Sun Diagnostic Machines

[rktolds]

Ok someone posted about a Sun machine and had me wondering. Who is still using a Sun machine for diagnostics/tuning of their older cars, aka rods, muscle cars etc....I'm a DIY kinda guy with a '72 Cutlass. I won't sell it ever and hope to add to the fleet eventually. What Sun machines are you using and/or recommend? Thanks.

Matt

 

[1restorick]

Matt, I also have a 72 Cutlass (Convertible) and Sun Machine collection. A often use my Sun 1120 machine with my old cars. However, it is a very large unit. For actual use with older cars I would recommend the following machines:

Sun 740
Sun 820
Sun 920
Sun 1020
Sun 1120
Sun 1015
Sun 1215

And any of the Performance Analyzers series.

These are all well built units and are easy to service. I also have a Sun Master Distributor Tester that I find very valuable. All of this Sun stuff is very addicting and you will become a collector overnight. Best of luck.

Rick

 

[Terranova]

Very addictive...

 

[justinmc]

We still have a large Sun machine in the shop here at the dealership... I'll have to look for the # on it later. They still pull it out and use it on older MB's from time to time.

 

[rktolds]

Small world about your '72. I think it'd be addictive too. I did a quick search on ebay and found a few. I'm not "needing" one now but always interested in more info. So what work have you done on your '72 that you used the Sun machines for? Thanks for the info and model #'s.

Matt

 

[1restorick]

Matt, my 72 Cutlass is a low mileage original car. It just turned 46,000 miles. I used the Sun Analyzer to tune it up and set the carb mixtures. I have used the vacuum pump on my Distributor Tester to test vacuum advance units and choke pull-offs. Very handy to have. Have a great day.

Rick

 

[rktolds]

Found a Sun 1015 Tune up Tester for $85 on CL at a shop. It's a couple of hours away and he states it works. How could this be used on my '72? Thanks.

Matt

 

[Big Bad Jon]

I have a Sun that I still use. Having a big ignition scope isnt a bad idea. You can still use it on newer cars, you just have to do the set up manually.

 

[miatajoe]

1restorick, we have a 1020 machine and are in need of a manual. can you help us.
Miatajoe

 

[1restorick]

Sir, I do not have a manual for your 1020, but I have seen them on EBay from time to time. If you find original manuals, not copies, you need to buy them. They are getting harder to find every day. Good Luck.

Rick

 

[Big Bad Jon]

1restorick, we have a 1020 machine and are in need of a manual. can you help us.
Miatajoe

I do not have a manual for mine either... Sorry.

 

[billymade]

Have you tried contacting Snapon/Sun support? Someone on here was emailed a manual for a Sun machine; worth a try anway...
http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/customer.asp?Ref=

 

[1restorick]

hey folks, I thought that would be appropriate to share a photo of my Sun Diagnostic Equipment Collection. I love this stuff. I would continue to buy additional pieces, but I am running out of space.

Enjoy this photo,

Rick

 

[billymade]

Did you really just want a Flash Gordon rocket ship but settled for a Sun Diagnostic "time machine"?

1restorick, so tell us a little about your collection; when did you start buying these and why? What machines do you have, do they work, have you repaired or restored them, have you had luck finding parts, manuals etc. Also, what do you use them for or are they just something to collect? Would love to see more close up pictures!

 

[My59Vette]

I am looking for any information on a SUN Interrogator 2 Model 1805Z-9 Engine Analizer. It is in need of a lot of help!

Thanks!

 

[Gregster]

This brings back memories of hanging around the Muscle Car shop when I was a kid.

 

[rktolds]

Found a Sun model 1015 local. Seems kinda pricey.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/tls/1313021378.html

What is normal market value for one of these?

Mat

 

[Gregger Rod & Custom]

Hey Matt,

I agree... Too Pricey. I bought an 1120 with all the attachments, but no cart for $130. Recently bought a cart for $75. Additionally, a few months ago I found another complete unit including cart for $150 near here (of course, I consider 300 miles 'near here') Shipping is the real problem with these... They are heavy and bulky. This really means you need to find one close enough to go pick it up. This is part of the reason they can be found cheaply. If they were cheap to ship more people would be going after each unit, driving the price up.

Hope this helps,
Greg

 

[rktolds]

Thanks. That's kinda what I thought. I have a buddy who's good with circuit boards so I'm sure rehabbing one wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

Matt

 

[chuckachief]

I have a sun 1015 if anyone is interested with a cart!

 

[sarel.wagner]

Anyone please identify this Sun model? It is complete and I am considering to buy for using on my Beetles

Rgrds

 

[sarel.wagner]

Ok I now bought this for about $200 It's a TUT 1001S

 

[jjkrjh]

Did you get the manual with it? I might have a manual if you don't. The wifey has "put" it somewhere and it is MIA at the moment.

 

[Brad54]

I might be the one who posted about the Sun machines.
I just bought a Sun 404 distributor tester this summer, and refurb'd it.

The first thing I used it on is the distributor in my wife's Corvair. I discovered several things:
The bushings are worn out.
The mechanical advance wasn't advancing.
The vacuum advance was faaaar too stiff and essentially wasn't advancing.

