the other hand, with a Fluke 115, Power Probe 3, test light and some odds & ends, I should be more or less set. A welcome change from the automotive world I guess.

 

[RedneckWelder]

They are on my required tool list along with some Deutsch crimper & pin tools. So I wanted to find a decent set. Looks like I'm buying the spoons from CAT when I get the chance.

On the other hand, with a Fluke 115, Power Probe 3, test light and some odds & ends, I should be more or less set. A welcome change from the automotive world I guess.

for your crimper get the S&G tools one vs buying a high dollar crimper. It works better and is a lot smaller. You can buy the individual tool or the whole set

i Have a fluke 87v, powerprobe 3 master set, an OTC 24v test light, and a cheap DC clamp meter and thats more or less all you need.

 

[B_Bimmer]

And another tool goes on the must buy list...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

I actually sold my CAT set of spoons in favor for one of the cheaper sets. The spoons aren't as heavy material so they have a small amount of flex to get into harder to reach connectors and have a banana style plug instead of needing to slip over test probe ends like the CAT ones.

Never seen a dealer that requires you to provide your own Deutsch tools unless you're out in a truck. Shop guys just use the shop set.

 

[AJHD]

I actually sold my CAT set of spoons in favor for one of the cheaper sets. The spoons aren't as heavy material so they have a small amount of flex to get into harder to reach connectors and have a banana style plug instead of needing to slip over test probe ends like the CAT ones.

Never seen a dealer that requires you to provide your own Deutsch tools unless you're out in a truck. Shop guys just use the shop set.

I will probably pick up a set of the cheaper spoons on Amazon and see if anyone in the shop has the CAT version I can compare them to, before I consider buying the more expensive CAT version.

As for the Deutsch tools, it's on the required tool list I was provided. But it's technically on the list for the next level up from me, so unless I end up needing them, I'm not concerned with it right now. I'm not expecting to do much electrical repair/troubleshooting/diag.

That said, despite whatever they may have available in the tool room, I fully intend on buying as much of my own personal tools as possible if it makes sense to do so. I don't like sharing or borrowing (or loaning) tools. Also from my experience "community tools" are not taken care of, never cleaned, abused, mistreated, broken, tend to be of a cheaper quality, and are also often missing pieces or cannot otherwise be found or function properly. We'll see if this CAT shop is any different.

 

[Zimbo]

If you go the CAT 7X1710 set,beef up the ends with some good quality duel wall heat shrink as they do eventually break at the join,

 

[AJHD]

If you go the CAT 7X1710 set,beef up the ends with some good quality duel wall heat shrink as they do eventually break at the join,

Thanks for the tip.

 

[mixerfixer]

I use the ESI-616 ones as all my leads are set up for 4mm banana attachments. I have had good luck with the ESI ones myself, but they seem to get bent whenever I loan them out.

 

[Banksy]

Had an electrical trainer of mine say the cat ones are far superior however a little bit of silicon spray or grease before you back probe a connector goes a long way in increasing the life span.
Also recommend a bit of dual wall heat shrink to stiffen them up as they do snap at the back of the probe if not cared for

 

[Wamsutta]

Somebody gave me a pair of those spoon style leads. What are they used for?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Somebody gave me a pair of those spoon style leads. What are they used for?

Connectors with large wire sizes primarily.

I bought some a few years back, haven't found much use. Most of the stuff I see with wire gauges large enough to use these have weather seals so hard backprobing cannot be done.

 

[Zewnten]

Duetch connectors is what Cat recommends them for but any place they fit without damaging the seals.

 

[AJHD]

Forgot about this thread...

I ended up getting a set from CAT. I put them on the monthly shop ticket when I was taking an electrical class.

Only used them a few times, but I mostly found the spoons to be too large for most of the connectors I was troubleshooting at the time. I used my cheaper needle back probes.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I have an OTC meter that came with three sizes of those and a set of three thermal probes. Very handy meter as it does all of the old auto readings(Dwell, etc) prior to needing a scope for the computers. I don't use them often any more but they do get those old sealed connectors.

