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Wed Sep 14, 2011 2:55 pm

busmania wrote: Since we are talking about tools, does anyone know of a reasonably priced CO2 reader? Does a hand held gas analyzer exist? Would love to own one as it would make tuning carbs easier. Thanks.

And, keeping it on topic, I have had this meter for about 10 years. Works great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00902165000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Innovate or any dash mount AFM. I bought a new LM1 through CL froma guy who raced and went another route. Then I added a tach unit and vacuum pressure sender so I can see where the AF ratio is at different loads.

Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:16 am

I recently picked up an Equus 3340 multimeter. Has Tach, dwell, volts, amps yada yada yada. here it is if ya wanna take a peek
http://equus.com/Product/Detail/B72CCE1C-0F6B-49B4-B815-7B31014870DC

I picked it up on amazon for 62 bucks. It seems like a pretty nice all in one, but i havnt gotten to try out the dwell yet. (somebody specificly mentioned buying it for dwell for old VW's and not being able to get it to work, but I needed a multimeter anyways and decided Id risk it.

Their 5568 "pro" timing light has it built in too, and can be found for about 100 bucks
http://equus.com/Product/Detail/FAE5FA18-7D9D-4BFE-95EB-0C48F517AD25
I think Im getting the timing light next payday

Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:25 am

Criswell,
I'm interested in that Equus 3340 but like you said it did have a bad review from one guy on the dwell function. Since that's what I primarily need it for I would like to know if he's right. Can you test yours for me and let me know the results?

Thu Sep 15, 2011 8:52 am

Kirk wrote:

I just have a basic one. Does the job tho.

That's the same exact one I have. It does the job

Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:26 am

thewalrus wrote: Kirk wrote:

I just have a basic one. Does the job tho.

That's the same exact one I have. It does the job

That's what I have also. From Sears at Ala Moana thirty years ago. Fits in the onboard tool box right beside the timing light and the tested spare distributor with new points and condenser.

Aloha
tp

Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:48 pm

aeromech wrote: Criswell,
Can you test yours for me and let me know the results?

Put red wire in dwell port , black in "COM" hooked up red to ( - ) on coil , black to negative battery set it to 4 cyl, started it up and got and got 52* of dwell.

" adjust to 44-50*. Used points can be retained without adjustment so long as theyre within 42-58* of dwell" within 42-58 ( From "The Good Book" 5:72 verse 4 note).

Looks like it works fine, and I should think about ordering new points soon :-)

Either the disgruntled Amazon buyer got a defective unit, or didnt set everthing up right. My guess is the latter of the 2.

Thu Sep 15, 2011 3:06 pm

I use Actron CP7677 Automotive TroubleShooter - Digital Multimeter and Engine Analyzer

Fri Sep 23, 2011 10:34 am

Update:

I now have a nice ignition analyzer. A buddy at work dug his old one out of his storage shed and gave it to me. He says it was pretty nice in it's time. It's a Peerless 465. The pictures below are taken from one that's for sale on eBay right now but mine is the same thing. It has the inductive connector and a pigtail plus another pair of alligator clips that measure resistance. The problem I have is that it didn't come with a manual and I'm not sure how everything hooks up. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:02 pm

VWDruid wrote: I use Actron CP7677 Automotive TroubleShooter - Digital Multimeter and Engine Analyzer

What's the advantage of this over the larger ones? Portability? newer design?
I'm looking for my first dwell/tach meter so I can change the points on my bus.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:12 pm

If I don't have a timing light either, would this be a better bargain overall: http://www.amazon.com/Equus-5568-Pro-Timing-Light-...amp;sr=1-7

knowing nothing about these devices, which is better: Actron CP7677 or CP7676? It sounds like they do the same thing, but the 7676 is called a multimeter whereas the 7677 is called a multimeter/engine analyzer...

CP7677: http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP7677-Automotive-Tro...amp;sr=8-1

CP7676: http://www.amazon.com/Actron-CP7676-Digital-Multim...amp;sr=1-4

Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:26 pm

CP7677 has a rpm and dwell, CP7676 doesn't.
both are portable and are multimeter that can be helpful in finding voltage stuff, out like how much volts are in your battery or if that black wire hanging under your dash is alive.

IMHO that timing light is over kill but I have a degree pulley and can set my timing with a basic timing light, I can see the advantages of that Light if you don't have any markings on your pulley, but I have never used one of them and just think you'll look funny under the dash with a timing light checking for hot wires.

FYI the larger ones work just as well, and may be cheaper I see them at garage sells some times.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:27 pm

Dude,
I'm going to tell you about what I've experienced and this is just me. I've been working on aircooled VW's since 1974 and have never needed a dwell meter. All I needed was a .016 feeler gauge and a timing light. Since I'm doing more and more of this I felt that I might as well get the dwell meter but as of now I haven't really used it. Sure it would be nice to have but if you're going to spend some money I suggest getting what's known as an "advance" timing light. With this thing you don't need a degreed pulley to check you timing at total advance. Last year I bought a very nice Snap-on advance timing light and it's the shit when it comes to timing these older VW's.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:40 pm

I'm going to tell you about what I've experienced and this is just me. I've been working on aircooled VW's since 1974 and have never needed a dwell meter. All I needed was a .016 feeler gauge and a timing light.

X2 areomech

Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:54 pm

aeromech wrote: Dude,
I'm going to tell you about what I've experienced and this is just me. I've been working on aircooled VW's since 1974 and have never needed a dwell meter. All I needed was a .016 feeler gauge and a timing light. Since I'm doing more and more of this I felt that I might as well get the dwell meter but as of now I haven't really used it. Sure it would be nice to have but if you're going to spend some money I suggest getting what's known as an "advance" timing light. With this thing you don't need a degreed pulley to check you timing at total advance. Last year I bought a very nice Snap-on advance timing light and it's the shit when it comes to timing these older VW's.

Well I have been working on these things since 1970 and I will tell you that a dwell meter is the gold standard for setting points. A feeler gauge (or matchbook in a pinch) will indeed get you close, but not the gold standard. Buy something that fits your needs that you will actually use.

Also invest in a decent advance timing light. Mine came from Sears a long time ago and has paid for itself $75 at least a 100 times.

Just my 2 cents.....

Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:00 pm

Using a feeler gauge gets the points so the engine will start, you need a dwell meter to dial it in.

And honestly, most people don't use a dwell meter because you have to stop the engine, remove the cap and rotor to adjusted the points. Then reassemble, start the engine and see if you are close. Repeat as many times needed to get it correct.

With my distributor machine I can adjust them when the distributor turning. so it takes about 5 seconds. ;)

Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:16 pm

With my distributor machine I can adjust them when the distributor turning. so it takes about 5 seconds

Now you're talking

Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:17 pm

It's like using a breaker bar when a torque wrench should be used.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:28 pm

But you know what? I got by for over 25 years using that breaker bar so even though I might not have been doing it exactly right... it got me down the road. I never had a breakdown due to bad points that I can remember. Maybe my tuneups were more often than most but that's just me. I was religious with oil changes, valve adjustments, etc.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:35 pm

aeromech wrote: But you know what? I got by for over 25 years
I get 15,000 miles and more out of a set of points with never having to readjust.

Come one, you're an aircraft mechanic... use the right tool.

Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:07 pm

I use this 8)

http://aa.bosch.de/boaa-tr/Product.jsp?prod_id=156...lication=3