Tachometer / Engine Analyzer?
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Junior User
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Tachometer / Engine Analyzer?
Hi All.
Who sells a good, no nonsense, analog tachometer these days?
Craftsman sells an "Engine Analyzer". Thats about all I find online.
Don't know about the quality?
Any help appreciated.
Tim
Who sells a good, no nonsense, analog tachometer these days?
Craftsman sells an "Engine Analyzer". Thats about all I find online.
Don't know about the quality?
Any help appreciated.
Tim
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 489
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From: Between Shelby / Avoca Ia
Do you want an electric or mechanical?
Stewart Warner has had the mechanical tachs for years. This is the gauge that you hold in the center of the shaft you want to read.
http://www.stewartwarner.com/Catalog/tachhand.html
Otherwise check E-bay for an electric one.
http://www.stewartwarner.com/Catalog/tachhand.html
Otherwise check E-bay for an electric one.
Senior User
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I have a laser tach, that works off of reflection from tape. works great. I do a lot of diesel work so you just put a small piece of tape on a crank pully or flywheel, point & shoot. you can pick them up under $100. Greg
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Originally Posted by MBDiagMan
Please be more specific about what sort of tach you are looking for. Are you looking for a tach to mount inside the car, a dwell/tach or something else.
Have a great day,
Doc
Have a great day,
Doc
Tim
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You will in all likely hood have a hard time finding an anolog type, unless it's at a fleamarket or garage sale. I don't think anyone makes analog anymore, let alone a dwell meter, most people now have no idea what dwell is. Greg
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: NE Texas
Fluke makes a VERY nice automotive digital meter that has dwell, tach and several other things and is a quality piece of equipment. It sells for about $100. You might be able to get one from Sears or www.toolsource.com.
I expect that you could go to about any flea market and pick one up cheap.
Good luck,
Doc
I expect that you could go to about any flea market and pick one up cheap.
Good luck,
Doc
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Found what I needed yesterday at Sears. Its a Craftsman Engine Analyzer. Its has a few more functoins than a really needed but I do like the fact that it has a needle I can watch.
I also spotted a battery load tester that I may pick up next trip. It's an Actron with a 130 amp load. Looks a little nicer tahn the ones I've been eyeing at Harbor Freight.
Thanks to all, Tim
I also spotted a battery load tester that I may pick up next trip. It's an Actron with a 130 amp load. Looks a little nicer tahn the ones I've been eyeing at Harbor Freight.
Thanks to all, Tim
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Denented5oh now that I gave you a flip answer I'll do the real one. The Tach part of this meter does just what any tach does, indicates engine RPM.
The "dwell" part is what a lot of individuals are unfamiliar with. In a standard coil ignition system the coil must have current flowing through it for a specific period of time to charge the inductance enough to give you a spark when the circuit is interrupted. With a points type ignition system the points had to be set properly to give enough "on time" to the coil at high RPM's. The dwell was spec'd as so many degrees. The points were set using a feeler gauge and the correct setting gave the correct dwell. The dwell meter was used to check this. In an electronic ignition system the electronics take care of making sure the coil always gets the correct amount of dwell.
The multimeter functions are standard volts, current and ohms and it is used like any other multi meter except the scales are usually optimized for automotive use.
The "dwell" part is what a lot of individuals are unfamiliar with. In a standard coil ignition system the coil must have current flowing through it for a specific period of time to charge the inductance enough to give you a spark when the circuit is interrupted. With a points type ignition system the points had to be set properly to give enough "on time" to the coil at high RPM's. The dwell was spec'd as so many degrees. The points were set using a feeler gauge and the correct setting gave the correct dwell. The dwell meter was used to check this. In an electronic ignition system the electronics take care of making sure the coil always gets the correct amount of dwell.
The multimeter functions are standard volts, current and ohms and it is used like any other multi meter except the scales are usually optimized for automotive use.
Posting Legend
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Geee, and I know how to tune a voltage regulator, and how to set up dual points, and how to align the points with the proper tool, how to tune carbs, hone brake cylinders... -I must be OLD! My first three cars had generators, one even had a flathead. And I did not get into the REALLY old stuff.
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