41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

Has anyone ever measured the Dwell on this Distributor when on the car?

Stock configuration if so a few helpful pointers would be appreciated.
Bob

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

You should have 34-36 degrees. Going off your other post if you have petronix it’s going to read much lower.
As for pointers I check them in a sun machine but on the car just hook your dwell meter up and start it. Most dwell meters you’ll have to connect to the battery as well and select that it’s a 8 cylinder.

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

Thks where on the coil do you connect - I connected to the coil where the condenser is mounted. Is that the correct place or should it be the top post of the coil?
I purchased a very inexpensive dwell / tach meter and I think I damaged it.

Not sure why
Bob

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

That connection should be correct. However, if your car is still positive ground you may need to connect the neg lead to the coil and pos to the ground to make it work. That assumes the meter will work at 6volts as well.


Terry

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

Most powered dwell meters are 12 volt negative ground and won't work on an old Ford. (I know; I tried.) I bought an old, non-powered dwell meter off eBay and it works perfectly. You just don't get a lot of other functions.

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

Tub man

Could you tell me exactly what you purchased I'll look for one

Bob

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

Ive tried the dwell meter side on a flathead and could not get a result also.
Used a 12v battery supply for meter on a 6v +ve earh.
Also recently tried with 12v -ve earth and no joy also.
Phil NZ

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

I found my purchase, but the pertinent information is long gone. When I clicked on "Purchase Similar", this is what came up. I'm sure some of them would work, but they appear to be a little spendy (I paid $9.95 plus shipping). The first few listed are the exact one I bought; a little patience may be in order here to get a decent price.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/sis.html?_n...2.m2749.l46251

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

This is what I recently purchased and from all indications I damaged it connected as we discussed
Sunpro Digital Diagnostic Engine Analyzer CP7678

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

I do not check them on the car so I can not attest to what brand tester to use. I do have a digital fluke meter that does dwell but again have never used it on a car. Maybe I’ll try it this weekend.

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

I suggest you don't use your Fluke get something cheap and try it first

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

I have no need to go buy a dwell meter or use one on the car. Just thought I would try since you were inquiring.

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

I suggest not using your Fluke on this I wires out my fluke attemting to measure the low voltage feeding the coIL could have purely been just bad luck or something is creating large spikes on that coil that the condenser isn't able to suoress. Had a scope on it with a 20-1 Attinuator and was seeing some very halthy high frequency spikes. Just a word of caution

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

The old Ford/Mallory design distributors were dual point set ups so that they could get more dwell time out of an eight lobe breaker cam. If the breaker points are installed & adjusted properly per the Ford procedure, the dwell will be good to go.

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

Has any one tried one with the dwell points inoperative.
Lawrie

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

I've done it,but with a 12v modern coil and appropriate ballast resistor. Worked fine...as expected since it is really the same as a later single point distributor. I figure Ford used the dual points and extended dwell time to compensate for the barely-adequate coils of the time.



Terry

Re: 41 Distributor Helmet Style - Dwell
 

A person can get better rpm response from a dual point set up. Mallory was still selling quite a few aftermarket units for all V8 engines well up into the early 70s. It was not a major upgrade but it could make some difference on the higher reving engines in the muscle car era.