Micrometers - Which Type/model To Get For Engine Rebuild

[lapazlane 0]

I am planning to do my first engine rebuild on a 1.9 8V. Can anyone give me some advice on what would be a suitable low budget (as I won't be using it loads) micrometer - there are plenty of secondhand ones on ebay and cheapy new ones, but is a cheap chinese digital vernier one ok for my needs(I'm thinking easy to read and can use for inside and outside measuring, but are they accurate enough), or should I get an old outside caliper type of reasonable quality? Thanks, Jon.

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

Unless you are planning to do a lot of engine work the cost of the micrometers needed is often prohibitive. To cover all dimensions for example I have a 0-25, 25-50 & 50-75mm.

 

The best bet really is to have an engine machine shop check the crank for you and grind it if required. They will also be able to supply the correct bearings. You can then use plastigauge to double check the tolerances when dry building the engine.

 

The one I would buy is the 0-25mm, as this can be used to measure the valve bucket shims when resetting the valve clearances. This needs to be done accurately. A cheap chinese digi caliper is a useful thing to have about and not expensive, however the micrometer the the thing for accurately measuring things.

 

Note, there is a distinct difference between a vernier caliper, and a micrometer.

 

Vernier caliper

 

Mic

[MerlinGTI 3]

Got both of mine from machine mart. Worked out cheap on a no VAT day. The digi Vernier is the same one snap-on sells (at 3 times the price!)

[Cameron 16]

Can I just point out, there's no such thing as a digital Vernier calliper. It's either a Vernier calliper, or a digital calliper.

 

I got a set of micrometers (0-25, 25-50, 50-75) off eBay for about £25.

You can't really go wrong with cheap(ish) micrometers, but I wouldn't recommend the cheapy digital callipers. Mititoyo FTW!

[tri_longer 25]

Can I just point out, there's no such thing as a digital Vernier calliper. It's either a Vernier calliper, or a digital calliper.

 

I got a set of micrometers (0-25, 25-50, 50-75) off eBay for about £25.

You can't really go wrong with cheap(ish) micrometers, but I wouldn't recommend the cheapy digital callipers. Mititoyo FTW!

 

Is there any particluar reason that cheapo verniers would be less accurate than cheapo micrometers? Just seems odd that one would be better than another.

[Cameron 16]

Cheap digital callipers just aren't very good, the quality is poor and on some of the ones I've used you get wrong measurements or errors if you open and close them too fast. Cheap micrometers you can trust a little more as they're 100% mechanical.