 

[AJHD]

Do you have a picture of the probes you referred to? I'm curious of the OTC versions.

 

[Sumboodie]

And another tool goes on the must buy list...

Id tell CAT to buy them. Beyond a simple set of hand tools, employers should be providing.
Really, they should be providing ALL tools needed.

 

[AJHD]

Id tell CAT to buy them. Beyond a simple set of hand tools, employers should be providing.
Really, they should be providing ALL tools needed.

Good luck with that...

I did get CAT to pay for my spoon set though.

 

[Fixr]

Id tell CAT to buy them. Beyond a simple set of hand tools, employers should be providing.
Really, they should be providing ALL tools needed.

I only worked in the field for about 40 years, but except for Sears and a state university, I was always expected to provide all of my own hand tools. Note that except for those two jobs, I always worked flatrate/commission, and in the early years, paid as a contractor (which came back to bite several employers in later years. Sadly, I never benefited from that).

But TELLING your employer to buy you tools when they've been requiring techs to buy their own for decades is probably a good way to quickly make sure they are no longer your employer, unless you happen to live in one of the really employee-friendly states.

BTW, I can see both sides of those policies.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I only worked in the field for about 40 years, but except for Sears and a state university, I was always expected to provide all of my own hand tools. Note that except for those two jobs, I always worked flatrate/commission, and in the early years, paid as a contractor (which came back to bite several employers in later years. Sadly, I never benefited from that).

But TELLING your employer to buy you tools when they've been requiring techs to buy their own for decades is probably a good way to quickly make sure they are no longer your employer, unless you happen to live in one of the really employee-friendly states.

BTW, I can see both sides of those policies.

It's very, very difficult to right the ship of employee supplied tools.

Frankly stuff like meter leads are so small potatoes IMO it doesn't even warrant discussion. I want shops buying bushing installers/pullers/ timing tools, etc.

 

[Fixr]

It's very, very difficult to right the ship of employee supplied tools.

Frankly stuff like meter leads are so small potatoes IMO it doesn't even warrant discussion. I want shops buying bushing installers/pullers/ timing tools, etc.

Yes, it's a huge cultural and economic difference among various parts of the world.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Yes, it's a huge cultural and economic difference among various parts of the world.

At this point, I've got 75K invested. I either want bought out, or I hope the industry keeps gate-keeping I guess. I don't think many shop owners or managers even understand, comprehend, the tooling required to be efficient and reliably correct in diagnosis and repair.

 

[Fixr]

At this point, I've got 75K invested. I either want bought out, or I hope the industry keeps gate-keeping I guess. I don't think many shop owners or managers even understand, comprehend, the tooling required to be efficient and reliably correct in diagnosis and repair.

I had around $60K in SnapOn payment receipts by about 1990. Boy, was I a sucker. I see these young guys with toolboxes the size of a motorhome, and I see myself and shake my head. It's like a 10 year note for a high-performance car that only gets used for commuting.

Maybe 10% of what I bought on tool trucks ever came close to paying for itself. I would have been way better off buying two sets of my commonly used hand tools at Sears, just in case one broke. Nowadays, substitute HF for Sears. One of the big arguments was that if a tool broke, you just walked onto the truck and handed it to the driver. No need to take working time off to drive to Sears. But Sears was open every business day, and Snappy only came around at about 1:30 on Thursdays, so you might be without that tool for a week. Huge false economy. The tool truck guys talk the techs into d**k measuring contests and get them to compete in buying the most ginormous toolboxes with the hugest drawers. You know, lots of air and not much organized storage space.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I had around $60K in SnapOn payment receipts by about 1990. Boy, was I a sucker. I see these young guys with toolboxes the size of a motorhome, and I see myself and shake my head. It's like a 10 year note for a high-performance car that only gets used for commuting.

