Mitutoyo Indicator Help?

[Steve Cole 1Participant @stevecole1]

Ok so… I have a problem with my indicator, i purchased it secondhand and all it needed was a bit of WD40 and a clean up. Perfect… so i did that and its been working fine or so i thought… Its accurate don't get me wrong, i checked it against a set of slip gauges however if i tilt it left to right it moves around 0.05mm

Has anyone else had this problem? I took the side case off to see if anything was loose or broken and all looked fine. Its a Mitutoyo 513-204 lever indicator. As i said accuracy doesn't appear to be effected and when its on a stand and i press the stylus up and down the needle returns to the same spot however if i tilt it left to right the needle sags/ moves? I thought about sending it to Mitutoyo but i only paid £10 for it and i would imagine the repair bill would be 3 times that so I'm hoping i can fix it at home?

Hope someone can shed some light

Regards

Steve

[Steve Cole 1Participant @stevecole1]

Lever sagging 0.05 left to right

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Steve,

Mitutoyo's spares list might be useful:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I would strongly advise that WD40 is not used on any indicator especially on brass As it should not be used on clocks As regards the movement when it is tilted can you adjust the bearings on the lever ?

Roy

[TomkParticipant @tomk39956]

Steve

I have repaired a few mercer clocks and yours looks very simmilar. Your problem could be 1 of 3 faults

1) stylis is loose (do not tighten with plyers unless you can grip pivot with modified plyers as the bearings will be damaged)

2) The ball ball bearings that support the stylis pivit requiire adjustment.

3) The ball bearings are damaged

Tom

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Sounds like the sleeve the plunger runs in is worn. Plunger too. It's a common problem on used DTI's and is probably why they are being sold. They are sometimes used in jig's to check the dimensions of parts and have a hard life.

There was some one in the classified selling DTI's cheaply might be worth seeing if they still have any. A worn plunger is no good at all when they are used to centre rotating parts.

John

–

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Ajohnw on 30/01/2016 00:08:53:

Sounds like the sleeve the plunger runs in is worn. Plunger too. It's a common problem …

.

John,

I have to ask:

• What sleeve ?
• What plunger ?

The problem Steve presented is on a 513 series Lever indicator.

MichaelG.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 30/01/2016 08:23:27:

Posted by Ajohnw on 30/01/2016 00:08:53:

Sounds like the sleeve the plunger runs in is worn. Plunger too. It's a common problem …

.

John,

I have to ask:

• What sleeve ?
• What plunger ?

The problem Steve presented is on a 513 series Lever indicator.

MichaelG.

John

–

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

I dont think gauges like this take kindly to WD40.

Any lube on an indicator should be absolutely minimum, one to stop dust etc sticking and to stop oil drag.The ssmallest drop of watch oil will suffice.

Side play is mostly caused by the ball bearing out of adjustment in the pivot. They do suffer badly from side strain. Also check that the touch pin is tight in its holder.

Clive

Edited By Clive Hartland on 30/01/2016 09:13:48

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

IIRC there was a member who seemed to specialise in DTI repairs who often posted on this forum, with pics, … possibly on another forum, if I can find it again I'll place link to his posts.

George.

[Jerry WrayParticipant @jerrywray14030]

I should endorse Clive's comment about WD40. This and other similar products are not simple lubricants. They leave a deposit on the surface, which is part of how they function. Although this is only a thin film it is such that anything which is built to close tolerances will be sufficiently affected as to cause problems, in some cases leading to jamming.

Jeryy

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 29/01/2016 21:44:38:

Steve,

Mitutoyo's spares list might be useful:

**LINK**

MichaelG.

.

Here is an earlier version, which mentions the 513-204 specifically.

MichaelG.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Here is the link to the guy that does DTI repairs, he's on another forum…

**LINK**

Also a post on how he fixed a DTI…

http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,11094.0.html

Drop him a pm, I'm sure he'll help you out

George

Edited By mechman48 on 30/01/2016 10:59:58

[Steve Cole 1Participant @stevecole1]

Thank you all for the help, i have now managed to sort it. Believe it or not, if anyone has this problem it was the springs which help return the stylus, they didn't appear bent however i was looking at it and decided if they were to week then it would cause the hand to flop as nothing would take up the play within the gears. As Jerry mentioned the tolerance is very fine so if theres not enough tension then the gear would drop. They must have been pressed on hard over time and as a result bent them. A quick tweak on each spring and a re adjust on the tension screw bearing screw and i have virtually no needle/ hand drop (it just about drops between 0-0.01) probably half the thickness of the needle so virtually nothing at all. I don't want to keep going as i don't want to bend it to hard incase i bend it. I think for a £10 indicator thats spot on, pretty sure a brand new one would have some movement?

I have managed to set it so it does one full revolution + 0.13 up and down and returns to bang on 0 every time! Whilst i was in there i also decided to clean up that WD and apply some zx1 micro lube and its silky smooth!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Well done, Steve

MichaelG.

[Neil LickfoldParticipant @neillickfold44316]

I use baby oil to lube the insides of my DTI's . Seems to work a treat.

Neil

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

Does anybody know how to get rid of the gunge left by WD40 on brass I have tried all solvents even as far as boiling the clock plates in washing soda

Roy

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