Shoutout to the older mechanics who still use a dial indicator over digital

I was struggling to get a radial play reading on a PT6 compressor turbine last Tuesday. The digital gauge kept jumping around and driving me nuts. Old timer named Rick from the hangar next door handed me his Starrett dial indicator and said 'this won't lie to you.' Got a perfect .002 reading on the first try. Anyone else find analog tools more reliable for critical turbine clearance checks?

2 comments

2 Comments

sethb453d ago

My buddy Dave had the exact same issue on a Rolls-Royce 250 last week, digital kept showing .004 then .001 then back again. He grabbed a dial indicator from the snap-on truck driver who was making a delivery and got a solid .0025 reading in under a minute. Good old analog tools just dont lie when you need real numbers.

wendy_mason863d ago

I had the same thing with a dial gauge on a P&W PT6 last month. The digital readout was bouncing all over. Old school dials just work. Especially for tight clearances where you need to feel the needle settle.