Vintage Sun Tune Up, Testers, Scopes, Analyzer, Distributor Thread

Hello Moriarity, I am attempting to get a hold of the operator's manual for the SUN Master Speedometer tester. I see it in this thread. I'm not sure if this message will get to you. I will check back to see if someone gets back with me. Thanks for your time. Steve

 

I'm trying to navigate this forum....opps, I sent you another message before I saw this. Thanks for your reply

 

@steve cutler
contact me www.speedoservice.com
PM sent

 

Hello Rusty, Thanks for the phone call and conversation. Here is my email address:
steve817@myncsd.org

 

Hello,
Just wondering if anybody has found the instruction sheets for the Sun AA coil tester?
Thanks,
Dennis

 

Hi,
Here are the manuals you are looking for

I found these on http://bama.edebris.com/ It is a huge database of manuals for a variety of manufacturers, all free of charge. There are several other Sun manuals available.

Bob

 

Hi new to this forum and this looks like a post that has continued about Sun. I just bought a sun 1020 and want to get it working. When I bought it it was suppose to work ( has anyone ever heard of that before.). Question 1. Will it light up when plugged in or does it have to have a car hooked to it. #2 Is there a fuse or reset button that would be an easy fix. Sorry if I am in the wrong area.

 

Cool unit!

Generally it is un-recommended to plug in antique/vintage electrical, unless you understand the circuit a little bit.

There are often some parts that are getting hard to find or at least expensive that might be damaged by excess current, on the other hand the parts that always require replacement by now are inexpensive and easily found. The latter is what prevents damage to the former. There just isn't really anything to be gained by trying to "see if it works". Don't let the Magic Smoke out!

 

Hi Wabigoon! Nice looking machine! I have been able to revive a Sun oscilloscope and meters on a 1977 model 947, along with some other old test equipment by replacing the capacitors. A couple types of capacitor fail with age, others not so much. The SS90 or SS95 scope on your machine uses vacuum tubes on the chassis, and has large electrolytic capacitors (highly likely failed) in the power supply circuit, along with others on the chassis. The advice to not power it up without replacing capacitors is good advice. If you are comfortable using a soldering iron, you should be able to replace the likely failed capacitors and there is a good chance you will be back in business. Vacuum tubes, I am told, are fairly robust but YMMV. Searches for old radio restorers should turn up sources for them if needed. You can get the capacitor values off of the existing capacitors and/or the service manual.

Here is a link to a page that talks about old capacitors and replacing them:
https://www.justradios.com/captips.html

They also sell capacitors. If they don't have the specific ones you need, try Allied electronics or Digikey.

Here is a source for vacuum tubes:
http://www.audiotubes.com/order.htm

If you do embark on this (and not knowing your experience) I will also advise you that the picture tube is fragile, and is under a vacuum. Be very careful working around it. Also, capacitors hold an electric charge that can hurt you, so if you have powered it up, short them with an insulated wire before handling.

Lastly, the other area that has caused me trouble is meter movements. I have had a couple in which the glass came loose and damaged the movements. I would advise you not to take the meters apart for cleaning. It is way too easy to damage them, and while they can be repaired, it is very expensive. The plastic meter surrounds clean up nicely with Novus three step plastic polish just be very careful not to push on the glass.

Happy Motoring!

 

I know this is slightly off topic, but I know of 2 Sun Analizers that are in danger of the dumpster in NJ if anyone is interested I can put you in contact with the sellers. I hate to see old tools get junked.

 

Thanks very much for the info. There will probably be more questions Thanks.

 

Bought a sun sst1500 last weekend, hopefully pick it up this weekend!

Went and checked it out and its in nice shape. Didn't get to try it out but ending up buying it. Comes with quite a few extra attachments including v10 hook ups.

Didn't come with manual so I called snap-on (as they now own sun) and the guy was nice enough to e-mail me a pdf file of the manual for free!

Found a paper manual on eBay and bought it too, hopefully have it next Monday.

I know its not quite vintage but I figure any oscilloscope is better than none! And it does points and newer ignitions too. Next day had a guy offer me a sun 4000 for about the same price! Look a couple yrs to find one local and finally find one and then 2 all in 2 days...

Can't wait to play with it!!

 

Looking for information on a Motor E X-ray tester for a older friend that does not have a computer.
Sorry I don't know much about how these forms work.

 

I know nothing about it...but that's pretty cool!

 

I ended up buying the sun 400 too the other day, Good news is within the first year the shop bought it the snap on rep came out and updated it to a sun 450. It also has the 4 gas analyzer with it, just need to replace the hoses on the on the 4 gas system. Came with quite a few extras.

Then Friday I found an old sun 1100 I believe with in 50 miles of me too... Now I think I have enough. Infact I think I will play with both the sun sst1500 and the sun 450 and decide which one I like the best and sell the other one later...

 

Looking for information on this. Sorry I am not very good at these forms

 

Looks to be complete and in good shape. Hell it might even work. Not gonna be able to retire on it but should get a nice little somethin' from the right buyer. It would look great in a garage or museum.

 

I think there was one similar , different brand?, on ebay about a year ago. They were asking $795.00?? Don't know if it sold. I paid $200. for my Sun about 6 years ago.

 

To add to the pile .
1947 MDT we brought back from the brink.
Tried to keep as much patina as possible
Still on Neon , power supplies inside to lose all the batteries.
Pulley up size (3100 RPM)
Hung a digital tach so we could really use it.

 

If you had to add a digital tach you should have tried to use some nixie tubes.

 

If I knew how or thought of it, yes that would have been an awesome thing to do. I had to look up Nixie tube to be honest. Had completely forgotten them ( never knew what they were called)

 

Yeah, whass wrong whichoo, man?!! (Kidding)

 

Neither did I until a few years ago . . .

 

This came out of the old Auto Hobby Shop at Ft. Sill, OK when it shut down last year. Anyone have any info on this one? I.S.D. -26A
Ended up with a bunch of other equipment from there and some Sun Testers out of a closed Chrysler dealership late last year.
Any info appreciated.

 

Though if you had a Sun Ignition Scope to hook this up to, you could still have a bit of (educational) fun!

 

I kind of thought it might be. Just never sure. Will clean up nice so it will most likely just go on the bench for a conversation piece. Distributor tester from the same place.

 

This will break your heart;
When I was kid, the dad of my friend down the block was a salesman for Sun equipment. They took in trades to help sell the new stuff. He would put the traded in equipment on a big canvas tarp in his back yard, and then tell us kids to destroy it with hammers. We'd bust all the gauges, break off the knobs, dent everything until our arms felt like rubber. Then he would haul them to the dump. It seemed so wasteful, but he said they didn't want used equipment on the market competing with sales of new stuff.