 Dwell meter and timing light, need to buy, Any specific model recommendations? |
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| Rand |
 Jun 23 2005, 10:54 PM
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#1
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Cross Member  Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None  |
I don't know how much difference it makes which brand/model you get. Any favorites? Best bang for buck, coolest combo unit, etc., etc.?
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| Mueller |
Jun 23 2005, 11:22 PM
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#2
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,146 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None 
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I have an INNOVA brand (from Kragens), cost about $70+, but it's nice...
it's digital and does the basics (show RPM) plus it'll work on DIS (crankfire type) ignitions which most lights don't.... you can program the advance which is cool so all you need is a mark for 0° TDC on the fan or flywheel or where ever and that is all......my base timing is 10° so with car at idle I put in "10" on the light and it'll show the TDC mark, same for top end advance, I enter 28° on the light and the light flashes on the TDC...very simple and well worth it to me. |
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| tommy914 |
Jun 24 2005, 09:30 AM
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#3
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Life is a journey, enjoy every turn. Group: Members Posts: 1,103 Joined: 15-September 03 From: Ridgeland, MS Member No.: 1,165 Region Association: None |
What would make a timing light not work with a DIS system? I thought all it was measuring was the spark impulse on the #1 cyl. |
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| lapuwali |
Jun 24 2005, 11:39 AM
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#4
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Not another one! Group: Benefactors Posts: 4,526 Joined: 1-March 04 From: San Mateo, CA Member No.: 1,743  |
Older-style adjustable timing lights with the knob on the back don't work on wasted-spark ignitions, which fire each plug once per crank revolution. Regular ignitions only fire each plug once every OTHER revolution. The light itself works, but the delay knob is only accurate at 0. Some of the new, snazzy timing lights have RPM, dwell, and degrees of advance built in, and SOME of them also have a setting to use wasted spark, so the RPM reading isn't 2x what it actually is, and the advance degree curve is correct.
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| anthony |
Jun 24 2005, 02:14 PM
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#5
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2270 club Group: Benefactors Posts: 3,107 Joined: 1-February 03 From: SF Bay Area, CA Member No.: 218 |
I need a new fancy timing light. I've got a short in the cord of my ancient Sun timing light.
>>Dwell meter I'd ditch points for a Pertronix or Compufire setup. It saves so many headaches. |
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| TravisNeff |
Jun 24 2005, 02:31 PM
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#6
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region
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For a dwell meter, I agree get a pertronix or something. You are close to the same dollars to go electronic than purchasing a dwell meter. I had a craftsman dwell meter, it was probably 35-40 bucks, it slid off the rear trunk lid onto the floor, it no worky no mo'.
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| bd1308 |
Jun 24 2005, 02:33 PM
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#7
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Sir Post-a-lot Group: Members Posts: 8,020 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Louisville,KY Member No.: 3,501 |
take it back man.... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)
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| Mueller |
Jun 24 2005, 02:40 PM
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#8
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,146 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None
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dang...I guess I spent more than I thought (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif)
$129...... Timing light (IMG:http://www.partsamerica.com/product_images/img/EQU/5568.jpg) |
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| TravisNeff |
Jun 24 2005, 02:46 PM
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#9
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region
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Electronic warranties are only good for about 30 days or so. I had this one for a few years. Might be worth a shot though! |
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| bd1308 |
Jun 24 2005, 02:48 PM
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#10
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Sir Post-a-lot Group: Members Posts: 8,020 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Louisville,KY Member No.: 3,501 |
if that LCD is backlit, i'm gonna crap my pants. |
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| zonedoubt |
Jun 24 2005, 02:58 PM
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#11
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Canadian Member Group: Members Posts: 668 Joined: 14-May 03 From: Vancouver, BC Member No.: 696 Region Association: Canada |
I just bought a Sunpro dwell meter off of eBay for a sweet price. The guy's ID is "tradervar". He has all sorts of NIB auto diagnostic stuff for sale. I'm going to do my points this weekend. Will let you know how the meter worked out. |
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| bd1308 |
Jun 24 2005, 03:01 PM
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#12
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Sir Post-a-lot Group: Members Posts: 8,020 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Louisville,KY Member No.: 3,501 |
i really want a analog one....RPM/Dwell meter
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| lapuwali |
Jun 24 2005, 04:08 PM
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#13
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Not another one! Group: Benefactors Posts: 4,526 Joined: 1-March 04 From: San Mateo, CA Member No.: 1,743 |
Mueller, that same timing light is $190 from Eastwood, so I'd say $130 is a pretty good deal.
An all-in-one meter, esp. one that handled wasted spark, would be a very good tool to have. The old analog tach-dwell meters are only useful with points ignitions, and you still need to have a timing light. The one Mike got would be useful with ANY ignition. |
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| bd1308 |
Jun 24 2005, 04:12 PM
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#14
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Sir Post-a-lot Group: Members Posts: 8,020 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Louisville,KY Member No.: 3,501 |
i still have points burned out my p-unit....
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| phantom914 |
Jun 24 2005, 04:15 PM
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#15
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non-914-owner non-club member Group: Benefactors Posts: 1,013 Joined: 24-February 04 From: Covina,CA(North ofWest Covina) Member No.: 1,708 |
$70? You were probably remembering what you told your wife you paid for it. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) Andrew |
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| Rand |
Jun 24 2005, 06:12 PM
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#16
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
First I was liking the idea of getting a nice all-in-one unit that could do tach, dwell, AND timing, with all the bells and whistles... a handy tool to have.
But now I'm leaning towards the idea of going Pertronix and getting a less-expensive timing light setup since I probably won't be working on anything else with points anymore. Especially since the cost will wash. Thanks for the feedback gang. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/hijacked.gif) Hey Britt... I think the problem that was burning your points is also what caused your Pertronix to blow. Have you had any luck tracking that down? Is your condensor good? |
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| bd1308 |
Jun 24 2005, 08:04 PM
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#17
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Sir Post-a-lot Group: Members Posts: 8,020 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Louisville,KY Member No.: 3,501 |
i think it had to do with my spark plug completly melting down and liquifying.....but thats just me. This new guy leaks oil like a tank...pours it all over the place like a monkey with his poo. |
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| anthony |
Jun 24 2005, 08:52 PM
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#18
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2270 club Group: Benefactors Posts: 3,107 Joined: 1-February 03 From: SF Bay Area, CA Member No.: 218 |
If you buy a Pertronix just make sure you don't leave the key in the "on" position listening to the radio or something without having the car running. That can kill a Pertronix.
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| bd1308 |
Jun 24 2005, 09:02 PM
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#19
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Sir Post-a-lot Group: Members Posts: 8,020 Joined: 24-January 05 From: Louisville,KY Member No.: 3,501 |
thats one of the reasons why i wired my radio to work with the eky in the off position.
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