Sun VAT-33

goodfellow · Feb 5, 2009

Came across this one a few days ago. Out of all the early Sun VAT testers, this one was the last of the "red" series, before the the new VAT-40 "cabinet style" was introduced.

The best feature is that it has an inductive pick-up, but it still includes the "old" field connectors for testing generators. Basically the best of both worlds.

I'll tackle this one this week -- needs a good clean-up, some hammered paint and a few new cables.

Uncle Buck · Feb 5, 2009

I have one that looks a lot like that, I will have to check on the model number and report back.

krusty the clown · Feb 5, 2009

nice.........i need to find one of those. i passed on a bst28 a couple of years ago, i shoulda got it.

T56 Impala · Feb 5, 2009

I still wish I could find some of that old Sun stuff.

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · Feb 5, 2009

Haven't seen any Sun stuff for sale around here.

goodfellow · Feb 6, 2009

Had some time to spend in the shop and decided to tackle this VAT-33. What a nice tester this is -- some parts are modular "solid state" components interlaced with old fashioned 50's vintage electronics.

The magnetic pickup was rewired, as was the low side battery leads. Other than that, the cabinet received some hammered paint and the face was thoroughly cleaned with a soft brush and solvent. The knobs and brass hardware were also removed, cleaned and buffed.

refurbished face plate and primary leads/clamps

Magnetic pickup, field wire and low-side battery leads

Outside Cabinet

246gts · Feb 6, 2009

Quite an improvement that!
What do you use as "solvent" for cleaning the face without losing the lettering?
As you saw I picked upa Sun Motor Tester last week and need to clean up the face on that.
Dave

goodfellow · Feb 6, 2009

246gts said:
Quite an improvement that!
What do you use as "solvent" for cleaning the face without losing the lettering?
As you saw I picked upa Sun Motor Tester last week and need to clean up the face on that.
Dave

Two things Dave -- regular Simple Green to get smudges and grease off. If there are very stubborn stains or spattered paint I use straight laquer thinner, but only do a little section at a time (and I don't let it get on the clear meter covers).

Once the section is clean, I go over it with a clean rag so the paint doesn't have a chance to soften.

When all is clean, I refresh the paint with a straight shot of WD-40. Works great!!!

Tarheelgarage · Feb 6, 2009

Wish I could get my hands on its big brother...the VAT40.
I don't trust the new type conductance based testers.

goodfellow · Feb 6, 2009

Tarheelgarage said:
Wish I could get my hands on its big brother...the VAT40.
I don't trust the new type conductance based testers.

Vat 40 is THE standard -- no doubt. But there is not much difference between the 33 and the 40. Actually my favorite Sun VAT is this one...

The VAT-28 was the "cats ***" in the late 60's and early 70's, and maintained that status for over a decade. It's the most robust tester they ever made.

246gts · Feb 6, 2009

Probably a stupid question to you folks over the other side but what kind of product is Simple Green, we dont have that here in England. Is it a sort of hand cleaning jelly like our swarfega or just a high strength liquid cleaner?

I dont know if you recall the picture of the Sun 1080 I posted last week where I need to clean the metal switch panel without destroying the black print describing what the controls are for. Do you have any good tips for that??

Also do you have any idea of the date the 1040 and the 1080 were made??

Thanks
Dave

coppermouse · Feb 6, 2009

I have one of the blue ones with the big meters, don't know the model number. I got it for $15 at the flea market

goodfellow · Feb 6, 2009

246gts said:
Probably a stupid question to you folks over the other side but what kind of product is Simple Green, we dont have that here in England. Is it a sort of hand cleaning jelly like our swarfega or just a high strength liquid cleaner?

I dont know if you recall the picture of the Sun 1080 I posted last week where I need to clean the metal switch panel without destroying the black print describing what the controls are for. Do you have any good tips for that??

Also do you have any idea of the date the 1040 and the 1080 were made??

Thanks
Dave

Sorry Dave, I forgot that you were from "the old country". Simple Green is a strong "All Purpose" cleaner

http://www.simplegreen.com/products_all_purpose_cleaner.php

I'm sure you have something similar in GB that car buffs have heralded as a great all purpose car cleaner.

If not, try a bit of laquer thinner and have a go on a small area. Knowing the kind of treatment they would receive, Sun painted their equipment with very durable paint. A little laquer thinner, used sparingly, will not harm the paint.

As far as the 1040 and 80 series analyzers are concerned -- I'm not exactly sure, but very late 70's, or early 1980's would be my guess.

global72 · Feb 6, 2009

Brings back a lot of old memories my first job was in the tool and equipment business was degreasing leads on old Sun, Allen and Bear equipment.

