Dwell Meter ?

I just got an acient, but very cool, dwell meter tachometer combo. It has a 3 position switch labeled, "tach, dwell, points" On the face of the meter there is a scale that shows a "points good" range. Is the points setting different than a voltmeter? My question is what is the points scale measuring?

Thanks,

 

I thought it was degrees?

 

Resistance I presume. Should show you whether the points are contacting well when they are closed.

Dwell is in degrees, and is measured with the engine running. Same for tach. You should have a clip lead for the positive and negative battery terminals (power for the meter) and a clip lead to the coil primary.

 

Tim had it correct.

 

If that meter has only two wires then it is black to ground and the other to the neg - term on the coil. As Tim sez -- the points scale should be a small portion on scale to read point resistance. Some of the old Snap-On type meters had "D" cell batteries inside the meter to power the instrument. I still have one of those. Very cool meter.

 

http://s563.photobucket.com/albums/ss78/47redwillys/

Hopefully this link to Photobucket will work. It has only 2 leads-a red and black alligator clip.

Thanks,

 

Yep. Black to ground and red on negative term of coil. Key in the on position should read 12v with points open then kick the starter quickly until the points close which moves the meter full to the left and read the points resistance. Does it have a slide switch on it to switch operations?

 

Yes it does have a 3 position slide switch--dwell, tach and points.

Thanks for the info. I suspected that's how it works but was unsure. I have a later model Sears meter that has positions for tach, dwell and voltmeter.

 

Dwell, Tach, and points. The points position is actually a volt meter. Just labeled differently but serves the same function.

 

Mine use to be a timing light too, but that function failed a long time ago.