Bowers bore gauges info!

[Redsailor]

Many years ago I acquired four of these bore gauges that measure from19mm to 77mm. They are not the sort of thing I would use and have been sat in a drawer for ages. They seem to fetch good money on eblub, so have thought of selling them and buy other tools that would be of use to me.

They could do with a clean and perhaps some attention as a couple of them seem to be rather "gummed up" with old oil etc. Does any one on here have any operating/service info on them? ( Would pay for any photo copies etc). I did contact Bowers with no success, they seem to be more geared up with dealing with the likes of British Aerospace than some old bloke in a tin shed!

 

[Agroshield]

The only one I know of close to your requirements is doubleboost's mate who services dial gauges. Watching his videos might give you a broad outline of the methods used to service them (and most importantly what not do do - 3 in 1 oil is probably a bad idea).

In the bad old days, they would go into a vapour tank with carbon tetrachloride in it.

I am puzzled why neither of the setting rings is a round number. Is there something about the round number that is undesirable for their application? Maybe they finish lap them, measure what they have and then etch the measured size on them.

 

[Maker]

You don't want that old rubbish, send them to me and I'll happily dispose of them for you.


Seriously though they're very nice tools, I'll be surprised if you can find service information on them but there isn't a huge amount going on inside them so dismantling one to clean it shouldn't be too scary, the fingers are pushed out by a taper on the end of the leadscrew and pulled back in with little springs.

As for cost, there's a lot on eBay for silly money but they don't sell, look at completed listings and old analogue ones like that rarely make over £100. They're probably a bit specialised and a bit big for most hobbyists, and a bit old for a high tech engineering firm, someone will definitely want them though (For the right price of course ).

Maybe they finish lap them, measure what they have and then etch the measured size on them.

Exactly that, it's much easier to grind close to a nominal size, measure the difference and print it on, than it is to grind an ID to size within a micron. In an application where it doesn't matter, why bother.

 

[Robotstar5]

Maybe one for @doubleboost mate Bob?

 

[doubleboost]

Maybe one for @doubleboost mate Bob?

I am sure My Mate Bob would sort them out for you .
I have 3 imperial ones that get used occasionally .
I can PM his email if you want

 

[Scalarocco]

I'd keep them. Nice things to use on a new bore and very accurate. We bought a new one recently for the heavy shop, so I may have the paperwork that came with it. I'll have a look on Monday.

 

[Redsailor]

Many thanks for all the replies, special thanks to Maker for offering to dispose of them as well.

I'll have a look at them again tomorrow and see if I can do a quick "refurb". Thank you John @doubleboost, may send them up to Bob if I fail to achieve anything.

 

[doubleboost]

Many thanks for all the replies, special thanks to Maker for offering to dispose of them as well.

I'll have a look at them again tomorrow and see if I can do a quick "refurb". Thank you John @doubleboost, may send them up to Bob if I fail to achieve They would make a very good video

 

[graffian]

Good luck with Bowers I mailed them ten years or so ago and am still wating.
I have the gauges to check crank sized thing, bore of flywheels, big ends.

I haven't bought a biggie as they never had rings with them when[they were cheap] I saw them at a sensible price.