Sticky dial indicater

[Andrew Hughes]

So I have a Federal C3k dial indicator that I really like. But it's movement is sticky I've oiled it at the bottom where the plunger comes out. It's good for the task but it's slow again.
Has anyone cleaned the inside of a indicator. I did read that Naptha was recommended.
Please advise.

Heres my setup.

Thanks Andrew

[Brice Rogers]

Naptha is a pretty mild solvent and should be perfect. Go to youtube and type in sticky dial indicator and you'll get about a dozen decent hits.

[Bruce Page]

I've cleaned several and always used isopropyl alcohol (long before the internet came along to tell me I was doing it wrong..) :)

[Andrew Hughes]

Thanks Bruce, that's what I'm going to try today. I did look at videos before I posted there just no way I'm going to take it apart. If the alcohol doesn't work Ill find a watch repair. At our local mall.

[Bill Dufour]

A cheap NAPTHA source is white gas, as used for Coleman fuel. About $8.00/gallon at walmart. It is naptha and also makes a good paint thinner/cleaner for oil based paints. I use it to spray tractor supply oil paints. It is a little hotter then thinner and dries quick.
Lighter fluid is also good cleaner.
Depending on costs it may be cheaper to buy a new DI at harbor freight which will be plenty good enough for woodworking. I bought one and sawed off the back end of the plunger to fit inside my planer. I would have cringed to do that to a good brand like yours.
Bill D

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general-archive/diy-dial-indicator-repair-83280/

[Bruce Page]

The Federal is one of the best indicators ever made. It's worth getting it working right. I have one that I bought in the 70's that is still my favorite.

[Peter Christensen]

Be careful and don't get solvents on the bezel. If it is plastic and not glass it may dissolve or melt the surface and you won't be able to read it. There are some instructions of a few brands that may help on the Long Island Indicator Service site. They can repair it too.

http://www.longislandindicator.com/index.html

Better would be to send it to a calibration and repair company near you. Lots in California.

http://www.picinc.net/repairs.php From their instrument repair price list, you're looking at $40.00 plus shipping etc. Worth it for a decent tool.

http://www.calcert.com/calibration.html

http://www.indicatorrepair.com

https://www.thomasnet.com/southern-california/gage-calibrating-services-32105306-1.html And a bunch more if you like looking.

There was a place our company used to send measuring tools to for repair if we couldn't fix it and they used to include a candy in the case when it was returned. Liked that for some reason but don't know who they were. :)

To add that when you get a tool back from one of these companies it will be calibrated and the repairs will make it like new again. Makes a lot of sense when you have an expensive American/, European or Japanese tool that you want to keep working for years to come.

[Jon Fletcher]

Removing the back of the indicator will expose the inner works, don't lose the screws. First thing I would do before taking off the back is wipe the plunger off and put a few drops of WD40 on it. Wipe it on with your fingers and push it in and out a few times. 90% of the time the plunger gets a little dirty and causes it to stick a little. Should never use oil on the plunger or the inner works.