Handheld Tach Checks "Coil-On-Plug" Systems, Too

Handheld Tach Checks Coil-On-Plug Systems Too ENGINES Fine-tune newer larger engines with “Coil-On-Plug” COP ignition systems with the TA500 Smartach+COP from General Technologies Corp GTC Similar to an earlier version the TA100 reviewed by FARM SHOW earlier this year Vol 35 No 1 the TA500 is a wireless tachometer and engine analyzer It provides rpm’s measurement and ignition peak voltage measurement recording minimum and maximum levels “The TA500 does everything the TA100 does with traditional ignition systems but also analyzes COP ignition systems ” says Berge Baronian GTC Baronian explains that COP systems are often difficult to diagnose for misfires and non-starts Waveforms generated from COP systems are often difficult for conventional scopes to interpret The TA500 is designed to operate on distributorless conventional magneto and most spark ignition systems on 2 4 and 6-cycle engines It works with single and multiple cylinder engines up to 12 cylinders and can measure in peak kV or rpm’s The device picks up readings without being a part of the actual circuit Simply holding it against wires or near the distributor coil pack or closely gathered sparkplug/ignition wires is enough Professional mechanics commenting on the TA100 felt it had limited application in newer engines Those concerns appear to have been resolved with the TA500 COP capability Uses for the handheld unit include identifying individual cylinder and overall rpm’s as well as the relative strength of ignition pulses in spark plug wires and in the COP unit High voltage readings can indicate too wide a spark plug gap too lean a fuel mixture damaged loose or disconnected wires or a broken core wire Abnormally low readings can indicate spark plug problems broken core wires short circuits or partial-to-full disconnections a rich fuel mixture or low cylinder compression pressure “You may suspect or be certain of a problem such as a missing cylinder but the TA500 makes it easy to quickly find the component causing a problem ” says Baronian A quick internet search for the TA500 revealed prices ranging from near $200 to more than $275 Contact: FARM SHOW Followup General Technologies Corp 121 - 7350 72nd St Delta B C V4G 1H9 Canada ph 604 952-6699 or 800 440-5582; info@gtc ca; www gtc ca

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