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repair a cheap micrometer?

D

DMartin9N-2N

Member
Good evening: I have a (probably cheap) micrometer, zero to one inch, marked "DCMI made in England". I am tinkering with it just like I work on Sudoku or a crossword puzzle. The micrometer's problem is that the small knob is seized in the thimble, rather than having a sort of clicking free wheel mode. I have no paperwork for it, I probably got it at a yard sale. Can someone suggest how I can get the click feature on the small knob to work again?

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
Neighbor start by spraying a little PB blaster in something small enough that you can ease that end
down in and let it soak a day or so, then go easy , time is you buddy on something like that. Man
might warm it with one of those heat guns but very careful with the heat.
 
Are you sure it has a ratchet ?

I'm pretty sure I've seen micrometers that had a smaller knob but did not have a ratchet.
 
Not sure what you plan to do with this micrometer but If you need very accurate readings which is the purpose of the small knob, I?d buy a new one and give this one to the kids/grandkids. If don?t need 3 digit (0.000)
accuracy then soak it in your favorite penetrating oil. Don?t think I?d use too much heat. Some of them have a screw so That holds the knob in place. Be careful most are spring loaded.
 
Some have the little knob to allow spinning faster, and the fat wide sleeve for slip clutch. Fowler
is one 5 decimal place micrometer brand that does. others just use the smaller for faster, and
touch for accuracy with no slip clutch. I found used ones for about $22. They are good. and do not
use a slip clutch. Jim
 
The cheaper it is, the less likely it would have a ratchet feature. IME, only the better ones do that.
 
The company that I work for has quit calibrating dial indicators and such because it is now cheaper to replace them than to calibrate them. I have a whole box of "out of cal" dial indicators because I could not bear to throw them away. Most of them still read fine.

Unless you just have time to kill on your hands or a sentimental attachment to the micrometer, I would be looking for a replacement.

It is kind of a shame since many of these are precision mechanical marvels.

Cliff(VA) now (NC)
 
LOL!! Glad you said that David, I?ve got thousands of dollars worth of Ottawa micrometers that I can not read without a magnifying glass
I?ve come to rely on my $25 digital ones for most everything! Wife makes fun of the Industrial glass I have by the drill press as I cannot read the smaller bits!
 
Good morning! After several days of me dripping a little penetrating oil, and applying slight twisting with small pliers, I have decided this unit does not have the click feature on the small knob. Not a problem to me, I have several other (0 to 1 inch) micrometers that have the click feature working. Thanks to all who commented!

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
Maybe it doesn't have a "clicker" just looks like it does? If it's actually a cheap one this could be the case.
 
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