CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING

FOR DUMPY LEVELS

CALIBRATION
AND FAULT FINDING
FOR LAL20X & LAL24X
DUMPY LEVELS

MEASURING EXPERTS
SINCE 1869
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• How The LAL20X & LAL24X Works

• The Automatic level is called “Automatic” because it requires only a simple
basic set-up using the external circular leveling vial.
• The final fine adjustment is then made by an internal pendulum mechanism
called the compensator.
• This enables a very accurate set-up
set up to be performed by personnel with only
basic training in the use of surveying instruments.
• The compensator is quite delicate and is protected from damage by a
compensator lock that is activated by closing the lid of the travel case. It can
also be manually activated by squeezing the button below the eyepiece
eyepiece.

Compensator
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Setting up a Dumpy Level

• Place the Dumpy Level on a tripod or other solid stable surface.
• Adjust the three black leveling screws until the bubble in the circular vial is within the
black circle. This vial can be viewed through the prism on the left hand side of the Level
if required. Note; The bubble does not have to be exactly in the center of the circle.
• Turn the level in the direction required using the alignment sight on the top of the level
as a guide.
• Look through the eyepiece and adjust the focus of the cross hairs by turning the
eyepiece. Then adjust the focus of the target using the Focusing knob on the right hand
side of the level
level.
• The horizontal cross hair now shows a line that is exactly level with the Dumpy.

Alignment
Pi
Prism Sight

Circular
setting Focus Knob
Vial

Leveling
screws Eyepiece
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Common faults
• The most common fault is the circular or setting vial being
out of alignment. Further on we will discuss how this can be
checked and re-aligned.
• Not focusing correctly is mostly caused by the focus travel
beingg adjusted
j incorrectly.
y
• Compensator accuracy can only be properly checked over a
suitable range. We can however easily check that the
compensator is functioning.
• Physical damage
damage, usually from being dropped is common
and often requires replacement of the compensator and
sometimes the whole unit has to be exchanged.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Circular Setting vial

• To check the operation of the circular leveling vial.
• Firstly we place the Dumpy on a solid stable surface.
• We then adjusting the three black leveling screws while viewing the
bubble through the prism on the left hand side of the Level, until the
bubble in the circular vial is close to the center of the black circle.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Circular Setting vial

• Now rotate the level 180 degrees while holding the base firmly. If the circular vial is
set up correctly, the bubble will remain within the circle.
• Note; Some customers believe that the bubble must remain precisely in the center
of the circle, but this is not correct. The bubble only has to remain within the circle.
• If the bubble remains inside the circle then no adjustment is required
required.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Removing the Orange Cover

• If you the circular vial requires adjustment then it is best if the orange cover is
removed so it is easier to see the circular vial.
• Unscrew the Eyepiece Ring.
• Using two slim straight bladed screwdrivers, insert the ends under the cover as
shown below
below. This will release the front of the cover
cover.
• The cover should lift at the large lens end allowing you to gently pull the top off.

Screwdriver
Screwdriver Tip here
Eyepiece Tip here
Ring

Eyepiece
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Circular Setting vial Adjustment

• Place
ace the
t e Dumpy
u py level
e e on
o a firm solid
so d su
surface
ace so tthat
at tthe
e Object
Objective
e (b
(big
geend)
d) is
soon
the left and the Eyepiece is on the right.
• Adjust the three Black leveling screws until the bubble is as close to the center of the
circle as you can.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Circular Setting vial Adjustment

• Holding the base of the level so that it does not move at all, rotate the top part of
the level by 180 degrees (Half a turn).
• We now adjust the two silver Hex screws to correct the bubble position using a
2.0mm Hex driver or key.
• Note that when you turn the screw clockwise (tighten) you will move the bubble
towards the screw and when you turn the screw counterclockwise you will move the
bubble away from the screw.
• See arrows below.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Circular Setting vial Adjustment

