Refractometer not level

[winland]

:?: I have a basic hand held refractometer.
The indicator line (blue line) is not level.
It is about 5 - 8 degrees from level.
Any idea why this is or how to fix this problem?

Many thanks,
Winland

 

[chris&barb]

how much water do you put on it?

 

[winland]

Usually just 2 - 3 drops

winland

 

[chris&barb]

are both surfaces clean?

 

[winland]

both surfaces are cleaned and calibrated with distilled water prior to testing.

 

[DonW]

Sounds like it got wacked out of alignment. Does the body come apart?

Don

 

[winland]

I finally bit the bullet and started to dismantle the refractometer.
I removed the soft rubber sleeve that fits over the barrel of the main body.
I found 3 set screws. 1 of the 3 screws was missing.
I unscrewed and removed the main eye piece of the unit.
Within, was the 'guts' of the refractometer. It was loose and had rotated inside the body of the unit.
With only 2 of the 3 set screws available, it was with great patience and fiddling that I finally got the 'guts' level and stabilized in the body and tightened down.
Hopefully I do not have to do this again in the near future.

winland