The Ford Barn

Merc Cruzer · 09-21-2021, 05:35 PM

When you are out at a swap meet or garage sale and see a Dwell Gauge, is there any way to test the gauge without a car?

Bored&Stroked · 09-22-2021, 03:35 AM

There is no way that I can think of

big job · 09-22-2021, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

There is no way that I can think of

And then "I have a nice all chromed up maybe Snap on." problem is there is no known battery's available for its weird voltage. so it sits in the draw.

1948F-1Pickup · 09-22-2021, 09:55 AM

Those are always a "risk" buy. You never can predict how internal
electronic components will age.
I have an Orbit Laboratories light/dwell/tach meter my Dad got
in the early 70's. Still works fine. Nice, because I've seen some pretty
pricey old stuff that didn't.

BUBBAS IGNITION · 09-22-2021, 10:21 AM

I guess there is a good way A dwell meter is a calibrated volt meter , carry a 9 bolt in a zip lock snd hook it up should have some needle bump from the battery ???

Merc Cruzer · 09-22-2021, 10:40 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BUBBAS IGNITION

I guess there is a good way A dwell meter is a calibrated volt meter , carry a 9 bolt in a zip lock snd hook it up should have some needle bump from the battery ???

Yup, that works.

Thanks

Bored&Stroked · 09-22-2021, 11:36 AM

That's a great idea! At least you know that it "might work" . . . depending on whether or not it needs batteries or a power source itself (most do not).

motordr · 09-22-2021, 03:14 PM

Next, you might need to figure out a way to calibrate it.

Pete · 09-22-2021, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordr

Next, you might need to figure out a way to calibrate it.

The setup to calibrate is fairly simple. Just hook it up on an engine alongside a known good meter and see if the two compare the same at various rpm's.
Adjusting the calibration is a whole other can of worms. Usually not cost effective on cheap meters.

Merc Cruzer · 09-22-2021, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

The setup to calibrate is fairly simple. Just hook it up on an engine alongside a known good meter and see if the two compare the same at various rpm's.
Adjusting the calibration is a whole other can of worms. Usually not cost effective on cheap meters.

That is what started this whole thing. I have two meters, and they don't agree, so now I bought a third one, to see who wins!

Now we know why guys have multiple meters, some marked good and others marked bad, when you go to a garage sale.

Never did find an article on how to calibrate them.

Crankster · 09-22-2021, 08:02 PM

If you dig around the intertube pages, you should find what you're looking for. A standard voltmeter can be used to check dwell if you understand what you are looking at, a dwell meter isn't very sophisticated as far as test equipment goes, notice this feature was typically included with simple analog voltmeter/tach units. "Engine Analyzer" they called them. Advertising, I suppose.

09-21-2021, 05:35 PM	#1
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,423	Testing a Dwell Gauge When you are out at a swap meet or garage sale and see a Dwell Gauge, is there any way to test the gauge without a car?

09-22-2021, 03:35 AM	#2
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,062	Re: Testing a Dwell Gauge There is no way that I can think of

09-22-2021, 10:21 AM	#5
BUBBAS IGNITION Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: SPEEDWAY INDIANA Posts: 4,148	Re: Testing a Dwell Gauge I guess there is a good way A dwell meter is a calibrated volt meter , carry a 9 bolt in a zip lock snd hook it up should have some needle bump from the battery ??? __________________ If it Makes Spark, we do it !!!! www.bubbasignition.com [email protected]

09-22-2021, 11:36 AM	#7
Bored&Stroked Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 5,062	Re: Testing a Dwell Gauge That's a great idea! At least you know that it "might work" . . . depending on whether or not it needs batteries or a power source itself (most do not).

09-22-2021, 03:14 PM	#8
motordr Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Beamsville,Ontario,Canada Posts: 482	Re: Testing a Dwell Gauge Next, you might need to figure out a way to calibrate it.

09-22-2021, 08:02 PM	#11
Crankster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 563	Testing a Dwell Meter If you dig around the intertube pages, you should find what you're looking for. A standard voltmeter can be used to check dwell if you understand what you are looking at, a dwell meter isn't very sophisticated as far as test equipment goes, notice this feature was typically included with simple analog voltmeter/tach units. "Engine Analyzer" they called them. Advertising, I suppose.