 How do I use, a dwell meter? |
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| Ctrout |
 Nov 19 2004, 06:23 PM
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#1
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Member  Group: Members Posts: 377 Joined: 20-May 04 From: Mountain Home, ID. Member No.: 2,091  |
I borrowed a dwell meter from someone at work and I thought there would be instructions with it. I don't want to fry this thing and have to buy it. Any help?
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Replies(1 - 19)
| TimT |
Nov 19 2004, 06:30 PM
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#2
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retired Group: Members Posts: 4,033 Joined: 18-February 03 From: Wantagh, NY Member No.: 313 |
Wow, I have a few dwell meters.. I havent used them in years.... Ill have to get one out and remember how to hook it up...
I dont think you will fry anything though |
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| scotty914 |
Nov 19 2004, 06:30 PM
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#3
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suby torque rules Group: Members Posts: 1,525 Joined: 20-July 03 From: maryland, the land of 25 year Member No.: 924 |
very simple
big black wire to ground on engine other wire to hot side of coil switch to dwell if switch to 4 cylinder some dwell meters have 3 wire, ground, hot coil, point side ( ground coil ) some have 2 wire ( mine ) some have switch for 4 6 8 cylinders and a rpm / dwell switch you really cant hurt em, do what looks right |
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| Ctrout |
Nov 19 2004, 06:33 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 377 Joined: 20-May 04 From: Mountain Home, ID. Member No.: 2,091 |
Cool, thanks. I'm hoping to get Pertronix for Christmas but until then, I figure I might as well set the car up properly with the equipment it currently has.
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| TheCabinetmaker |
Nov 19 2004, 06:54 PM
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#5
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Some don't have a 4cyl scale(got two of them). Double the 8 cyl scale.
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| Ctrout |
Nov 19 2004, 07:23 PM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 377 Joined: 20-May 04 From: Mountain Home, ID. Member No.: 2,091 |
Ok. I did it. The needle was registering JUST before the 25 (on the 8 cyl scale). So i figure that's about 49 1/2. Close enough that I don't think I want to even mess with it. I looked at my timing too which appeared to be just a bit retarded. I reset it and the idle smoothed out just a bit and it seems to run ever so slightly better although there is still a slight miss that seems to worsen somewhat at higher RPM. Now that the major issues (it runs, fixed brakes and clutch) with the car are sorted out, I will start concentrating on the little stuff like getting the trunk hinges replaced with the JWest hinges and getting new ignition parts like plug wires and such. The car pulls so well and performs so well overall that I really doubt that I can get it to do much better. I'm so happy with it, I could spit!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)
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| TheCabinetmaker |
Nov 19 2004, 07:41 PM
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#7
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Excellent job. However, 3 or 4 degress of dwell will make a lot more difference than you might think.
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| Series9 |
Nov 19 2004, 08:01 PM
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#8
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
What's a dwell meter? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif)
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| Carl |
Nov 19 2004, 08:05 PM
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#9
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Ummm ... what? Group: Members Posts: 781 Joined: 17-January 03 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 163 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(914RS @ Nov 19 2004, 06:01 PM) What's a dwell meter? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif) A meter that measures point gap in degrees of rotation of the distributor rotor. It's a very simple and handy device but generally doesn't work for solid state ignition systems. Connections are distributor side of the coil and ground. |
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| Series9 |
Nov 19 2004, 08:08 PM
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#10
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
QUOTE(Carl @ Nov 19 2004, 07:05 PM) QUOTE(914RS @ Nov 19 2004, 06:01 PM) What's a dwell meter? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif) A meter that measures point gap in degrees of rotation of the distributor rotor. It's a very simple and handy device but generally doesn't work for solid state ignition systems. Connections are distributor side of the coil and ground. Damn Carl, it was a comment about the anitquity of points, but thanks for the explaination. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) |
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| TheCabinetmaker |
Nov 19 2004, 08:13 PM
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#11
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
QUOTE(914RS @ Nov 19 2004, 08:08 PM) QUOTE(Carl @ Nov 19 2004, 07:05 PM) QUOTE(914RS @ Nov 19 2004, 06:01 PM) What's a dwell meter? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif) A meter that measures point gap in degrees of rotation of the distributor rotor. It's a very simple and handy device but generally doesn't work for solid state ignition systems. Connections are distributor side of the coil and ground. Damn Carl, it was a comment about the anitquity of points, but thanks for the explaination. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif) |
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| Carl |
Nov 19 2004, 08:15 PM
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#12
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Ummm ... what? Group: Members Posts: 781 Joined: 17-January 03 From: San Jose, CA Member No.: 163 Region Association: Northern California |
QUOTE(914RS @ Nov 19 2004, 06:08 PM) QUOTE(Carl @ Nov 19 2004, 07:05 PM) QUOTE(914RS @ Nov 19 2004, 06:01 PM) What's a dwell meter? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif) A meter that measures point gap in degrees of rotation of the distributor rotor. It's a very simple and handy device but generally doesn't work for solid state ignition systems. Connections are distributor side of the coil and ground. Damn Carl, it was a comment about the anitquity of points, but thanks for the explaination. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) The sad part is that I remember in high school auto shop when a dwell meter was innovation! Boy, am I glad we don't have to mess with those stinkin' points anymore. I had a '68 Cougar with a 302 that couldn't go 12,000 miles without arcing the points so bad it would barely run. Ah, the good old days ... |
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| redshift |
Nov 19 2004, 08:17 PM
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#13
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Bless the Hell out of you! Group: Members Posts: 10,926 Joined: 29-June 03 Member No.: 869 |
4.5 degrees is out enough to cause trouble over time..... let me think about this... hmm...
