Does anyone know of a good quality engine analyser (Brand + who sells it)?
Preferably something multimeter sized so it is portable.
Repco and the like have kits of all individual gauges which are bulky, and I'm sceptical about the quality.
Also a good compresion tester that will work on a type 4 motor (needs a long adaptor to reach the spark plug thread).
Thanks,
Andy

Quote:

Originally posted by Andy Does anyone know of a good quality engine analyser (Brand + who sells it)? Preferably something multimeter sized so it is portable.

Enough to do a tune up, and minor trouble shooting. Dwell, RPM, timing.

Possibly even ohm's, volts, vacuume etc, but not necessary.
:thumb

Try Jaycar and Dick Smith.

All you really need for an aircooled VW is a 12V test light and a set of feeler gauges. That will take care of timing and tappets. I wouldn't bother with a timing light at all, timing is much easier to set with a test light. :thumb

A dwell meter is handy to check the contact points with afterwards, mine has a tacho built in and I expect most would. It came as part of a set with a compression tester, which was useless because it had the rubber cone-shaped end which needs to be held in the spark plug hole. Make sure you buy one with a screw-in thread. That way you just screw it in, make sure it is set to zero, and go turn the ignition yourself if you're on your own. You should be able to find one under $40-$50 easy enough.

As for multimeters, the one I bought is available from K-Mart for around $40, or from Tandy for around $20, so take bugmeister's suggestion. You can also buy them in simple kits that you have to assemble yourself, but they're not difficult at all if you have a soldering iron.

Have to disagree on the timing light. Grab a protractor and hold it over your distributor, then try to make adjustments of a couple of degrees - you'll see the problem, and why all experienced mechanics use a timing light. Cheap, neon types are a major pain to use (it really needs to be dark, for a start,) so watch for specials on an inductive pickup Xenon light (or borrow one - if it's mine make damn sure you return it.)

Thanks for the suggestions.
Time to go hunting.

Give Ashdowns a try (they are wholesalers, but they don't mind doing cash sales - at least at the coopers plains branch).

I bought a Hella timing light from them and it also has a dwell/voltage/rpm meter on the end. More expensive than a super cheap timing light but apart from the extra functions, it is better quality.

Just wanted to clarify, Jaycar and Dick Smith sell multimeters that have dwell and rpm functions, not just basic V, A etc.

Thanks for that bugmeister, I'm actually going there this Saturday. I'll check it out!
Andy

Heres a link to the jaycar sites auto multimeter http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QM1440&CATID=12&keywords...

dont know if that will work !

Have to say though that KruizinLombi and I were discussing this on Sunday at Gumbaya Park and I reckon he's right.
The test lamp method as in the john muir book does seem to be the easiest