Tune up with points

[bspeth]

I have been reading dons instructions for tune up with points and I have a question. The jumper wire hooks up to the center post on flame arrestor and the other end hooks up to what? the post states center post on coil but the picture shows it hooked up to - side of coil.Does it hook up the the center post where the coil wire going to the distributor would go or are there 2 wires(one to arrestor and one to dwell meter) that hook up the the- side of the coil during the checking dwell procedure?Just want to be squared away on the procedure when I get time to do it.Thanks-Blair

 

[alldodge]

Re: Tune up with points

Your negative lead of your dwell meter to the flame arrestor is just for a ground. The negative lead of the dwell meter can be connected to any ground source, such as the negative battery terminal, a bolt on the block, bracket on the engine. The arrestor is very handy to use but he is actually connected to the center stud holding the arrestor.

The positive lead of your dwell meter goes to the negative side of the coil.

I can see how someone can get confused with this statement -- Attach one end of your jumper wire to the coil wire (from center post on coil) and the other end to a good ground (flame arrestor post on carb works fine) -- "OP Commander" I believe he was talking about his meter.

In short, dwell meter goes between the Negative side of the coil and ground.

 

[bspeth]

Re: Tune up with points

ok I understand that part,but what about the jumper wire with the alligator clips on each end? Thanks

 

[ziggy]

Re: Tune up with points

i didn't read Don S' thread recently. don't know what kinda dwell meter ya got. if it's similar to my old sears dwell meter, there are three leads having to do with the dwell meter. 2 of them are just power for the meter to work. a red + one and a black - one. ya can hook these leads any where ya want as long as the + side is always powered, like hooking it right to the positive post of the batt. and the neg. one is really a ground. like hooking it up to the - side of the batt. the third lead (mine is green) goes to the neg. side of the coil.
when checking dwell, ya don't want it to start. so ya take the coil center tower wire and run it to ground instead of leaving it in the distributor cap. on my rig i've found an unused 1/4-20 bolt hole on the block within reach of my coil center tower wire. this is convient for me and the wire literally snaps into this size hole. the block is ground goes back the the batt. neg.
hth..

 

[alldodge]

Re: Tune up with points

ok I understand that part,but what about the jumper wire with the alligator clips on each end? Thanks

Your grounding out the coil so when it does spark (while your cranking the engine) it goes to ground and doesn't shock you or jump somewhere you don't want it to go. You can also take the coil wire which goes from the center coil and remove it from the distributer end and ground it to something metal on the engine.

Edit: what Ziggy said

 

[bspeth]

Re: Tune up with points

Ok got it,thanks.I just didn't realize it was to ground out the spark.Thanks again.Does anyone else obsess about their boat while it is just sitting there under a tarp? Come on spring!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Tune up with points

Ok got it,thanks.I just didn't realize it was to ground out the spark.Thanks again.Does anyone else obsess about their boat while it is just sitting there under a tarp? Come on spring!

Never heard of such a thing, don't know what your talking about. Folks like us are in our boats under the tarp answering your questions. You got it good all out side and everything, looking at your boat under the tarp. It's not that cold under here. :cold: :violin: :

 

[bspeth]

Re: Tune up with points

Ive been in there quite a few times so far to satisfy my obsession. You know double and triple checking a few things.Each time I tell myself and the wife its the last time till spring.I just don't know it she quite gets it.My first boat and I love it!