How to Adjust an Older Mechanical Transit

Spread the legs of the tripod. Press down on the foot pegs of each leg, and secure them in the ground. Loosen the set screw on each leg, and adjust each leg's telescoping arm up or down until the plate on top of the transit is relatively level.

Place the transit on the plate, and screw it into place. Traditional transits have a bolt under the plate that screws into the body of the transit, or the transit body has three set screws that twist into the plate. Tighten the bolts snugly, but do not damage the transit base by overtightening them.

Level the transit. Turn the leveling three knobs back and forth as you watch the bubble level on the base of the transit. You should find one knob on each side of the triangular base of the transit; adjust these knobs until the bubble of the level rests in the center of the circular level indicator.

Rotate the transit on the base of the tripod until you have placed it in line with the object you wish to measure. Look through the lens. Rotate the transit back and forth until the object is in view. Turn the focus knob, located on the lens casing, back and forth until the object in view is in focus. Twist the vertical knob located on the side of the transit base to move the focal point of the lens up or down.