How I Fixed My Damaged Shars Dial Indicator

My File and CAD links are now at: / russtuff
This indicator has really been quite good, and had I not been able to fix it I would have bought a direct replacement. I purchased it with the magnetic base, but the link now has a different indicator sold with the base. Also, this base has a spring-loaded forearm, which I no longer suggest getting: www.shars.com/...
Since the above link is for my base with some other indicator, here is a link to just my indicator: www.shars.com/p...

[@metricdeep8856]

You are the man. I dropped mine too and I approached the problem to the letter the way you did. Once I realized it wasn't a bent shaft I went to youtube. You saved my indicator from exploratory surgery. I owe you a beer. Cheers. I also discoverd that the shaft with the rack will rotate ever so slightly if it is not fully engaged with the pinion gear. It helped me to reset the engagement wihtout being any tighter than it needed to be - hopefully.

[@jimmilne19]

Perfect find for me. I've got the same problem with a Starrett indicator. I'm off to take mine apart thanks to your video which gives me the courage and information to go to it with mine. Thanks for sharing.

[@russtuff]

Thanks for watching. I hope your repair goes smoothly :)

[@Jimthefurryworm]

I worked at a calibration place for 4 yrs and have worked on many of those brands and also the Starrett and other brands, with all brands that pin with the spring attached is easier to install or take out with the rack turned where the pin faces you... food for thought

[@russtuff]

+Charles Thompson I never thought of that!

[@Jimthefurryworm]

makes it a lot easier, i found out the hard way, cus there is no easy way to remove that pin unless you can get a hold of it...lol

[@russtuff]

Thanks Luiz! I love your videos and have watched and rewatched many of them. Cheers!

[@russtuff]

The three ways I've seen splines cut are hobbing, broaching, and milling, but I have never tried any of them. There may be other methods, but here are some examples of these three: Hobbing: v=xcEI31A0pUI (the way the pros do it) Broaching (sorta): v=B8l6lH4ydd4 (all of this guys videos are amazing) Milling: v=8I_jv0IKDC4 (this is a timing pulley, but same idea) Each method requires some way to index the stock, which in CNC would mean a 4th axis. I hope to get to this point some day....

[@Regalmetalworks]

good deal... nothing worse then a broken tool! glad you got it fixed!

[@mcooil]

Cheers mate! Fixed my Kennedy dial.

[@russtuff]

Sweet!

[@umargul5644]

Well done sir

[@CharlesSnyder]

Thanks, you never know if that might happen to someone else. Good to know.

[@edwinstephens3719]

Thanks, did the same thing with a Grizzly. I gave up on figuring out the issue by going in the back. Will give it another try thru the front.

[@russtuff]

any luck?

[@VEMWMIKE]

Nice video and helpful. Something that might help where fat fingers get in the way is a pair of hemostats, I have several pair I keep at the shop for just such issues.

[@russtuff]

Thanks!

[@robertoswalt319]

Great information. Thanks for sharing.

[@russtuff]

Thanks for watching!

[@russtuff]

Do you mean adjust the brass plate so that the indicator points to 12o-clock when in the resting position? Because yes that should work fine. Mine isn't, but it doesn't bother me. Cheers!

[@russtuff]

Agreed. These are so inexpensive I should really have a couple more on the bench.

[@russtuff]

Thank you for watching!

[@larryleek7141]

Thanks, great information!

[@tryally]

Nice video with a cool info. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Luiz

[@drkabooke1]

Nice save!

[@jidissafi7413]

Strange world. Was watching this and struggling to get the front bezel off my HF one with the same plunger issue, and it popped out of my hands and hit the floor (thin office carpet on concrete). I sarcastically said to myself "yeah, that might have fixed it", and it now has nice strong tension again. TBH, I don't remember dropping it when it lost tension, but I drop lots of things as I go along. Didn't bother trying to get the front off after that. Does anyone know if the Harbor Freight snaps off like his? The rear guts look about the same, but the aluminum ring looks to be all one piece which wraps around to the front. - and thanks for the video!

[@matt48722]

I love you videos man thanks!

[@ikweh]

So if my dial indicator is off by .100 I can just take the front off and loosen it and it will work ?

[@feliksmlynarczyk3970]

would you know how to remove crystal from aerospace dial indicator, china. Thanks

[@russtuff]

I don't, sorry.

[@tryally]

Your welcome and if you need can count on me. Cheers! Luiz

[@PeteSimpson]

Excellent video :-)

[@russtuff]

Pete Simpson Thanks!

[@kerrywil1]

thnaks for the video

[@metalmorphist]

Interesting.

[@russtuff]

Sent you a personal message.

[@dennisallport5704]

I wouldn't suggest this video as a reference to anyone who thinks they can accurately "fix" a dial indicator on their own. My take on this is that while your camera was rolling you had some luck. Your luck isn't the best teacher. This makes me want to produce a video on the correct procedure for disassembling, diagnosing, and actually accurately setting return springs, gear mesh, take up, and calibration (after reassembly). Just getting gears turning together is not accurately fixing a dial. Without checking calibration of the dial increments may lead an operator into thinking they are getting accurate readings!

[@russtuff]

+Dennis Allport For cheap indicators like this one, I had nothing to lose getting into it and I assume other people with cheap indicators will likely fill the same way. As for doing it the right (or better way), I think your idea for a video sounds great. Send me a link if you do make it, I'd love to see the job done by someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks for watching :)

[@Hereford1642]

Dennis, please make that video. You will have done your good deed for the day and made the world a better place.

[@dennisallport5704]

Two years ago I had no means of recording or posting videos. I do now! I will be creating a video series covering many different measuring instruments. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@russtuff]

Cool!

[@fgleich]

think tweezers

[@100nortonfan]

Annoying editing. Otherwise, informative.

[@russtuff]

I'm not sure what to do with that. Maybe: Annoying comment. Otherwise, unconstructive. Thanks for watching :)

[@100nortonfan]

russtuff Thin skinned and mentally weak. Cheers!

[@j4k3z]

What a douche lmao