[Vwdiesel] Tool recomendation

[Jim Arnott]

Industrial auctions.

Federal, Mitutoyo, Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, Fowler.  Mitu and Starrett
are probably the most common. Teclock, Central Tool Company and most
Chinese manufacturers are best avoided.  Look for three point gages.
Note that you'll also need a ring gage to set the dial bore gage.
Something approximating the bore size that you'll be measuring.
Telescoping guages and a caliper is okay for comparison, but I wouldn't
use that method to "measure" a bore.  Calipers typically just aren't
that accurate when opened way up. Much better to use a mic. And
practice!!!!  Obtaining accurate results is a matter of feel.

Poking around Ebay yields the following that I might take a chance on:

Cheap.  Occasional use:
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3310193461&category=20043>

Excellent quality. Production use:(I didn't check the bore size for a VW
Diesel, so I'm guessing here.  There's one the next size down there too.)
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3309777492&category=20043>

Setting master. (Needs Jo Blocks) Current bid is a steal.  That's a $600
piece of equipment.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3310180029&category=20043

And finally, a ring gage:
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3310158462&category=20043>

Jim
QA Engineer in a past life. Much of it spend measuring Orbiter parts...
<sigh>

LBaird119 at aol.com wrote:
>   Sears used to have them and they were about $150 and that was over
> 10 years ago.  They ain't cheap and are a little hard to find.  Telescoping
> gauge set and caliper or mic is the way most go.  I happened on a couple
> dial bore gauges for a good price, just missing the dial indicators.  :)
>      Loren