Note the plunger passes all the way through the indicator body; if I had more parts (rare) the other end of the plunger could be used for lifting the probe end, for example on a comparator setup on a mini-plate.
Somewhere in that stack of jewels and gears is the reason the pointer won't return to zero reliably. Somewhere in Colorado is someone who knows how to fix that. Somewhere on YouTube there is likely to be a video (Blondihacks I think) on DIY repairs.
I did some digging on services. Apparently almost nobody just replaces crystals. Most shops have a flat fee which covers everything you could want, including a clean-lube-adjust (or whatever - do these things get lubrication? I wonder) and replacing the crystal. This is $25 - $50 for one unit, possible discounts might obtain if you have a box of them. Traceable cal not included.
Well crud. That's starting to make this indicator an expensive one. All right then... on the one hand, it's a Federal (a good mid-grade), not a B&S, Mitu, or Starrett but also not junk; and B) new ones this size are well over $200 from anybody, even Fowler (cheap, low-grade brand).
So, I guess I'm willing for this to eventually become a $100 (to me) dial indicator, it would be worth investing that much to have one Big Bright Beautiful Bezel, I mean crystal heh, and a movement that is smooth with no hizzups, on a dial three inches across because my eyes need a clean-lube-adjust too.
Oh, apparently this original Federal movement didn't win any awards, so Federal came out with a new one with real jewel bearings they called the Miracle Movement which was much, much better. MM indicators cost more than $28 shipped you can be sure. ;)
PS: if you find yourself taking one of these apart, DON'T LOSE THE SCREWS. You won't find exact replacements anywhere. Period. You might find close approximations from jewelers or watchmaker's or clockmaker supply houses. Then again, you might not. Don't lose them.
PPS: On the advice of The Cranky Old Men on Practical Machinist, I attacked the crystal with plastic polish and to my surprise, it removed some of the amber, as promised. Can't remove it to attack the other side without also taking off the pointer, which opens a can of worms. I'd rather leave that work to a professional worm wrangler.
More as it happens.
more links on fixing dial indicators:
Nik Colyer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoqvDueMn0E
Mr. Pete - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9gNrmxW_nU
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