I have been playing around with this STE ICE (junk box) quite a bit lately and decided to use it on a Duce that a friend wanted to buy.
I know that many people don't like the Junk Box and think it is not useful. The manual is not the easiest to follow but after you use it a few times it gets much easier and has some neat functions.
We decided to perform a 'compression unbalance' test. Pretty amazing how it determines that. This duce had a 1% unbalance and I was happy with that. Next was the power or Dyno test. That's kinda scary as you have to insure that the governer (sp?) works. Should be between 2750 and 2900 RPM. This one was at 2850 RPM.....the test has you floor it and then quickly release the throttle. Minimum power rating is 60%....this one has a 80% power rating.
Checked the batteries, starter current check, and a few other things, all well within limits.
If nothing else, the unit should give you a picture of how healthy your engine and electrical system is and after a bit of use, is easy and not much set-up time. We tried it on a sick M35 and it failed both the compression and power checks not to mention a few other items.
In summary, If you are willing to learn something new and apply yourself it can be a useful tool. Checking things like pressure would be a bit easier with a guage and adaptors but if you're already there, just plug in the unit and it will give you a digital readout. No need to keep all those low and high pressure guages with the adaptors in a seceret drawer that you always forget where you put them.
Always did like test equipment.
I know that many people don't like the Junk Box and think it is not useful. The manual is not the easiest to follow but after you use it a few times it gets much easier and has some neat functions.
We decided to perform a 'compression unbalance' test. Pretty amazing how it determines that. This duce had a 1% unbalance and I was happy with that. Next was the power or Dyno test. That's kinda scary as you have to insure that the governer (sp?) works. Should be between 2750 and 2900 RPM. This one was at 2850 RPM.....the test has you floor it and then quickly release the throttle. Minimum power rating is 60%....this one has a 80% power rating.
Checked the batteries, starter current check, and a few other things, all well within limits.
If nothing else, the unit should give you a picture of how healthy your engine and electrical system is and after a bit of use, is easy and not much set-up time. We tried it on a sick M35 and it failed both the compression and power checks not to mention a few other items.
In summary, If you are willing to learn something new and apply yourself it can be a useful tool. Checking things like pressure would be a bit easier with a guage and adaptors but if you're already there, just plug in the unit and it will give you a digital readout. No need to keep all those low and high pressure guages with the adaptors in a seceret drawer that you always forget where you put them.
Always did like test equipment.
