Dried original lubricant can look like amber or dark brown varnish. It binds tenaciously to brass, bronze, and aluminum components. Mechanical and Body Cleaning
The Hilger Watts theodolite manual repack is a critical process that involves disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling the instrument to ensure its accuracy and performance. Over time, the instrument's mechanical components can wear out, and its optics can become dirty or damaged, affecting its accuracy. A manual repack helps to:
or specific optical greases are often recommended for their stability and low outgassing. Documentation
: Fold in any external mirrors used for circle illumination. Retract the ray shade if it was extended. Loose Clamps
Carefully remove the telescope and alidade from the tribrach. Note the position of any shim stock.
Apply a thin coating of medium-viscosity grease or heavy instrument oil to the threads.
A complete manual repack—disassembling, cleaning, and degreasing the instrument—restores these transit theodolites to factory smoothness. This comprehensive guide outlines the tools, safety steps, and precise sequence required to successfully overhaul a Hilger & Watts microptic theodolite. Critical Pre-Service Requirements
Lift the main theodolite body straight up out of the tribrach (leveling base). Set the main body safely aside on a padded ring or cloth.
"Re-packaging" in this context refers not merely to placing a book in a new box, but the digital preservation, physical restoration, and functional re-housing of technical manuals to ensure their survival and utility for future generations.
Complete Guide to Repacking and Servicing a Hilger & Watts Theodolite
: Take photographs of every component before and during removal. The assembly order of Hilger & Watts instruments is complex, and misaligned spacers can lead to collimation errors.
Remove the battery compartment or external lighting attachments used for illumination.
Orient the instrument to its original packing position. Hilger & Watts "Microptic" models often have specific alignment indicators—look for orange or colored dots on the instrument that must line up with matching dots inside the steel or wooden case.
Where to find parts for vintage Hilger & Watts theodolite? - Facebook
Clean the threads with a stiff nylon brush until the metal is bright. 3. The Vertical Circle and Standards Cover
Choosing the correct grease viscosity and applying it sparingly is the secret to restoring that signature "silky" Hilger & Watts feel.
Repacking—the process of stripping, cleaning, and applying fresh grease—restores these instruments to factory-smooth operation. This comprehensive technical guide covers the tools, safety steps, and precise assembly sequences required to successfully repack your Hilger & Watts theodolite. 🛠️ Essential Tools and Materials
: Bring the three leveling foot screws to the center of their travel. This prevents them from being under tension or bottoming out against the case base. Vertical Alignment