How to use analog dwell tach on 6V system

I found my ancient*****og dwell meter that I have had no use for for 20 years. I had only used it on 12 V neg systems. It has 2 leads 1 black one red and one switch (tach/dwell).

Can I use this on a pos ground 6V and how do I connect it?

 

There are so many types its impossible to say. If it's a true duty cycle type it should work.

 

I think some used the car battery only for powering the unit. Try powering it up with another 12 volt battery and just using the dwell part on the 6 volt car.

 

One of my best tach/dwells is an Accurate I bought back in the early '60s. Simple two wire, pos. or neg., 6 and 12 V. The unit can be calibrated for either 6 or 12 V.
If you have, or can find instructions for your tach/dwell, you'll know for sure it's use, etc.

 

Well, I just hooked it up red to positive coil, black to neg coil and it seemed to be working. Car hasn't been started in a month, takes a while to warmup. Tach read 600 at idle, went up when you add gas. It was reading 0 when I started. I tried to adjust idle down to spec of 475, ran rough. After messing around I shut the car off. Tach still read 200. Disconnected and tach still read 200. Thats as low as it goes on the mechanical zero.

Dwell read about 50 deg when running (Its a dual point system so thats about right) Don't think this is going to much use.