Topic: Dwell meter

[6adan]

  Just got a dwell meter off ebay with no manual,never used one before. How do you use it? Thanks Dannie

[eldar]

Well what brand and model is it? different models work differently. You can also search the net for an online manual.

[6adan]

  It is a Sears model 161.216500. It two leads a black and a green with a switch for RPM Dwell and Volts. Dannie

[TwoTired]

Dwell meters are clipped across the point contact set.

Interpreting their reading is the tricky part.  They can be calibrated for 8 Cyl, 6 Cyl, 4 Cyl, 2 cyl, etc.  Technically, you would use a one cyl, setting as the four cylinder Honda ignition fires  once per revolution.  The auto dwell meter is expecting 4 pulses for two revolutions.
You can still use your dwell meter regardless of scale indication.  Just use new points, set the gap mechanically as accurately as you can and note the dwell reading on a scale that looks "sensitive" or sensible to you.

That will be your goal the next time you wish to adjust points.

My Dwell meter on the car 4 cyl scale, reads 46-49 degrees.
The specified dwell angle for the SOHC4 is 190 +/- 5 degrees of crankshaft rotation.

Divide 190 (specified dwell) by 2 Cylinders = 95.
Divide 95 by 2 (doubled firing pulses) = 47.5

Hope this helps,

[Jonesy]

Very well done, TT!

I've asked this question before, but have never gotten any sort of good response. I knew how to get a reading, but no idea what to do with it or what it meant. This was the kind of answer I have been looking for.

This is something that interests me despite that fact I now run a Dyna-S module...

[mark]

  It is a Sears model 161.216500. It two leads a black and a green with a switch for RPM Dwell and Volts. Dannie

Black lead to ground and Green lead to points.

Happy trails.

[6adan]

  Thanks a lot T T. That is what I was looking for,like I said have never used one before. Dannie