INDUCTIVE Spark Tester - You’ll Wish You Had One Sooner!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

www.rcpw.com/trillium-spc-7200-spark-checkr-engine-spark-tester-ignition-analyzer-for-small-engines-motorcycles-and-more/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAlKmeBhCkARIsAHy7WVvpzWMqzd5CTvDhu2wuH3EKQv0BxkWvNKMuX6B6J_ixHi-swKwV72caAvGIEALw_wcB

[@TheGreasyShopRag]

Thanks for the shout out! That was a great video explaining that tool. Its been a handy tool for sure and is a lot better than the way my Grandpa taught me to check for spark. He would just hold the plug wire and see if he got zapped.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Pleasure mate, thanks for featuring it, it will really help my work flow. Haha yeah I bet, I have heard of people still doing it. I’ll spend the $ on a tester any day 😂

[@jbplays7302]

My dad (unfortunately he just passed away 2 months ago) taught me with the plug lying against the cylinder head, and look for spark. I was about 10yrs old, working on my first "real" dirtbike, a 1977 Yamaha YZ80. I made the mistake of holding the plug against the cylinder head with my hand! Yikes!! He watched me do it to teach me why we don't do it that way! Lesson Learned!!!

[@jeffrot7334]

My dad (who also passed recently, on Christmas Eve) taught me the same lesson, but on a Honda XR75. @@jbplays7302

[@TheShow-79]

This will always result in a true reading every time.

[@jbplays7302]

I wish that little yellow fellow was a little bit more affordable! But it's a nice little piece of equipment! Another good video! One more thing, it certainly is interesting to see the different brands of engines you have Ausi verses what we have here in The US... Cheers, my new friend!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Yes it’s not cheap! Handy for sure though :) yes there are quite a few differences! Thanks for stopping by!

[@GuysPlayingWithTools]

That is.... GREAT. The first new tool I have seen in months that I don't already have, and can't live without! I paused the video to Google around and order one.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Glad you liked it Bill!

[@GuysPlayingWithTools]

@Vintage Engine Repairs That's the coolest tool i have seen in a while. I know the spark testers were a pet peeve for you, so there was no doubt you would find a cool one.

[@cm5838]

I am an atv mechanic, far too often I will pull the plug lay it on the block and see spark but can’t get the engine to fire, painful to admit but quite often I don’t even think about what I’ve learned with other bikes I’ve worked on. What happens is in the position of the wire hooked to the spark plug there is no continuity, but with the wire in a different position it works. Maybe this thing could simplify this. Atv’s are considerably more complicated but you still start with the same method, spark, fuel, compression

[@johncollins8304]

I think you have just, inadvertantly, solved my problem with this gadget bout 2 weeks ago in the U.K. for £50. You didnt even start the engine, just pulled the cord once. Ive been starting the engine and let it run. The colour goes to green then yellow. Yellow means bad plug or HT lead. But one machine has a new plug and new coil with HT lead... I think it's not been made clear that you just pull the cord and if the engine starts switch it off!! Thank!!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

You’re welcome! Yes, the instructions say to quickly remove it if the engine starts. Or to turn the engine off. One of the two. It’s been a long time since I checked the manual :)

[@johncollins8304]

​@@VintageEngineRepairs Oh, happy day😊. Dumbo here just found the instructions! It must only be used on an engine which is not running, I.e. which is off. Later, "If the engine starts, turn it off." Thanks again!

[@kerryrump6028]

Thanks for the link, I purchased one today!

[@jimbola77]

awesome man! thank you for sharing! I'm gonna order mine today.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Awesome, I love mine!

[@billkrause4585]

I want one! Thank, easy to use and a great idea to own one.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Great :)

[@mooregoodink7734]

Forgive me if you have always answered this query: Could the Spark Check’r identify a problem with a deteriorating hot ignition coil by testing it when cold?

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Hmm I don’t think so, it will only detect what current can pass at a given time. If it works when it’s cold it will show green 👍🏻

[@EliminatorPerformance]

Mick sent me, cheers from Ontario Canada!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Thank you :) good to connect!

