Vintage Honda Tester SRH500 Kowa Seiki Ltd

[AshimotoK0]

We had that one as well. AFAIK not a single mechanic could operate it except maybe Steve the workshop foreman.

Ah ! but you could work out Honda plain bearing shell  code selection Ken .. my local 5-Star dealer in Hull didn't have a clue about that. I tried  to talk them through it to order some 400/4 shells back in the day  and I sensed it went in one ear and came out of the other.

Would have loved to have had a go on that oscilloscope based tester ... right up my street 

[K2-K6]

I like seeing some of these old setup kits,  also looking in other's workshops to see good ideas too.

It appears fairly straightforward (with those crib cards to set it up) to use and would save time in servicing to run through a few things and give the operator reasonable view of setup.

Left panel is analogue multi-metre for checking volts,  amps etc. So general fault finding,  switching and generating output.

The centre panel is,  more or less,  analogue electronic tachometer ( pulse counter/ frequency monitor with integral circuit damping to give smooth display), reference of which is made to it in the Honda manuals in carburettor idle circuit setup.  Also seems to display dwell? On the green scale.  Plus capacitor check,  this could possibly be simple resistance,  or a simulated readout from switching time interpretation efficiency / deficiency to display "in range" components.  Not necessarily measurement of capacitance,  just observation of how clean the switching is on a time basis to predict if capacitor needs replacement.
This section you could see the operator connecting to,  then just flicking through the functions to quickly assess ignition primary circuit conformity and whether it required work or not. 

Right panel looks like you'd test the coil by running it from the test machine (so taking out the bike's primary switching)  to see if worked and could produce decent sparks.  Helps diagnose by splitting the "whole bike system" to identify which bit any fault exists in.  Coil ok,  youre looking at the bike.  Coil knackered,  replace it.

It all gives a bit of "workshop theatre " too in order to charge the customer more money 

[AshimotoK0]

https://www.mecum.com/lots/LV0120-402609/1970-honda-supplied-early-diagnostic-tester/

[SteveD CB500K0]

Any idea what it sold for?


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[AshimotoK0]

Any idea what it sold for?


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413 USD

[jshonda]

Well, there's a blast from the present!
I have one of these which I have used on/off for about 45 years. I say 'a blast from the present', because i used this to test some mini cooper (new type) coils. Indeed, the machine did its business (after I repaired the multivibrator) and as such, it was a perfect demonstration for my students.
Thems wos the days, all yer needed wos a set of feeler gauges an' a 'ammer! :

[barry100]

Hi Mates--Barry here from Australia , I've just bought one of these, the seller had another, I was thinking of buying it as well, not working and bits missing, one of the parts was the  6 volt Nissin vibrator, I've seen others on the net from radio's etc, from what I gather ? I'll need a mechanical type w/ no polarity any thoughts?--thanks --Barry

[AshimotoK0]

Hi Mates--Barry here from Australia , I've just bought one of these, the seller had another, I was thinking of buying it as well, not working and bits missing, one of the parts was the  6 volt Nissin vibrator, I've seen others on the net from radio's etc, from what I gather ? I'll need a mechanical type w/ no polarity any thoughts?--thanks --Barry

I have fixed two of these by cleaning the contacts on the vibrator .... the alloy can is lined with rubber which must give off nasty fumes, which causes a lot of  furry corrosion to  build up on the silver / cadmium ? contacts ...but that clears away OK fairly  easily with careful cleaning.

Not sure about fitting a 1950's style car valve radio type to replace the Nissin original. I would be inclined to fit a 12v semiconductor inverter to drive the transformer or replace with a mains transformer.  The link below discusses this ...It looks like an earlier version to mine but uses the same Nissin vibrator. by the looks of it.

https://www.hondatwins.net/threads/vintage-electrical-service-tester.128480/

[barry100]

Hi Ash--Thanks for your reply, Yes, I know about cleaning the points etc I've done it a few times in the past, but the one I'm talking about has no vibrator, Not looked into my new one yet, but the other one not bought  looks to have an extra circuit board fitted , maybe it has had the modification, I don't know anything about the vibrator's other the old radio ones look the same?--Barry