shaggyzr2
Active member
I was thinking about buying a dial indicator, are the cheap ones any good?
I would say you get what you pay for... if its like a dial caliper.
What do you plan to use it for? If you're going to use it only occasionally for cam timing, finding TDC, bore gauging, etc, the cheap ones will generally get the job done. If you think you're getting into precision machine work, truing cranks, or generally anywhere you'll need better than .001" accuracy I'd spend a little extra money.
shaggyzr2
Active member
I won't be using it all that much, mostly just for checking crank runout. I was looking at this one......http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/hand-tools/measuring-layout-tools/dial-indicator/p-1487261-c-9149.htm
that will be ok to use but youll also need the base they sell for it, just c clamp a peice of steel angle iron to the frame of the sled, then put your magnetic base on the metal with your dial probe on the surface of the crankshaft where the crank seal rides, turn the engine over via a bolt in the end of the crank and watch the run out on the crank. Anything over .004" and technicly it needs to come out and be trued and welded. I have seen them with .006"+ before and they run fine but its not right, you will feel lots of vibration in the bars and footwells when riding it if its more then .006"!!
shaggyzr2
Active member
It does have some vibration, I'll have to check this thing out. hopefully it isn't too bad, but if it is I have an extra engine sitting here I can drop in for now. Thanks for the info!
marty f
New member
dial indicator
The answer is yes a cheap one will work just fine just make sure you get one that reads tenths(.0001) not thousandths(.001)!!I have been a quality engineer for 15 years I know this!!!!good luck
The answer is yes a cheap one will work just fine just make sure you get one that reads tenths(.0001) not thousandths(.001)!!I have been a quality engineer for 15 years I know this!!!!good luck
marty f
New member
that's not the kind you want,,i will put a link to what you want here
marty f
New member
shaggyzr2
Active member
Dang....I already bought it. I checked the runout with that gauge and got .005 next to the crank seal, and I got .010 near the end of the crank. I have another motor here that I also checked, I got about .001 near the seal and just under .003 close to the end for the crank.
shaggyzr2
Active member
So would I be ok to run this other engine? .001 near the seal and just under .003 close to the end for the crank.