Allen distributor tester and analyzer

[Rembrant]

Anybody ever play around with one of these?

First one I've seen show up for sale semi-locally...

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/miramichi/allen-distributor-tester-and-analyzer/1392916175?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

[Gary Lewis]

Man, I'd LOVE to have that!  That would be cool to use to set up distributors.

But, to answer your question, no I've not used one.  But I'll bet Bill/85LebaronT2 has.

[grumpin]

I've never seen one, but it looks like something each of us should have!

[Rembrant]

grumpin wrote

I've never seen one, but it looks like something each of us should have!

Ha, I know, right? As Gary said above, I'd LOVE to have one. I've asked around if anybody had one around here, and I've been watching for one locally...and by "locally", I mean a fairly large area since I travel for my work.

If you follow Tim Meyer's Track Boss products page on Facebook, he was doing a bunch of videos there for a while showing his SUN Distributor Tester....

https://www.facebook.com/TMeyerInc/videos/253492255358863/

The SUN brand seems to be the most well know of these machines...and they're quite collectible (and expensive). It seems that anybody still setting up distributors professionally is using a SUN machine.

They're show up on Ebay of course...here's one that looks like it's done a Duraspark or two...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUN-Model-SDT-Antique-Distributor-Tester-W-Monometer-all-adapters-Flat-Head/323566781404?hash=item4b561543dc:g:J9sAAOSwE~lasCn6

And this one below cost more than my truck, so needless to say it is out of the question:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUN-504-Distributor-Tester-Ignition-Simulator-/201849804047

Overall, I'm just curious about the Allen machine I linked to originally. I'm assuming it can be used to set-up your ignition curve? I know I can do it in my engine, but at the angle I need to hold my timing light, I can't reach/operate my distributor at the same time.

[Gary Lewis]

I consider Tim a personal friend and do follow him on FB so did see his Sun.  But Rotunda is Ford's brand, and the FSM's are full of references to use XYZ Rotunda for that step.  So that machine was sold by Ford, although it appears to have just had a Rotunda label slapped on it.

The fact that the unit you found is an '86 means it should work on the distributors in these trucks.  

Anyway, here are some links I found:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/distributor-machine-rotunda.620622/

This one looks to be model E1415HD where the one you found may be E1415RD.
 Might the "R" be Rotunda?  https://www.ebay.com/i/201682706869

Here's a video of one being used to test a tach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9gaZ-pHO8o

And here's a manual for the HD: https://www.ebay.com/itm/362012622922

Man, if that thing were local to me I'd have it.  

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Man, if that thing were local to me I'd have it.  

Gary,

I'd love to have it myself to toy around with...I'm just not sure I want to spend that much on one. If I knew for sure I could sell it later for the same or similar price, I'd buy it just to screw around with over the winter.

It is a little off the beaten path for me, but a coworker of mine is in the area and will be coming to our office on January 7th. If it's still available on the 6th, I'll re-evaluate my need for it then...lol.

[Gary Lewis]

If I were younger I'd have that thing.  But, at this age I'm realizing that there aren't that many more distributors to curve.  However, I'd still like to have it.

So, if you buy it and don't like it you could bring it to the show next fall?  

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

So, if you buy it and don't like it you could bring it to the show next fall?  

Gary, I'm going to try my very best to make it in 2019, so if everything were to work out properly, then yes sir, I'd bring with me;).

[Gary Lewis]

Sounds great!  Hope you can make it - with or without the analyzer.  

[Rembrant]

Wow...check this out. I haven't seen ANY of these machines for sale locally, and two show up within a few days. This one just today...

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1249808298493809/

$500 CDN is probably a good deal for that thing.

[Gary Lewis]

$381 US is nice price!  

[grumpin]

I keep thinking all who are interested should pitch in and buy it for a community tool.

But, shipping it all over can't be good for it and it might put too much pressure or hassle on wherever it is or whoever has it.  

[Gary Lewis]

Would be easier to ship the distributors.