In the view of the perfectionist, you are a fool... in the eye of the artist, that'll do. Let's hope every system on your car isn't out of spec by 2-3%. Hmm... dwell angle increased..oh wait, bad math... you are near 10% out, in phase.. Whatever! It's all just numbers! M |
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| Series9 |
Nov 19 2004, 08:20 PM
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#14
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
QUOTE(redshift @ Nov 19 2004, 07:17 PM) Hmm... dwell angle increased..oh wait, bad math... you are near 10% out, in phase.. Oh good, trig. Will you just say something controversial. |
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| TheCabinetmaker |
Nov 19 2004, 08:29 PM
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#15
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I drive my car everyday Group: Members Posts: 8,300 Joined: 8-May 03 From: Tulsa, Ok. Member No.: 666 |
Let me translate Miles post. If you set the timing with the dwell off by 4.5 degrees, then the timing will off by 9 degrees. Is that right Miles?
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| Joe Ricard |
Nov 19 2004, 08:44 PM
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#16
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CUMONIWANNARACEU Group: Members Posts: 6,811 Joined: 5-January 03 From: Gautier, MS Member No.: 92 |
The slight missing is because you are on the high side of the dwell limit. If you back it up a tad it will really run sweet.
So how do you do that? PITA until you get good at it. get the plastic piece of the ponts which rides on the lobes to the highest point in lift. You must be able to recreate this over and over. Now figure out where you last seen your feeler gage and measure what the gap of the points contact is. Now loosen the points hold down screw and close the points gap by a .001 from what you just measured. put it all back together crank it up and measure dwell. should have moved a degree or two. If you moved it too much well, you shouldn't have listened to me. Just left the damn thing alone and drive it. |
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| redshift |
Nov 19 2004, 08:48 PM
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#17
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Bless the Hell out of you! Group: Members Posts: 10,926 Joined: 29-June 03 Member No.: 869 |
I don't know if it's that acute.. ((IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)) but it would be a concern... timing is a much more subjective thing.
The dwell should be as close to spec as you can get, you can run your timing up +8, without hating your car... not that your car won't hate you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I still have points, you have near 6 weeks til your Pertronix is a done deal... I would adjust it.. if for nothing more than the experience! -insert gratuitous cursing in mostly caps- Damn Joe fast posting typey boy! Yes! M |
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| Series9 |
Nov 19 2004, 08:56 PM
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#18
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
Oh, OK, now I'm typey boy?
FUCK it, I'm going to the bar. Talk to you FUCKERS later. (sorry B.) |
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| redshift |
Nov 19 2004, 09:01 PM
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#19
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Bless the Hell out of you! Group: Members Posts: 10,926 Joined: 29-June 03 Member No.: 869 |
No, Joe Ricard is typey boy.
We need a hear no evil smiley for me... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) M |
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| Joe Ricard |
Nov 19 2004, 09:07 PM
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#20
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CUMONIWANNARACEU Group: Members Posts: 6,811 Joined: 5-January 03 From: Gautier, MS Member No.: 92 |
Yup guilty of being a typey boy all DAY LONG. I am either making up shit for the design project or typing into the infurnal machine. Or posting stuff here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol2.gif)
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