[@philliphall5198]

I have 2 and I love them 😍 and the fact is it saves me time by my self in shop 😊

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Absolutely!!

[@BrucesShop]

Great product. I use the inline neon type and a spark plug rigged with a wire. . This is cool. I will think about. You never stop learning.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Quite right Bruce, we learn something new every day!

[@garyalford9394]

This is great I had a similar one many years ago and it broke and I havent been able to find one till now !!!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Awesome, they’re handy!

[@mr1pearl]

If I had my own shop and a bunch of customers maybe ! Sure is handy !

[@tinkerscorner54]

I put out the money for one of these 15 months ago with only a couple of customers. I now have 12 and it's more than paid for itself.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@tinkerscorner54 awesome! They’re a handy tool!

[@tinkerscorner54]

@@VintageEngineRepairs Yes they are. At first, I made a place for it in my Toolbox. Now it lives in a cup on my workbench just as you get into my garage, right beside the feeler gauge. If it had a clip, it would probably live in my shirt pocket. I went to buy a second one last night on Scamazon, and they said that it was no longer available, and all of the reviews under it were for a totally different product. I almost panicked. I couldn't remember where I'd ordered it from, couldn't find a link or even the receipt in my email folders (I ALWAYS save those). And that's what brought me back here. I'm so glad you pinned that link. I've come to depend on it and need to keep a spare in case something happens to the original. (They've gone up $20 U.S. in the last year. Wow.) Hope you and yours are doing well. Have a great week and I'll catch you later!

[@andylitchfield]

It’s good but it has a shortcoming in comparison to using a timing light with an inductive pickup. That is that the most common fault with spark plugs, is that they intermittently or occasionally miss fire. This tool would likely signal that the spark was satisfactory. On the other hand, the timing light would show a miss firing plug by the absence of a flash.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Yeah very different tools. A timing light isn’t for seeing if there is spark or how strong spark is.

[@andylitchfield]

@@VintageEngineRepairs it doesn’t show how strong the spark is, you’re right. But it does show if the spark plug is sparking, and if it’s missing at all. A timing light will only flash if the spark plug actually makes a spark.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@djlord9189 yes but don’t forget that at 10,000 rpm, you won’t distinguish a miss on a timing light. A timing light even at 3000 rpm appears constantly on to the human eye. It has to miss a lot to distinguish.

[@andylitchfield]

@@VintageEngineRepairs Yes, it’s true, that when I use this to identify spark misfires on Aircooled VW engines, I’m not ever revving them more than 2500 - 3500rpm. And mostly the misfire can be identified at idle. I’m never attempting to identify this type of fault at 10,000 rpm.

[@tinkeringtaylor3053]

Very handy well worth having in tool box 👍

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Thanks for watching nev!

[@kenivie7422]

Could you post the 2 tags so they can be read. Thank you

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Sure Solid red no spark < 200v Flashing red low voltage 250-2500v Flashing green good voltage 3,000 -13,000 (ope setting) and 3,000 - 28,000 (car setting) Flashing yellow high voltage >15,000 ope setting and >33,000 car setting

[@kenivie7422]

Thank you

[@williamemerson1799]

I don't know why the proper link wouldn't go thru for the site here in the USA. Very frustrating. Again it's Replacement Commercial Parts Warehouse.

[@deniseadams4121]

Loven this! Thanks

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

You’re welcome :)

[@sypher0101]

I'm confused, why would a broken spark plug wire increase voltage? I would have thought broken wire = less voltage across wire.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Hey, I’m not sure I said a broken wire would increase voltage?

[@rolfgrosseholz1311]

The coil will provide as much energy as it needs to find the ground. A broken wire can be jumped but requires more energy to do so. A plug with high resistance would trigger high voltage. And perhaps an engine with a failed decompressor. That's only a maybe. A plug that is set too wide perhaps.