Maybe 10% of what I bought on tool trucks ever came close to paying for itself. I would have been way better off buying two sets of my commonly used hand tools at Sears, just in case one broke. Nowadays, substitute HF for Sears. One of the big arguments was that if a tool broke, you just walked onto the truck and handed it to the driver. No need to take working time off to drive to Sears. But Sears was open every business day, and Snappy only came around at about 1:30 on Thursdays, so you might be without that tool for a week. Huge false economy. The tool truck guys talk the techs into d**k measuring contests and get them to compete in buying the most ginormous toolboxes with the hugest drawers. You know, lots of air and not much organized storage space.

I get that, I've seen people do silly things with tools, boxes, cars, etc.

Most of my stuff isn't truck branded. Costs just add up fast. I'm a bargain hunter when I can be. Some stuff like quality bearing splitters, for a set like Proto or OTC simply costs $400. Do that 50 times, on 50 different tools, and it adds up fast. I find a lot of warranty stuff gets ordered for me, not in stock. I've always been one to have multiple options for tooling, so even if I'm without something I have options. Some stuff like 1/2 impact swivels I just pony up the cash for snap-on, and they replace them every 6-12 months as the sockets wear out. Saves money on stuff like that, but that certainly doesn't need to be the policy for everything.

EDIT: I have 2 empty drawers I still need to fill!

 

[Fixr]

I get that, I've seen people do silly things with tools, boxes, cars, etc.

Most of my stuff isn't truck branded. Costs just add up fast. I'm a bargain hunter when I can be. Some stuff like quality bearing splitters, for a set like Proto or OTC simply costs $400. Do that 50 times, on 50 different tools, and it adds up fast. I find a lot of warranty stuff gets ordered for me, not in stock. I've always been one to have multiple options for tooling, so even if I'm without something I have options. Some stuff like 1/2 impact swivels I just pony up the cash for snap-on, and they replace them every 6-12 months as the sockets wear out. Saves money on stuff like that, but that certainly doesn't need to be the policy for everything.

EDIT: I have 2 empty drawers I still need to fill!

Sounds like you've got your head on reasonably straight for somebody who turns wrenches for a living.

I'm gonna trot out my favorite story about the smartest (or maybe wisest) line mechanic I ever knew:

Frank was a short, scrawny, homely guy. We worked in adjacent stalls at a VW/Audi/Porsche dealer around 1980. Frank had a Craftsman 3-drawer bottom box with an open area under the lowest drawer. He could knock out all of the routine scheduled maintenance jobs in less than half of book time, sometimes a quarter, using very minimal tools. I doubt that he had $1000 in 1980 dollars invested in those tools. He had a favorite 10 inch Crescent wrench that mostly lived on the top of his box.

He virtually never had comebacks on those jobs because instead of faking it and hoping not to get caught with leftover parts in his toolbox like some of the crooks in the shop, he did them efficiently and well. So before too long, the service manager only gave him those PM jobs, because they would be done right and at a very profitable speed. Win/win for the dealership.

Frank retired at 45. When I asked what he was going to do with his time, he said "go golfing". And he did. To add insult to injury, his wife was extremely hot.

It took me more years than I care to admit to realize what a self-disciplined genius he was. He worked the system while still doing honest work on what he was good at, with a very minimal investment in tools.

Sometimes I embellish or even slightly exaggerate stories, but this isn't one of those times. I would have gone insane from boredom trying to do what he did, but I sure respect him for doing it.

 

[infinite97]

I’m another 20 year equipment tech who has way too much money in his (multiple) tool sets. I firmly believe the company should buy the tools needed for the job, and hate the current system.

I make my company buy all of my replacement drill bits, taps, lifting slings, PPE, grease gun hoses and tips, and anything else that I consider “consumable.” Other guys at the shop think the employee should buy all of that - I don’t.