Mystery DTI

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Mystery DTI

This topic has 34 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 3 July 2021 at 20:09 by John Reese.

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11 June 2013 at 15:50 #122012
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Tidying up my drawers, in preparation for experimenting with foam and papier-mache in organising items in them, I came across this 1.1/2" Mercer G.91 DTI.

The only part that moves is the black bezel, the indicating lever and arm being fixed.

The contact 'pin' is fixed as well, and unscrews.

Any help as to how and where it is used appreciated please.

More photos uploaded into new DTI folder.

Ah, I can insert photos when using the MacBook.

Geoff – Hoping to clear up this mystery.
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11 June 2013 at 15:50 #17099
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Mercer
11 June 2013 at 16:14 #122014
Steamer1915
Participant
@steamer1915
Hi, Admittedly I haven't a definite answer for you, but I wondered if the contact point would unscrew from the back of the gauge and then screw into the end of the long arm?

Steve.
11 June 2013 at 16:19 #122015
John McNamara
Participant
@johnmcnamara74883
Hi Ouballie

You may find a small drop of light oil applied to base of the knurled probe on the back will release it. I suspect it is stuck fully pressed in.

Cheers
John
11 June 2013 at 16:22 #122016
Steamer1915
Participant
@steamer1915
Just found this on Fleabay:- **LINK**

So just to answer my own question _"no"

"The dial moves from the back"

I think John has it right.

Edited By Steamer1915 on 11/06/2013 16:23:55

Edited By Steamer1915 on 11/06/2013 16:24:29
11 June 2013 at 17:03 #122021
Windy
Participant
@windy30762
I have a Verdict DTI very similar to your Mercer and used it years ago when setting the cam timing on my Triumph bike engines.

Paul
11 June 2013 at 17:30 #122025
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Geoff,

Sorry to say, I'm sure John is correct … that looks very stuck.

By all means try John's suggestion of some light oil; but you will probably get a nasty surprise if you open it up …

I have one of the larger DTIs in pieces at the moment; this was only sticking very slightly, but there is furry white alloy-corrosion inside. [they don't like condensation]

MichaelG.
11 June 2013 at 18:10 #122028
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Participant
@michaelwilliams41215
Hi OuBaillie ,

Your pic shows a standard back button dial gauge . Mercer gauges are still available as new items . Here is a website page showing modern day version :

**LINK**

MikeW
11 June 2013 at 18:20 #122031
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
John & MichaelG,

You both got it in one.

After reading the responses, I loosened the probe enough to get a thumb nail under it, levered and it moved ever so slightly, so as mentioned, it's stuck.

So a little 3in1 as suggested.

Mystery solved.

I did 'manage' to remove the bezel, but quickly got that back.

MichaelG – What exactly do you mean by 'nasty surprise'?

I hesitate/am reluctant to take it apart, as I have visions of all sorts of bits and pieces heading for the nearest black hole, that seem to inhabit all workshops, of whatever size or tidiness.

I wonder if a sonic bath will free the insides.

Will post update.

Windy – Details of how it's used for timing would be appreciated please.

Cheers all.

Geoff – Just about recovered from weekend
11 June 2013 at 18:40 #122033
Ed Duffner
Participant
@edduffner79357
Hi Geoff,

I inherited a Mercer G.92. I find it very useful when tramming my milling machine with the dial always facing upward.

Ed.
11 June 2013 at 18:52 #122034
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by OuBallie on 11/06/2013 18:20:08:

MichaelG – What exactly do you mean by 'nasty surprise'?

I hesitate/am reluctant to take it apart, as I have visions of all sorts of bits and pieces heading for the nearest black hole, that seem to inhabit all workshops, of whatever size or tidiness.

.

Nasty surprise = furry corrosion

I will post a photo sometime.

MichaelG.

.

P.S. This is what it should look like

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 11/06/2013 18:56:24
24 June 2013 at 18:10 #123037
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Update.

Since my first post, I have been applying normal as well as 3in1 oil to the plunger, and it has finally today freed enough to be sliding smoothly.

The gauge now appears to be working as designed, but I will continue applying the lighter of the two oils for a while yet, moving the at the same time.

