The Ford Barn

GB SISSON · 09-21-2023, 03:19 PM

I picked this up at a junk store and haven't found directions on search. Just others for sale. I'm dialing in the H six and would like to play with this. I'm 12 v neg ground. What wire where? Thanks.

40cpe · 09-21-2023, 04:08 PM

If it works like mine, red on the distributor side of the coil and black to ground. If it is 6V positive ground system, you might have to reverse them. I've not used one on a positive ground system.

petehoovie · 09-21-2023, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40cpe

If it works like mine, red on the distributor side of the coil and black to ground. If it is 6V positive ground system, you might have to reverse them. I've not used one on a positive ground system.

1948F-1Pickup · 09-21-2023, 08:10 PM

That’s a model 1501. Bruce Dixson was the owner of Dixco…. they manufactured tachs and test equipment for cars. They were acquired by an OE automotive electronic supplier around 1987 I think. I doubt they provide access to the old manuals though, even if you could find the company that bought Dixson.
I’m guessing that obtaining a copy of that particular manual might be difficult…. Compared to getting one for say a Dixco hood tach.

GB SISSON · 09-21-2023, 10:50 PM

The RPM function I want for adjusting idle and timing. Dwell I have never dealt with. Used for setting points? I have used a feeler gauge for 54 years and then set the timing by ear. But now the subject interests me more. I bought an old craftsman inductive timing light a couple years ago at a yard sale. Before that I never used one. So for dwell I look up my specs and see if my needle reads at that spec. If not I open or close the gap to suit?

51504bat · 09-22-2023, 08:30 AM

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Found this on another forum.

Dwell is measured by connecting the red lead to the coil (-) terminal, the distributor side, and connect the black lead to ground. A dwell meter is actually a voltmeter, and it's reading an average of the points-open voltage (full charging system voltage) and zero volts when the points are closed. It's expressed in "degrees of dwell" since a set of points that stay closed (dwell together) all the time would be 60 degrees of distributor rotation, and open all the time would be zero degrees of dwell. A 66% dwell reading would be 40 degrees on a 6-cylinder engine.

GB SISSON · 09-22-2023, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 51504bat

Found this on another forum.

Dwell is measured by connecting the red lead to the coil (-) terminal, the distributor side, and connect the black lead to ground. A dwell meter is actually a voltmeter, and it's reading an average of the points-open voltage (full charging system voltage) and zero volts when the points are closed. It's expressed in "degrees of dwell" since a set of points that stay closed (dwell together) all the time would be 60 degrees of distributor rotation, and open all the time would be zero degrees of dwell. A 66% dwell reading would be 40 degrees on a 6-cylinder engine.

Thanks for this. Let's see if an old dog really CAN learn new tricks.

09-21-2023, 04:08 PM	#2
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Dixson Tach Dwell tester If it works like mine, red on the distributor side of the coil and black to ground. If it is 6V positive ground system, you might have to reverse them. I've not used one on a positive ground system.

09-21-2023, 08:10 PM	#4
1948F-1Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Socal Posts: 795	Re: Dixson Tach Dwell tester That’s a model 1501. Bruce Dixson was the owner of Dixco…. they manufactured tachs and test equipment for cars. They were acquired by an OE automotive electronic supplier around 1987 I think. I doubt they provide access to the old manuals though, even if you could find the company that bought Dixson. I’m guessing that obtaining a copy of that particular manual might be difficult…. Compared to getting one for say a Dixco hood tach.

09-21-2023, 10:50 PM	#5
GB SISSON Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Orcas Island Washington Posts: 4,943	Re: Dixson Tach Dwell tester The RPM function I want for adjusting idle and timing. Dwell I have never dealt with. Used for setting points? I have used a feeler gauge for 54 years and then set the timing by ear. But now the subject interests me more. I bought an old craftsman inductive timing light a couple years ago at a yard sale. Before that I never used one. So for dwell I look up my specs and see if my needle reads at that spec. If not I open or close the gap to suit? __________________ Owner/Operator of 'Jailbar Ranch' on the side of Mt. Pickett. Current stable consists of 1946 1/2 ton pickup turned woodie wagon with FH V8, 1947 Tonner Pickup (red) mostly stock with exception of a cummins 6at turbo diesel, 1946 Tonner Pickup (green) with 226 cu in 6 cyl flathead, 1979 Toyota landcruiser wagon, completely encased in 1947 Ford Jailbar sheet metal. Ok, cornbinder rear fenders..... 'Rusty ol' floorboards, hot on their feet' (Alan Jackson)

09-22-2023, 08:30 AM	#6
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,024	Re: Dixson Tach Dwell tester Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Found this on another forum. Dwell is measured by connecting the red lead to the coil (-) terminal, the distributor side, and connect the black lead to ground. A dwell meter is actually a voltmeter, and it's reading an average of the points-open voltage (full charging system voltage) and zero volts when the points are closed. It's expressed in "degrees of dwell" since a set of points that stay closed (dwell together) all the time would be 60 degrees of distributor rotation, and open all the time would be zero degrees of dwell. A 66% dwell reading would be 40 degrees on a 6-cylinder engine. __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.