[Ducati] bARRY..

[John Whiting]

Oil patch, Ducatis, ex-machinist.  Pretty scary, as I also fit that MO.
I inherited my machinist tools, lathe, drill presses, etc. from my
grandfathers, as well as my love of things mechanical.  My dad's dad
used Starrett's all the way,  from small to gargantuan, plus gauge
blocks, dial indicators, etc.  The mics/measurement tools are all like
the day he bought them!  I just got the lathe up and running, but it is
gonna need some more work to get it up to standard accuracy wise, but I
have already cut a few small items on it since getting it running.

BTW, I have a depth/dial indicator in Mitutoyo and it is a good tool.

-----Original Message-----
From: ducati-bounces at ducati.net [mailto:ducati-bounces at ducati.net] On
Behalf Of MS&F
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2008 6:02 AM
To: Ducati Owners Group
Subject: Re: [Ducati] bARRY..

Likewise I have not worked on the crank of any of my Ducs but just a 
thought on the tools.  At the risk of being booed off the list - if you 
are buying tools - why not walk on the wild side and go metric?  It is 
so much easir than making the conversions all the time, not to mention 
the chance of mistakes creeping in.  Mitutoyo is an excellent Japanese 
brand to look for.

Happy New Year to all.

Stuart

HOPPER ELDRIDGE wrote:
> Barry, I haven't opened up a Duc yet so as to a good answer for a dial
indicator, I recon some of the other guys can give you some straight
info. I'd assume a 0-1" indicator would do, but 0-2" indicators are
cheap enough.
>    
>   As for depth gauges, my latest flyer from Enco shows a Fowler 0-6"
set with digital counter for $95, which is not bad. Grizzly has some
listed for $40 for a small base 0-6" set or a 0-6" set in electronic
readings for $140. An alternative is to get a "T bar" fitting that
clamps onto a dial indicator so that you can use the stem more
accuratedly for depth measurements. The dial caliper is handy is all
sorts of instances, or if you get abit fancy, get the digital readout
calipers for automatic metric/English readings.
>    
>   You might also get a 0-1" electronic micrometer for when you do you
valve shims. They can be read in metric or in English so you don't have
to worry about conversions.
>    
>   Just read through the catalogs after you read up on the manuals and
they'll give a bit of insight as to uses and utility.
>    
>   I worked as a machinist for about 7 years so I have a lot of money
tied up in tools. And I've always bought tools from the pawn shops when
the price was right too so I now have a significant investment in the
measuring department. Just wish i had a good lathe and knee mill! If I
get back in the oil patch...then I can afford some!
>    
>   Hopper