SSAN:

I had no trouble figuring out what you wanted.

http://www.centraltools.com/

is a better place to see the Central line, if you wonder how to work something they also have their instruction sheets on line, but they don't sell direct. The first site does.

To do what you want get the Central #6009 0-1" outside micrometer, and the 6240 0-3" depth micrometer. The outside micrometer mentioned is far from the best on the market, but its accurracy is far beyond what you need, and dollar for dollar you can't beat it. The depth mike is the equal of any on the market.

Or, if you will take the time to learn its use you could get the #6421 vernier caliper and do it all with one tool.

This particular caliper is neither a dial nor LCD indicator, so while it is not as convenient to use as the others, since it uses a tangent screw for fine adjustment it is more accurate when you learn to use it. And Central's calipers are every bit as good as Brown & Sharpe, Starrett, or anything the Japs sell.

My precision tools include Brown & Sharpe, Starrett, Central, Mitutoyo, and others. My opinions are based on actual use of the tools.

But there is a "Quick and Dirty" way to measure head clearance nobody has mentioned. Oil the piston and head, put a small dab of your kid's modeling clay on the piston. Screw the head down and turn the crank through TDC, pull the head and measure the thickness of the clay dab. You're done, leave it all alone or change the shim, whatever you want.

Head tight or slack, fly a twin - I'll get off your back.

Bill.

PS: Central has a WATS line - locate your local dealer or whatever - (800) 866-5287. wr