Multimeter question

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chewy999
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Multimeter question

#1

Post by chewy999 »

Hi there,

I have a (old) Gunsons multimeter, and would like to know if anyone knows how to attach it for use as a tacho. The instructions show a diagram with the meter connected to a car, one terminal to ground and another to the coil securing point, but not sure where to connect it on a GL1100 with two coils and no obvious point. (can't remember the colours of the meters cables, but can look that up)!
gunson-s-testune-silicon-chip-multimeter-14648342-1_800X600.jpg
gunson-s-testune-silicon-chip-multimeter-14648342-1_800X600.jpg (67.2 KiB) Viewed 366 times
If anyone has a similar meter if not the exact one, sure the principle will be the same.

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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Whiskerfish
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Re: Multimeter question

#2

Post by Whiskerfish »

I have a "Engine Analyzer" that looks similar. I put the ground to the battery ground and the red to one of the bullet connectors where the points/dyna hook into the main harness on a 1000. Because of the wasted spark system mine reads half scale, so when running 1100 rpm I get 550 on my meter but it works. If you can find a way to touch any of the trigger wires from the timing module it should work, it just needs to see the pulses.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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chewy999
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Re: Multimeter question

#3

Post by chewy999 »

Thanks for that, but a little confused as the 1100 doesn't have points as I'm sure you know. Maybe someone else knows where to hook up the second wire?

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
User avatar
Whiskerfish
President
President
Posts: 36853
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:34 pm
My Album: http://www.ngwclub.com/gallery/v/wingmans/whiskerfish/
Location: Norfolk Va

Re: Multimeter question

#4

Post by Whiskerfish »

I do not know 1100 wiring well enough to provide that info. Maybe where the coils plug into the harness??
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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jdvorchak
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Re: Multimeter question

#5

Post by jdvorchak »

Try hooking it to the wire, on the primary of one coil, where that wire goes to the ignition (trigger wire).
New users please visit our "Shop Talk" for common tips and help:
http://ngwclub.com/forum/page/ST


Don't fix it 'til it's broke...
The person with the most toys wins!
If it has wheels or a skirt you can't afford it.
Amateur Radio Station WW9L

71 CL350 with Bingham side car
2021 HD Triglide
2008 HD Dyna Low Rider
83 KZ1100L1 Son totaled it
83 KZ550LTD Shaft sold

Previous bikes: 84 GL1200 STD, 83 KZ550LTD, 83 CB1000, 78 CB400A, 82 CB900F, 79 CB750K, 2001 GL1800, 2000 Dyna Super Glide, 1972 CB350 K4, 1985 GL1200A, 1997 1200 Sportster, 84 GL1200I, 82 Honda CM400E, 81 Suzuki GS650L, 72 Triumph Bonneville 750, 72 Honda CB350, 66(?) Honda 305 Scrambler, 6? Yamaha yz250, 62 650 Matchless (Norton-Villers).
John
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chewy999
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Re: Multimeter question

#6

Post by chewy999 »

Thanks for that, I'll give it a go and report back. Off for a few days so may be next week now.

anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
User avatar
jdvorchak
Honored Life Member
Honored Life Member
Posts: 5238
Joined: Mon May 25, 2009 8:01 pm
Location: East Alton, IL

Re: Multimeter question

#7

Post by jdvorchak »

And play with the "Range" and "Cylinder" switches. Try low range and 2 cylinders first. I never have figured out how to use one of those for accuracy on a 4 cylinder, two coil, wasted spark ignition. That much math hurts my head. You have to realize that the particular tool was used on a distributor ignition. That means for every two revolutions of the crank the distributor would make one full turn. So with an 8 cylinder engine the rpm readout would be two RPM, of the crank, for every 8 pulses it counted.
New users please visit our "Shop Talk" for common tips and help:
http://ngwclub.com/forum/page/ST


Don't fix it 'til it's broke...
The person with the most toys wins!
If it has wheels or a skirt you can't afford it.
Amateur Radio Station WW9L

71 CL350 with Bingham side car
2021 HD Triglide
2008 HD Dyna Low Rider
83 KZ1100L1 Son totaled it
83 KZ550LTD Shaft sold

Previous bikes: 84 GL1200 STD, 83 KZ550LTD, 83 CB1000, 78 CB400A, 82 CB900F, 79 CB750K, 2001 GL1800, 2000 Dyna Super Glide, 1972 CB350 K4, 1985 GL1200A, 1997 1200 Sportster, 84 GL1200I, 82 Honda CM400E, 81 Suzuki GS650L, 72 Triumph Bonneville 750, 72 Honda CB350, 66(?) Honda 305 Scrambler, 6? Yamaha yz250, 62 650 Matchless (Norton-Villers).
John
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BlueThunder
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Re: Multimeter question

#8

Post by BlueThunder »

Set it on 8 cylinders and it will read correctly for our bikes.
...Brian
2014 CTX1300 Deluxe - BlackThunder aka Predator
1977 GL1000 - Ox
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Whiskerfish
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Posts: 36853
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Location: Norfolk Va

Re: Multimeter question

#9

Post by Whiskerfish »

BlueThunder wrote:Set it on 8 cylinders and it will read correctly for our bikes.
Mine does not.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
User avatar
BlueThunder
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Posts: 1612
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:39 pm
Location: Sarasota, Florida

Re: Multimeter question

#10

Post by BlueThunder »

The 8 cylinder setting will read double on a 4 cylinder motor - with a distributor. Since the meter will read 1/2 of what it should on our GoldWings, due to the double spark, the 8 setting should give a correct reading. Mine does, but it is from the '70s.
...Brian
2014 CTX1300 Deluxe - BlackThunder aka Predator
1977 GL1000 - Ox
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