[@darrensmith9407]

Thanks for nothin' dude, i was all set to buy the oppama when i saw your video and now I'm gonna buy the Trillium, because it's just better...hope your happy!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

LOL both have their place, buy both 🤣

[@AodhMacRaynall-dr1sf]

oi, ever time I listen to you I learn somethin'

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@almclean4835]

It’s nice and handy but costly. I play with chainsaws and mowers, I couldn’t justify the cost so I’ll stick to using a spark plug

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Its certainly an investment Al! Just remember that under compression it’s far harder for a spark to jump a gap. So you may get good spark holding the plug to ground, but the engine won’t run with the plug screwed in and compression.

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

There are alternatives, one on Amazon is $31 and loads like it in kits with compression testers etc.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@@oo0Spyder0oo have you got a link?

[@louhudon]

Does anyone know of a Canadian distributor for this tester?

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Try reaching out to “eliminator performance” he is in Canada and found one :)

[@gadasavideos8564]

Google found it available from rotary

[@gadasavideos8564]

One option is to remove shroud to get to flywheel nut. Lock safety bail with clamp. Crank engine will drill and socket on the nut. Now you close to spark tester.

[@Big_Johns]

Nice review Tom, I see who has all the money now. 🙂👍

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Says mr renovation over here!! 🤣 thanks brother 👍

[@Big_Johns]

🤣🙈😳

[@AndrewDrapper]

Is anyone shipping to the UK? or does anyone know of a UK seller?

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

I’m sorry I don’t, hope you find one though!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Grab one of these, doesn’t require sight to test spark www.rcpw.com/trillium-spc-7200-spark-checkr-engine-spark-tester-ignition-analyzer-for-small-engines-motorcycles-and-more/

[@Critical-Thinker895]

So you linked back to yourself? Not helpful. All those links in your canned description but not for this?

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@@Critical-Thinker895 oh sorry! How weird, obviously a mistake. Thanks for letting me know

[@kevin2landscapes]

Ho where can we buy one to be delivered to the UK

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

You’ll have to google it I’m not sure, I’m in Australia.

[@gtw9998]

Where can I get one from

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

I have pinned the link in the comments section

[@philpass79]

Do you have a link of where to buy it?

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

Best to google it as I’m in Australia not in the usa “trillium SparkCheck’r”

[@baileybattistuzzi5651]

@@VintageEngineRepairs Gday mate, I'm in Australia and would love to know whereabouts you got this from, very valuable bit of gear for a small engine mechanic

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@@baileybattistuzzi5651 sure thing mate, I got mine from Henderson mowers, they give awesome service. Can’t recommend them highly enough

[@baileybattistuzzi5651]

@@VintageEngineRepairs Oh awesome! I have ordered stuff from these guys before and can not fault them at all. out of interest where are you based ? I am in QLD Gold coast hinterland. Cannot recommend your channel highly enough, I refer to a lot of your videos as I have recently started my own small engine repair business.

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@@baileybattistuzzi5651 thanks for the kind words, glad you enjoy the content! I’m in Western Australia 👍

[@UpInSmoke54]

Handy but too expensive, I'll keep using my spark testers I already have, no electronics and never fails!!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

All good :) mine paid for itself on the first repair, but I agree, they’re not cheap. The advantages of ease and efficiency are what sold it to me :)

[@UpInSmoke54]

@@VintageEngineRepairs How can it be paid for itself in one repair?? You didn"t save 100$ in time compared to standard spark checkers or I'm I missing something?

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

@@UpInSmoke54 The first repair I did using it easily paid for it and more. I do this professionally, I understand that as a hobbyist, it may not be justifiable.

[@UpInSmoke54]

@@VintageEngineRepairs I'm no hobbyist, I just can't see how it paid itself on one repair! Using this or another spark tester accomplished the same thing, check for sparks!

[@VintageEngineRepairs]

If you can’t see the spark due to being the other side of the lawn mower, or it’s too bright, and you chase your tail, it can lead to unnecessary expense and time. I have been there, own 3 different spark testers, one that’s more expensive than this and they have their place. For a quick and easy test this wins every time. If you want to put load on coil to test across it’s full range, an adjustable inline is great.