Mitutoyo Dial Indicator Repair

[Brad93]

Bought a used dial indicator and Noga base off eBay, the base is great but the indicator feels a bit sticky.
Is there anyone out there that strips them down and sorts them out?

@doubleboost i seem to remember on one of your videos you had an old Mercer sorted out?

Best regards

 

[ford34/2]

Yes, as suggested John knows an instrument mechanic, he might be able to help you and the mechanic may help too.
Stan

 

[brightspark]

try a squirt of wd 40 on the stem 1st if it free s off just wipe it clean

 

[doubleboost]

If it is a decent make I could get it sorted for you

 

[ronan]

Are they worth getting fixed ?

 

[brightspark]

Are they worth getting fixed ?

probably not for the price u can pick em up for. I got a new starret metric one of eblag for a fiver

 

[ronan]

With metrology stuff, i always feel if its broken or worn its not worth bothering with as you cannot trust it. While the good stuff is expensive, if you keep it clean, don't drop it on the floor or lend it, then it should last decades. In our Irish version of cromwell, the mititoyu stuff is cheaper than the oxford stuff.

 

[brightspark]

With metrology stuff, i always feel if its broken or worn its not worth bothering with as you cannot trust it. While the good stuff is expensive, if you keep it clean, don't drop it on the floor or lend it, then it should last decades. In our Irish version of cromwell, the mititoyu stuff is cheaper than the oxford stuff.

I was gutted me bruv gave me a a mercer dial gauge I had and used it it for 40 years and just dropped it just shot it in the bin I'm gutted

 

[Brad93]

Well like i say its a used Mitutoyo, 0.01mm - 10mm travel with rev counter. May just buy a new one, i like working in inches anyway as all my micrometers are imperial.

 

[Brad93]

Will take some photos maybe even a video tomorrow.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I seem to remember a thread about this recently, I think the best method put forward is to clean with brake/carb cleaner to remove the gunk without leaving a residue as wd40 will.

 

[Brad93]

What would be a good range for a imperial dial indicator? Looking at this? That should suit dialing in a 4 jaw chuck on a lathe right? http://www.mitutoyo.co.uk/small-tool-instruments-and-data-management/indicators/2415s#prettyPhoto

 

[Brad93]

Would be nice to get this metric dial indicator working as its an nice old one with what looks like much finer details than Mitutoyo's new offerings.

 

[brightspark]

What would be a good range for a imperial dial indicator? Looking at this? That should suit dialing in a 4 jaw chuck on a lathe right? http://www.mitutoyo.co.uk/small-tool-instruments-and-data-management/indicators/2415s#prettyPhoto

yea it would but the price is stupid u can pick em up for less than 20 quid for a decent one second hand

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Would be nice to get this metric dial indicator working as its an nice old one with what looks like much finer details than Mitutoyo's new offerings.

You've nothing to lose by dismantling [or at least removing the back for a butcher's ] it to see what's what. I've been inside mine and managed to get it going accurately again with a little CAREFUL work.

And....I knew nothing about the workings of DTIs before I took a leap in the dark.

 

[Screwdriver]

I bought a couple of cheapo but matching metric and imperial DTIs recently because they were mounted on large Noga arms with mag bases. Pleased as punch with my purchase until I opened the box. The seller had just put the entire assembly into a bag and stuck it in a box. One of the DTIs was smashed while it was bouncing around withthe heavy mag bases and it also took out the Noga mounting bracket. The seller was apologetic and gave me a partial refund and I set about the repair.


The DTI is a very simple device. The plunger has a rack which engages with a pinion, geared to drive the needle. A single hair in that mechanism would jam the super fine rack! Mine had suffered catastrophic damage and was/is BER.

But I fixed the mounting successfully and placed it carefully on my surface plate. Unfortunately I then did a quick job on the flypress and the flying handle handle threw the fixed arm across the workshop, complete with the (as yet) unbroken DTI. Oh how I laughed...

You can see the flypress. Nothing I can do about the air space above the surface plate. Accident waiting to happen...

S.

 

[rtbcomp]

yea it would but the price is stupid u can pick em up for less than 20 quid for a decent one second hand

But how do you know whether it's been dropped or not?

 

[ronan]

I have never seen good micrometers, or dial gauges secondhand. They always have issues.

 

[brightspark]

But how do you know whether it's been dropped or not?

easy if it works smoothly u buy it if its stickly u don't bother. quite simple

 

[brightspark]

I have never seen good micrometers, or dial gauges secondhand. They always have issues.

after 45 years going to sales buying stuff ive only bought a couple of lemons which isn't 2 bad