Funny now how many of those things we went through and how "collectable" they are now.

Damn I feel old

goodfellow · Feb 7, 2009

246gts said:
Probably a stupid question to you folks over the other side but what kind of product is Simple Green, we dont have that here in England. Is it a sort of hand cleaning jelly like our swarfega or just a high strength liquid cleaner?

I dont know if you recall the picture of the Sun 1080 I posted last week where I need to clean the metal switch panel without destroying the black print describing what the controls are for. Do you have any good tips for that??

Also do you have any idea of the date the 1040 and the 1080 were made??

Thanks
Dave

Dave - did you get some good results cleaning up that paint? post some pics when you get a chance

246gts · Feb 7, 2009

Goodfellow
Had a quick try this morning but then got called away with "family"things. Will give it another try tomorrow.
Initial efforts quite productive but I still have a problem with the black symbols near the mode selector switch which seem to have worn away a bit with use.
I'll try to get some photos tomorrow
Dave

246gts · Feb 8, 2009

Goodfellow

Its getting better, still some way to go with cleaning/renovating the switch area but it is on the way

One plus is that I've got the scope working and tidied up the wiring to the strobe gun

Dave

goodfellow · Feb 8, 2009

Nice Dave -- good work!! Once it's been cleaned wth solvent, wipe the machine with a generous coat of WD-40, it will penetrate the paint and make it shine with a rich luster. Let the unit sit for a few days, and hit it again with another coat of WD-40 and it will keep that shine for quite a long time.

Good luck!!

Uncle Buck · Feb 8, 2009

goodfellow said:
Vat 40 is THE standard -- no doubt. But there is not much difference between the 33 and the 40. Actually my favorite Sun VAT is this one...

The VAT-28 was the "cats ***" in the late 60's and early 70's, and maintained that status for over a decade. It's the most robust tester they ever made.

Well, I checked what Sun testers I had tonight, one is a VAT-28 Volt-Amp Tester, and the other is a TDT-11 Tach Dwell Tester. I dont suppose you have any instruction manuals or other paper work on these old gems do you?

billymade · Feb 8, 2009

Contact Snapon; they have the SUN diagnostics division and they offer support; someone on here contacted them and they emailed back a .pdf of a manual to a old sun tool tester;
Snap-on Equipment Service:
For on-site equipment service, parts, technical support for Snap-on, Sun, John Bean
USA: 800-225-5786
Canada: 800-225-5786

http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/customer.asp

Uncle Buck · Feb 8, 2009

billymade said:
Contact Snapon; they have the SUN diagnostics division and they offer support; someone on here contacted them and they emailed back a .pdf of a manual to a old sun tool tester;
Snap-on Equipment Service:
For on-site equipment service, parts, technical support for Snap-on, Sun, John Bean
USA: 800-225-5786
Canada: 800-225-5786

http://buy1.snapon.com/snapon-store/customer.asp

Man Billymade, you were all over that! Fixed me right up. I owe ya chief! :thumbup:

goodfellow · Feb 9, 2009

hholmberg said:
Well, I checked what Sun testers I had tonight, one is a VAT-28 Volt-Amp Tester, and the other is a TDT-11 Tach Dwell Tester. I dont suppose you have any instruction manuals or other paper work on these old gems do you?

I doubt you're going to get anything from Snap-on Buck. They just don't have anything that old -- even in the archives. Much of that stuff went out to the dump with the Sun acquisition in the early '90s.

I have a copied manual for the VAT-28 -- not a good copy, but usable.
PM me for the particulars.

59effie · Jun 11, 2009

hello i'm a newbe to this board and was reading this thread and saw T56Impala and Tarheelgarage might be intrested in a vat40 i have had for years it needs a volt meter if intrested you can contact me at [email protected] here is a picture

Stephen James · Nov 24, 2009

Hi, I have just bought a sun 1080 today do you have any insructions i used one 25 years ago but can't remember much!

Billbobagns · Jun 8, 2010

Sun VAT-33 Manuals

VAT33 Operations Manual

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/837001/SUN VAT/VAT33 Operations.pdf

Parts Manual
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/837001/SUN VAT/VAT33 PARTS.pdf

Service Manual
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/837001/SUN VAT/VAT33 SERV.pdf

Billbobagns · Jun 8, 2010

If you need manuals on old Sun gear, send email to [email protected] with short description of what you want, operations, repair, parts and the model no.

I've had 100% luck with their response.

