 Harbor Freight Dial Indicators, Any good? |
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| wndsnd |
 Feb 12 2013, 10:59 AM
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#1
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You wanted a horse, but got a goat. Nobody wants a goat....  Group: Members Posts: 2,861 Joined: 12-February 12 From: North Shore, MA Member No.: 14,124 Region Association: North East States   |
Good enough for Crankshaft end play?
Thanks John |
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| Randal |
Feb 12 2013, 11:18 AM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,446 Joined: 29-May 03 From: Los Altos, CA Member No.: 750 |
QUOTE(wndsnd @ Feb 12 2013, 08:59 AM)  Good enough for Crankshaft end play? Thanks John About the only way to know is to test them against "known" good dial indicators. And I mean dial indicators that have been professionally tested and certified to be accurate. On the other hand I don't think any of the engine builders I know would be happy measuring end play with anything but a professionally rated device. |
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| wndsnd |
Feb 12 2013, 11:21 AM
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#3
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You wanted a horse, but got a goat. Nobody wants a goat.... Group: Members Posts: 2,861 Joined: 12-February 12 From: North Shore, MA Member No.: 14,124 Region Association: North East States |
I agree, but I am just slopping the dANNY HUNTER Running 1.7 back together with new seals for a cheap interim engine.. Don't want to spend more money on the tool than the engine......... I am being cheap.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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| worn |
Feb 12 2013, 11:25 AM
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#4
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Winner of the Utah Twisted Joint Award Group: Members Posts: 3,489 Joined: 3-June 11 From: Madison, WI Member No.: 13,152 Region Association: Upper MidWest 
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QUOTE(wndsnd @ Feb 12 2013, 08:59 AM) Good enough for Crankshaft end play? Thanks John Yes, they are good enough. The thing is, prove it for yourself. Put a feeler gauge under one, and see what it says. Then try a few more. If you aren't happy they will take it back, and it is only fifteen bucks anyway. I am a scientist, not an engineer. We get numbers from instruments costing a million bucks. They vary from sample to sample, and even running the same sample more than once. So keep in mind that any time you measure something the accuracy and precision of the instrument are only some of the limitations. Averaging can be very important, and even more important are chasing down sources of error and variation, such as how do you attach the indicator in the first place. |
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| Valy |
Feb 12 2013, 11:25 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,677 Joined: 6-April 10 From: Sunnyvale, CA Member No.: 11,573 Region Association: Northern California |
I got one that I tested and it's accurate. I measured the thickness of feeler gauges.
The biggest problem in those setups is the stand, not the dial. The stand can move and flex much more than the dial precision. An other issue is the angle you measure at. If the dial is not perfectly vertical then you get a wrong reading. |
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| Mark Henry |
Feb 12 2013, 12:30 PM
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#6
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
There is a cheap tool you can get, any VW bug shop should have it.
It bolts to the case and just uses a threaded screw and your feeler gauges. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/images.thesamba.com-26-1360693852.1.jpg) |
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| toolguy |
Feb 12 2013, 12:38 PM
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#7
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,276 Joined: 2-April 11 From: San Diego / El Cajon Member No.: 12,889 Region Association: Southern California
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I've tested the Harbor Freight Digital Calipers against my Mitutoyo's numerous times. . they are consistently just as accurate unless they have been abused. . same goes for the dial indicators. . . I do use their digital 'dial' indicators, and used it on my cam timing. . . worked perfectly. . and easy to read. . IIRC, it was on sale for around $20
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| wndsnd |
Feb 12 2013, 12:43 PM
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#8
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You wanted a horse, but got a goat. Nobody wants a goat.... Group: Members Posts: 2,861 Joined: 12-February 12 From: North Shore, MA Member No.: 14,124 Region Association: North East States |
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Feb 12 2013, 01:30 PM) There is a cheap tool you can get, any VW bug shop should have it. It bolts to the case and just uses a threaded screw and your feeler gauges. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/images.thesamba.com-26-1360693852.1.jpg) This looks to be the ticket! |
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| DBCooper |
Feb 12 2013, 06:05 PM
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#9
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14's in the 13's with ATTITUDE Group: Members Posts: 3,079 Joined: 25-August 04 From: Dazed and Confused Member No.: 2,618 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(wndsnd @ Feb 12 2013, 10:43 AM) This looks to be the ticket! It is. The HF freight stuff works just like the good stuff, and usually just as well, but not for nearly as long. |
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| wndsnd |
Feb 12 2013, 08:14 PM
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#10
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You wanted a horse, but got a goat. Nobody wants a goat.... Group: Members Posts: 2,861 Joined: 12-February 12 From: North Shore, MA Member No.: 14,124 Region Association: North East States |
QUOTE(Mark Henry @ Feb 12 2013, 01:30 PM) There is a cheap tool you can get, any VW bug shop should have it. It bolts to the case and just uses a threaded screw and your feeler gauges. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/images.thesamba.com-26-1360693852.1.jpg) I ordered this feeler guage tool from CB. Thanks guys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
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