• It is important to note that you are not trying to move the bubble to the center point
of the circle using the silver hex screws.
• In fact you are trying to move the bubble only half the distance required as the effect
is doubled, so be careful to make only small adjustments, no more than half a turn.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Circular Setting vial Adjustment

• Holding the base of the level so that it does not move at all, rotate the top part level by
180 degrees (Half a turn) back to the original position with the Objective (big end) on
the left and the Eyepiece on the right.
• Again we adjust the Black leveling screws until the bubble is as close to the center of
the circle possible.
• We now repeat the process adjusting the three black leveling screws while the eyepiece
is on the right and adjusting the two silver hex screws while the eyepiece is on the left
until the bubble remains inside the circle in both positions.
• It is q
quite normal to repeat
p this several times to get
g ag good result.

Adjust Black Screws Adjust Silver Screws

 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Problems with vial Adjustment

• Problems
ob e s tthat
at you may
ay finddaaree as follows;
o o s;
• The hex in the silver screw is stripped and the driver slips. In this case the screw
should be replaced. If you cannot remove the screw then it is a workshop job.
• The screw is turning but the bubble is not moving or the screw is so tight that it will
not turn.
turn These both mean that the screw has run out of adjustment
adjustment. The problem
can be addressed by tightening the spring under the circular vial or adjusting the
third mounting screw but that is usually a job for the workshop.
• The bubble will not settle in the center of the circle. This is a fault with the vial
it lf and
itself d usually
ll means ththatt vial
i l mustt b
be replaced.
l d
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Adjusting the Focus travel

• If the Dumpy will cannot be focused then;-
• Firstly check that the slide is moving inside the tube. The slide can be seen
through the objective (big) lens and should move when the focus knob is
turned. If the slide does not move then it is a workshop job.
• If the slide does move then the focus travel limit will be stopping the slide too
soon. This can be fixed as follows;-
• Remove the top cover as described previously. Focus clamp
• Undo the two Focus clamp screws by about 1 screws
turn only.
l
• While looking through the eyepiece, turn the
focusing knob clockwise until it an object at least
20m away comes into focus.
• The knob will feel gritty but this is normal.
• Continue turning the knob for a quarter of a turn
past the point of focus.
• Retighten the two clamping screws.
screws
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Testing the Compensator operation

• If tthere
e e is
saany y doubt that
t at the
t e Compensator
Co pe sato iss functioning
u ct o g correctly
co ect y
then is can be tested as follows.
• Set up the dumpy level on a firm stable surface and adjust the three
black leveling screws so that the bubble in the circular vial is within
the black circle.
circle
• Look through the eyepiece and make sure that the cross hairs are
clearly in focus and adjust if required by turning the eyepiece.
• Look through the eyepiece and focus the level using the knob on the
right
i ht hhand d side,
id on any object
bj t th
thatt can b
be seen clearly.
l l
• While looking through the level turn the black leveling screw nearest
to you by approximately a quarter of a turn.
• If the compensator
p is functioning
g correctlyy then the cross hair will
move either up or down and then return to the original position. This
is the compensator, correcting for the error as the screw was moved.
• If the line moves and does not recover then the compensator is not
functioning and this is a job for the workshop
workshop.
 CALIBRATION AND FAULT FINDING
FOR DUMPY LEVELS

• Reassembly
• Screw the Eyepiece Ring onto the level by placing it over the end of the
level and turning anticlockwise until the thread engages with a small
click, then turn clockwise for approximately 2 turns.
• Place the orange cover onto the level noting the piece that fits between
the Eyepiece
y p Ring
g and the body y and then p
press the cover firmly
y
downwards. It should clip into place. Note this may require some force.
• Complete tightening the Eyepiece Ring by turning clockwise .
• Note; it is quite difficult to fit the Eyepiece Ring if the cover has already
been installed.
installed
• Replace the lens cover, place the level in the travel case and close the lid
firmly to lock the compensator.

Eyepiece
Ring