Ta for all the help.

Geoff – If only the same treatment would work for me
24 June 2013 at 19:53 #123045
Peter Tucker
Participant
@petertucker86088
Hi Geoff,

Be carefull of the three in one, If left on moving parts for some time it can set like varnish.

Peter.
24 June 2013 at 20:48 #123048
Sub Mandrel
Participant
@submandrel
3 in 1 contains castor oil IIRC.

Neil
24 June 2013 at 21:53 #123053
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
Have you tried WD40 or similar release fluid?

George
25 June 2013 at 03:09 #123071
Bill Pudney
Participant
@billpudney37759
DON'T USE WD40!!!!!

Sorry for shouting.

WD40 turns into a waxy gooey mess if left for any time. Use it for displacing water (thats what the "WD" is for…Water Displacing), and then wipe up any residue

Up here in 'Straya there is a thin oil called "Inox", available as aerosol or a can. There must be something similar in the UK. Inox is the near perfect stuff for things like this. I suppose the perfect stuff is clock or watch oil.

cheers

Bill
25 June 2013 at 05:53 #123072
Geoff Theasby
Participant
@geofftheasby
A distant memory says not to use oil on dial gauges, only graphite dust.

Regards

Geoff
25 June 2013 at 09:02 #123078
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Thanks for the warnings!

Graphite dust I have as well as sewing machine oil.

Geoff – Today is workshop day at last
28 June 2013 at 18:39 #123350
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 11/06/2013 18:52:10:

Posted by OuBallie on 11/06/2013 18:20:08:

MichaelG – What exactly do you mean by 'nasty surprise'?

Nasty surprise = furry corrosion

I will post a photo sometime.

MichaelG.

.

Geoff,

Sorry for the delay … I finally got around to re-sizing some pictures; only to find that I had already done that [side-effects of Anno Domini]

My furry DTI is not the back-plunger style; but it is a Mercer, and the corrosion is fairly typical of one that has suffered condensation.

MichaelG.

Three more pics in the Album.
29 June 2013 at 12:10 #123421
OuBallie
Participant
@ouballie
Thanks for the photos MichaelG.

I'm still reluctant about taking mine apart, namely because I'm not sure how to, and seeing that it appears to be working fine, I'd rather let sleeping dogs alone.

Geoff – Nosh and coffee coming up
2 July 2021 at 10:16 #552246
vic newey
Participant
@vicnewey60017
I had one of these in a small lot of engineering bits & pieces, mine is stuck the same as Geoff's was.

By removing the little screw on the back I've dripped in a little watchmakers oil but I'm not sure exactly how you would use it ? My other dials have either a piston or a little pressure lever but what should this one have to operate it ?
2 July 2021 at 15:10 #552271
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
I inherited two smaller versions when clearing a workshop.

have never used them, but am sure that one day, one or the other will come in handy.

At least such clocks avoid the contortions sometimes required to read a plunger clock. Tramming a mill is one such time.

Most of the time the clock of choice is a Verdict finger clock

.(Probably because I am just too idle to dig out and set up any other! )

Howard
2 July 2021 at 15:24 #552277
vic newey
Participant
@vicnewey60017
But what is put in contact with the workpiece? I have a couple of finger types and several more plunger types but this one shows no way to use it as far as I can see
2 July 2021 at 15:41 #552282
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by vic newey on 02/07/2021 15:24:15:

But what is put in contact with the workpiece? I have a couple of finger types and several more plunger types but this one shows no way to use it as far as I can see

.

The link that I posted previously is dead … but here’s what it should look like externally: **LINK**

http://www.europacprecision.com/files/products/126/1/f40.pdf

Note the short plunger shaft labelled M2,5 – 6H

That is, I believe, what is/was stuck on Geoff’s specimen.

If it moves … usage should be self-evident

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ This should help

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/07/2021 15:56:51
2 July 2021 at 15:51 #552283
Sandgrounder
Participant
@sandgrounder
I use mine quite a lot on my Sieg milling machine, mount in either the drill or collet chuck and it's so easy to run the table along and square up a vice or angle plate etc.

John
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