King Spark Plug Tester

[sanford51]

I have a vintage (1937 or so) King Spark Plug Tester. It's a model K-3. Does anyone have instructions on how to use it?

It has 3 holes to put the plugs into (3 different sizes); a voltage control, a wire to attach to the plug being tested and a meter with 3 different "shorted" indicators - .025, .030-.035 and .040 - referring to the plug gap I assume. Does anyone know how to adjust the voltage control? I believe it's either short out the test wire and set the meter to read to the "shorted" line depending on the plug gap, OR is it short out the wire and set the voltage to a full acale reading? I attached 2 photos.

Sanford

 

[jaker10]

I think you stumped um. I don't have a clue.

 

[txvwnut]

Check with this place...
http://http://www.distributortester.com/index.asp

 

[1930artdeco]

Good luck and I will be watching this thread. I have the full size tester from the same time period and have had no luck with instructions. Apparently, king was a good sized player in this market but the company imploded big time in The 60's.

Mike

 

[txvwnut]

I think Marqutte bought out King as dad had a King analyzer and a Marquette analyzer at the shop. I like the King better but somehow always ended up with the Marquette in my bay.

 

[sanford51]

I've used this tester over the years but never knew if I was using it correctly. I'm not sure how good it is without using compressed air like a lot of them use. I found an ad for on in a 1937 Motor Service magazine. It's for a Model KP-3 but looks very similar to my K-3. It states: "Will measure spark plug resistance and detect leakage or losses of current due to carbonized procelain. This meter gives in milliamperes or heat units (??) the amount of current across the spark gap and shows which plugs need replacing".

Have no idea what Heat Units are.

Frank