NexGen: Tech Tip II. Micrometer Repair.

21 May 2018

This is a really nice find at my local pawn shop. I uncovered this jewel in the Dollar box. It was sticking badly. It really needed a good cleaning. It was a Starrett model 436-1. I retracted the spindle into the sleeve and then removing it. by continuingly rotating the thimble counter-clockwise. This took a few tries but finally separated it. I used a lightweight oil and a new Scotch-Brite Stainless Steel Scrubbing Pad to clean the spindle. I had to repeatably fully insert and remove the spindle from the barrel. You could use a piece of printer paper with lightweight oil to then polish the spindle.


Spindle & Sleeve	Burn Mark on Spindle	Fins -- Good Enough

The micrometer now runs in and out smoothly. It is off .001" but I need a special wrench to set it back to 0.000". The micrometer is missing the ratchet stop (it's jammed), and the spindle lock nut is non-functional at the moment.

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Top Comments

jw0752 over 7 years ago in reply to phoenixcomm

A welding clamp is even better!
John
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phoenixcomm over 7 years ago in reply to jw0752

Never knew that was an approved use!

Cris
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genebren over 7 years ago in reply to jw0752

John,

That is a great story. So you were a wise guy way back then.
Thanks for the huge smile that I got as I read your story
Gene
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jw0752 over 7 years ago

When I was 16 I worked for an automotive parts house that also did motor rebuilding in a back shop. The rebuilder was a very very precise man, much like the tools with which he worked everyday. One day for the fun of it I walked back into his space and pointed up at the set of micrometers hanging on the wall and with a very straight face I said, " Hey Lars, I need to borrow another one of those C-Clamps to hold a shelf in place while I nail it." I don't know which was more surprising, the ashen appearance of Lars' face or how quickly he spun around and counted the number of micrometers that were still on the wall. To this day I can't interact with a micrometer without seeing Lars' face in that moment.

John
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phoenixcomm over 7 years ago in reply to mcb1

mark your right I found the article at the Instructables after I had taken it apart. At the moment how can I say it is good enough. And with it closing on 1. I know that I have to subtract .001" from the reading but what the hell. We used to say "It's not quite specced but in spec." LOL

Cris.
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