caliper / micrometer question

[Lepke]

Your better off taking your rocker shaft and rockers in one piece to a diesel machine shop and have them check and rebuild if necessary. They have the measuring tools and the equipment to rebuild. They can also check the shaft for straightness. Better yet, have them do the head if you're doing an overhaul. Heads and valves are better left to people that do them everyday.
If you're young, and can use the mics many times, doing an in the boat overhaul, it's worthwhile to have mics so you don't have to completely remove the crank. In an undamaged engine, overhauling for high hours, while measuring several hundred cranks, I found nearly all to be standard. The ones that weren't were obvious. If the crank mics ok, then plasticgauge works fine to check clearances.
The machinists (above) are giving you the straight scoop. I'm not one, but my daddy was, and taught me what I needed for diesel mechanics. Buying diesel tools for one overhaul isn't worth it. A good diesel mechanic has tens of thousands in tools.

[er9]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Your better off taking your rocker shaft and rockers in one piece to a diesel machine shop and have them check and rebuild if necessary. They have the measuring tools and the equipment to rebuild. They can also check the shaft for straightness. Better yet, have them do the head if you're doing an overhaul. Heads and valves are better left to people that do them everyday.
If you're young, and can use the mics many times, doing an in the boat overhaul, it's worthwhile to have mics so you don't have to completely remove the crank. In an undamaged engine, overhauling for high hours, while measuring several hundred cranks, I found nearly all to be standard. The ones that weren't were obvious. If the crank mics ok, then plasticgauge works fine to check clearances.
The machinists (above) are giving you the straight scoop. I'm not one, but my daddy was, and taught me what I needed for diesel mechanics. Buying diesel tools for one overhaul isn't worth it. A good diesel mechanic has tens of thousands in tools.

hey Lepke thanks i agree. there is no way im going to do the complex stuff like re-build a head or repair a fuel injection pump etc...the pro's have many , many years of training and experience and i want them doing the difficult stuff. i do want to be able to remove all the parts, assess them and re-assemble them correctly replacing and fixing what i can. what i cant do or shouldnt i will have a pro do but i want to be a self sufficient as possible. mics will definately come in handy for giving me some reference though.