I don't have the car fired up yet, but we drove it with the last engine and that distributor for about 10,000 miles. It always fell on its nose at the upper rpm range, and I attributed it to points bounce, and being the limit of the engine.

My daily driver is a '61 Suburban with HEI distributor, I've got a '54 Buick, a '56 Chevy, and '73 Duster that I'm restoring, and I'm building a '57 Chevy gasser. Just for me, that machine will get a bunch of use.
And all my friends are gear heads, so I'm expecting my beer fridge to be full for the foreseeable future!

I lucked into mine, but if I was specifically shopping for one, I'd get the 505, as it has a coil tester and condenser tester. I get the feeling that the 404 was at home in the speed shops, while the 505 was found in service stations.

-Brad

 

[sarel.wagner]

Did you get the manual with it? I might have a manual if you don't. The wifey has "put" it somewhere and it is MIA at the moment.

No no manual, just a 3 page card index identifying what each knob and meter does, one page showing the cable connections. A manual is next on my search Please have a look for that manual?

Rgrds

 

[jjkrjh]

No no manual, just a 3 page card index identifying what each knob and meter does, one page showing the cable connections. A manual is next on my search Please have a look for that manual?

Rgrds

Found the manual, it is for a TUT-1015. Sorry, thought it was for your machine. They are similar, the TUT-1015 has a oscilloscope, and (4) meters. The manual is 36 pages. If you interested, I could scan it and send it to you.


Edit: looking at your picture again, it appears that your machine has a round vacuum guage in the bottom right corner. The TUT-1015 has a meter that matches the other three(rectangular) for vacuum.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Found the manual, it is for a TUT-1015. Sorry, thought it was for your machine. They are similar, the TUT-1015 has a oscilloscope, and (4) meters. The manual is 36 pages. If you interested, I could scan it and send it to you.


Edit: looking at your picture again, it appears that your machine has a round vacuum guage in the bottom right corner. The TUT-1015 has a meter that matches the other three(rectangular) for vacuum.

Sir, at this stage any manual would be welcome, as I have never worked with this type of machine before. Got modern equivalents of all the stuff it can do and use them. Would like to use this when woorkin on my Beetle collection

Kindly send me this manual when scanned, I would really appreciate that
Yes it is a round mechanical vacuum and pressure gauge.

Rgrds

 

[jjkrjh]

Sir, at this stage any manual would be welcome, as I have never worked with this type of machine before. Got modern equivalents of all the stuff it can do and use them. Would like to use this when woorkin on my Beetle collection

Kindly send me this manual when scanned, I would really appreciate that
Yes it is a round mechanical vacuum and pressure gauge.

Rgrds

I'll try to get it scanned this weekend and get it to you. I also have "most" of the training manual that mechanics would receive if the went to a Sun training center. It has many, many pages to it. It is very helpful on diagnosing problems and what to look for. If I get a chance, it will go to where I work and scanned thru the copier and into a pdf file.--too many pages to do at home.

 

[spiggyman]

Dear jjkrjh,

I have come across your post regarding the manuals for the Sun TUT 1015 and would like to know if you would be willing to email those .pdfs as well.
A friend of my recently acquired one of this machines and has asked be to fix it as a favor.
Being an electronics technician and not a mechanic I am able to do this, but the job would much easier if I new how this machine was supposed to operate.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Sincerely,
Mike McCarthy

 

[strombecker]

Could I get a copy of the manual for the TUT 1015

Thanks Terry
[email protected]

 

[incurablescrounge]

Hey Guys, I just cut apart a Sun 1115. The circuit boards and manuals are still here if anyone is interested. I also have some of the cables and attachments, timing gun etc. I guess the guages and bezels are still available as well.
I know some of you guys are probably screaming at me, but, not all things can survive. I now have a cool Sun roller cabinet for tools and I am building a lighted sign out of the plexiglas sign on top of the tester.
Pm me if anyone is interested in anything.

 

[fordcragar]

.......................... Pm me if anyone is interested in anything.

PM sent

 

[84bimmer]

Vat40

 

[incurablescrounge]

All of the parts are gone. Thank you, fordcragar. It is good to not throw them in the landfill!

 

[fordcragar]

All of the parts are gone. Thank you, fordcragar. It is good to not throw them in the landfill!

Thanks Doug,

All of the parts arrived in good shape and everything looks great. Thanks again.

Larry

 

[My59Vette]

Hi I have a SUN 1805Z-9 INTERROGATOR II, which I would like to sell or sell its parts. I have had it for two years, and have been looking for a service manual to no avail. I have all the users manuals, diagnostic disks for both American and foreign cars and the cables to attach to the cars. If your interested, let me know.

Mike

 

[Trey T]

does sun make pc based software diagnostic tool for j3425 protocol?

 

[afslbvi]

yes I am interested if you still have it
what condition and how much are you looking for it

 

[afslbvi]

hey, I am interested in the timing gun if it's still in one piece

 

[wafrederick]

They are not worth lot of money called worth nothing.Rick on Pawnstars overpaid for one,It was the $200 to $250 dollar range and this is what there expert said.