Billbobagns

Stick · Jun 8, 2010

My Sun Vat-6 that I rescued from the auction pile at work. Maybe someday when I get some idle time I'll clean it up and start restoring it.

carol123 · Feb 23, 2013

Hi guys, just been given this by a friend Sun 720

it has hardly been used and has been stored in his garage. I have the manuals which date 1968, he said if I do not want it I could take it to the tip

Do you know if 1968 is the manufacturer date? Thanks

theoldwizard1 · Feb 23, 2013

goodfellow said:
The VAT-28 was the "cats ***" in the late 60's and early 70's, and maintained that status for over a decade. It's the most robust tester they ever made.

I have been looking for a VAT-28, on and off, for a couple of years. The ones I see on eBay are way over priced or need replacements meters. Is there anywhere that has reasonable replacement meters, even if they are not a perfect match for the original ?

xelit0 · Mar 16, 2015

What would u recommend using to clean a clouded spot on a lense. Just bought a VAT 40 off from Ebay and all works well just need to repair Int. 18V clamps. BTW what would everyone use as replacement Int. Clamps.

jaksm1 · Oct 6, 2015

Here are some SUN VAT Manuals I have accumulated in PDF forum. I have gotten a lot of these manuals free of charge emailed to me from Snap-on Equipment Tech Support [email protected]. Unless noted below
Please Enjoy!

Jacko :bounce:

***NOTE: PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES***

VAT20

http://www.mediafire.com/download/x1p306nr5oshm75/Vat+20+Ops.pdf (Updated 07/23/2016)

VAT28

http://www.mediafire.com/view/z5nh75qfwir0qcd/VAT_28_Ops.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/view/4kp5xi3udw392qv/VAT_28_Parts.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/download/px6cctpimlmoj4u/Min+Man+Ref+Vat-28_.pdf Minute Man Reference Guide Using Sun Vat-28 (Updated 07/24/2016)

The below VAT40/28 manual came as part of the documentation with a VAT40 I purchased. I completely restored these manuals to A1 Condition enjoy!

http://www.mediafire.com/view/06lzxwhyp59m010/Sun_Vat-40_28_Starting_Charging_Test_Report.pdf

VAT33

http://www.mediafire.com/view/4o1dxdtw4o3cb3p/VAT_33_Ops.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/view/8b4ofxj600pax5p/VAT_33_Parts.pdf

VAT40

http://www.mediafire.com/view/a46xb6atuul4u93/VAT_40_Ops.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/view/zki525ju430lbrh/VAT_40_UM.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/view/ounue883wam3ab6/VAT_40_Parts.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/view/69a2pbgbk76qbxp/BID_VAT_40.pdf

http://www.mediafire.com/view/sifbifoe4hyxwao/VAT40_and_electrical_testing.pdf

Manual found at www.bhsautomotive.com

The below manuals came as part of the documentation with a SUN Electric Corporation Volt Ampere Tester VAT-40 that I picked up in North Ridgeville, Ohio. I paid way to much for this machine about $150.00 to much but I wanted the stack of paperwork that came with it. The scan from the 1979 manual is the best of all the operation manuals I have found for the vat40, I was not happy with the quality of the scan that I had received from snap-on, the graphics were non-legible and to me being able to make a document look like new was unacceptable. These are completely restored to new condition and searchable PDF files. Please Enjoy! Jacko

VAT40 :bounce:

(My VAT40 Manuals) :bounce:

dsforever · Oct 13, 2015

Jacko - thanks for the great posting of documentation!

Do you happen to have the service manual for a Sun VAT-33 that you would be willing to share?

jaksm1 · Oct 13, 2015

Dsforever,

Sorry I do not. But it is in my list to find, Try the Snap-on Equipment Tech Support [email protected] If you find one before I do please share

Jacko

DCJets · Mar 14, 2024

Folks, please allow exhuming this stiff, since Google found it for me, when searching the web for VAT-28.

Got hold of a VAT-28 and a VAT-38. These units all have big power clamps with the large diameter cables ob the l/h side. Three of them. Red, black and green. Plus those test leads from the units r/h side. But not worried about those.

Having two versions of the operating Manual on hand. One for the VAT-28/4 as well as one for the VAT-28/7.
These manuals do not reflect the existing red/black/green clamp, but a mysterious test-adapter. This adapter is to be connected to the batteries negative ground post, with the original ground cable being removed from the battery and then hooked up to an additional post in the side of the test adapter.
Assume that test adapter could be the black clamp, but where goes the green clamp to?
The red clamp is to be connected to the batterys

positive post

Sun VAT-33

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