I am running a 16 year old Nikon DTM 521. It's starting to show it's age. I was hoping to take this gun to retirement (6-10 more years). Don't know if she's going to make it though.
19 years. They don't build them to last this long anymore.
GTS3b which I bought in ~1986
I still have an operational GTS-302 that I got new in 1994, but I haven't used it in a couple of years. I also have a Geodimeter 640 and a Leica TCRA1102, but my daily driver is a GeoMax Zoom80 that's just over a year old.
Topcon 301b, maybe 93, not real sure without looking it up.
Topcon 303D....still chugging along
Those Topcon guppies are work horses. I've found that cycling the batteries when stored is very important..
thebionicman, post: 410053, member: 8136 wrote: Those Topcon guppies are work horses. I've found that cycling the batteries when stored is very important..
VG door stop too
My Topcon 301 from 1993 is still working. I have recelled the battery 3 times now. Works very well.
1923 Adolph Leitz
Lookinatchya, post: 410039, member: 7988 wrote: I am running a 16 year old Nikon DTM 521. It's starting to show it's age. Don't know if she's going to make it though.
I've an 821 that is as sweet as the day it was bought.
Only had 2 proper services in its life, 3 lots batteries.
But it doesn't get abused, used in the rain, unless under an umbrella (rare) and is totally in my care.
What's ageing? Looks or sloppy readings?
Whilst it's still serviceable I'd continue to hang on to it. Unfortunately Trimble don't care much for old Nikons even in tip-top condition.
Do you have a good Nikon (not a Trimble dealer) service person handy?
Talk with them.
Richard, post: 410094, member: 833 wrote: What's ageing? Looks or sloppy readings?
Doesn't hold zero, Always seems to drift 10" - 15" after a short time. (No it is not my tripod)
Tangent Screws seem to be getting a little sloppy
Shot a distance recently, about 23 ft. The recorded distance was doubled (46 ft.)
Turned a set yesterday DDRR, Mean angle was off 01' 32". Could have been operator error but I have been turning angles for 30 plus years. It it as automatic as breathing to me. Seemed really odd.
My 1952 K&E 20" Gun works just fine....
Lookinatchya, post: 410039, member: 7988 wrote: I am running a 16 year old Nikon DTM 521. It's starting to show it's age. I was hoping to take this gun to retirement (6-10 more years). Don't know if she's going to make it though.
Which one? We have two GTS2B's that I'd take out right now circa 1983 (even though I don't want to). We have two GTS 605's circa 2000 and well, they're a little long in the tooth but we were using them daily up until two months ago. We have one Topcon 3000W that still is used daily circa 2006 and two Leica TS06 circa 6 months that we replaced everything with.
We have some old theodolites older than me we use on construction jobs when it is warranted.
[USER=7988]@Lookinatchya[/USER] that's plain awful results. Ouch!
I'd have it looked at by a service company that works with Nikons.
When was it serviced last?
I stress the 'working with' as they (should) know these instruments whereas others don't have the intimate knowledge.
I've a lot of respect for those older Nikons and would hope yours just needs a good service.
Lietz/Sokkisha SDM3E10 lubed, adjusted and ready to go if needed.
Lietz Set 4 lubed, adjusted and ready to go if needed.
Sokkia 330R and 530R are my day to day TS.
:gammon:
Spring 1998, Leica TCA1100. Need to state that I have used it very little as I have gone through about three sets of GNSS recievers in that time frame, that is our work horse equipment for most work.
SHG
I have one that could register to vote.
Topcon GPT-3000. Made in 2006.
March 1988 - Geodimeter 440 and December 1988 - Geodimeter 440-LR
They have both been out today for their yearly calibration on the baseline we use - both within spec. The LR is returning mean figures on D-bar inside +/- 1mm. over a km.
To be fair, they are now reserve instruments but still as good as the day they were built.
