Digital sync tool

[dreamaker]

I just got done building my digital sync tool kit, (By tz89), pretty cool. I have got to find the right enclosure for it yet. Just have to wait for spring, to check it out on the carbs.

Has anyone else built one yet.

[Jetflyer]

BIGBF has a digital snyc tool that folks que up in line for hours, to have his services performed at Inzane. Your first good sync job is unforgettable.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Dreamaker, I have a retired electrical engineer friend of mine making me one too. I'd be interested in what you use for the enclosure.
Tom

[dreamaker]

Dreamaker, I have a retired electrical engineer friend of mine making me one too. I'd be interested in what you use for the enclosure.
Tom

I am still kicking that around, would like something that looks pro. I wish I was still working, I would vacuum form one up. But I haven't looked hard yet, but maybe a basic project box.

[dreamaker]

I found these boxes, that I thought would work well, nice size everything fits, with a little room. Two boxes are the same size, the only difference is, one has a flange and the other does not. They come from Digi-Key.com. I went plastic so if it sits on the tank it will not scratch it. I will take pics once I sculpture the box to fit the PCB Sync board.

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?lang=en&site=us&keywords=377-1937-nd&x=0&y=0

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?lang=en&site=us&keywords=377-1220-nd&x=0&y=0

[Tailgate Tommy]

Thanks for the info!

[BonS]

This is really interesting. Roughly speaking, and aside from the labor, about how much will you have in the electronics and packaging altogether?

[dreamaker]

Here is my deal!! I bought twinMax for  around $150, then I bought two CarbTunes for $205 and finally MotionPro Sync Tool for $120. These units had limitations, plug in and unplug, must be vertical, special fluid that evaporates and so on. I thought this would be fun to build, a monkey could build one if these, proof is I did. Board was $50, box was $7, sensors were $80(I didn't bother looking for better prices, went to Digi-Key) I think hose is $.08 ft. Close to the price the I paid for the other units, but this I can run off of a bike battery and maybe a 9v battery. This way I can do all cylinders at same time, and to my understanding, the sensors are more accurate then needs to be, with no syncing of unit.  Still working on the lid, doesn't look pretty, but functional unit, can almost put it in my jacket pocket. I'll take a pic when done. By the way I sold the other sync tools, except for the MotionPro, so in a sense  it is not costing me anything.

[dreamaker]

Here is my pic of the unit close to completion, if you notice the hoses, they go through the cover and pushed on to the sensors. The reason I did this way is to keep the strain off the sensor, the strain is on the hose and cover. I don't know how sensitive or durable the sensors are, I don't know if it is necessary or not, but I have to still put an extension rod to the reset switch. So far so good, all's I need now is springtime.

[Tailgate Tommy]

What did you use for the hoses? Auto parts store regular vacuum hose in 5/32?

[dreamaker]

Auto supply, 1/8" ID rubber hose, the sensors are for 1/8" hose, now lately I have seen that silicone hose, seems more flexible, but I don't know if it would collapse under vacuum. Now the hoses that are coming out of the box are 1/8" X 8" long, but still have to use plastic insert adopter 1/8" to 5/32" to 5/32" hose to carb. I guess there are several ways you could do it, the options would be up to you, on how to set it up. I will probably use suction cups to mount, so it doesn't scratch the tank.

[tz89]

Boy that's looking great. Thanks for posting.

Yes I find the silicone hoses too flexible - they tend to kink at the bends.

Yes you can use a 9v battery or 12v from the bike with a barrel plug, or the usb can power it, too.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Geeetech-9V-CCTV-Camera-Battery-Snap-Connector-Clip-2-1mm-Adapter-Plug-/231461681856

[dreamaker]

I forgot to mention one more part, but it is still part of the total cost. The controller!

http://www.sainsmart.com/arduino/control-boards/sainsmart-uno-r3-atmega328p-development-board-compatible-with-arduino-uno-r3.html

[BonS]

Thanks for the help Dreamaker. I ordered my kit and parts (Thanks tz89) and pretty (very) much cloned your build. Your detailed pics and information sure made the project easy. There are several ways to get from the 1/8" tubing to the 5/8" tubing needed to fit up to our carbs. I wanted it to be easy to remove the long tubing from the sync tool and not stress out the components or kink the hoses. I also had some handy nylon luer fittings that were left over from another project. The picture below shows my sync kit complete. The second picture shows the two luer fittings where the different size hoses mate up. The third picture is the assembled fitting. It only takes a 1/4-turn to fasten the luer to get a leak tight fitting. I have a bunch of these luer fittings and will send them gratis to anyone that is assembling one of these kits. Just PM me.

[robin]

How much would it be to have some one build one for me 

[dreamaker]

Thanks for the help Dreamaker. I ordered my kit and parts (Thanks tz89) and pretty (very) much cloned your build. Your detailed pics and information sure made the project easy. There are several ways to get from the 1/8" tubing to the 5/8" tubing needed to fit up to our carbs. I wanted it to be easy to remove the long tubing from the sync tool and not stress out the components or kink the hoses. I also had some handy nylon luer fittings that were left over from another project. The picture below shows my sync kit complete. The second picture shows the two luer fittings where the different size hoses mate up. The third picture is the assembled fitting. It only takes a 1/4-turn to fasten the luer to get a leak tight fitting. I have a bunch of these luer fittings and will send them gratis to anyone that is assembling one of these kits. Just PM me.

That looks Super!!! Love that hose adopter setup. I couldn't find 1/8" to 5/32" adopters, only in kits, one each at $3.99 per kit, so that wasn't going to happen. So I ended up using brass round tubing I got at the hobby shop, and made my own adopters. But I must say, yours are much better, I have never seen any of those before. Where do you get them??  Real nice job!!

[dreamaker]

Good creative use of adopter, medical supply, cool!!!  Any way I went to Nordson web sight and found the luer connectors. I assume that series, for example 200 series or 500 series refers to size, if so, what series are you using or model numbers would help. I going to make an order, love to have some of those laying around for future projects.

PS: Figured it out, series is style, they had drawing of the connectors, you have 500 series.

[Big Rig]

How much would it be to have some one build one for me 

+1

[henry 008]

How much would it be to have some one build one for me 

+1

me too!

[BonS]

Good creative use of adopter, medical supply, cool!!!  Any way I went to Nordson web sight and found the luer connectors. I assume that series, for example 200 series or 500 series refers to size, if so, what series are you using or model numbers would help. I going to make an order, love to have some of those laying around for future projects.

PS: Figured it out, series is style, they had drawing of the connectors, you have 500 series.

This eBay auction will get you 25 of the (Value Plastics/Nordson) 1/8" to 5/32" adapters pretty cheap:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151002702026?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

The other half of my connector comes Ark-Plas.com. It's a one-piece hose-barb male luer. I like it better than the more expensive two piece designs.

It can be difficult to find small quantities of these parts.

By the way, I had trouble finding 1/8" hose and ended up with 7/64" windshield washer/vacuum hose. It's within 1/64" and fits up nicely.

[BonS]

As for building these kits there are a few things to know:

1) You'll have to PM tz89 to see if more kits are available.
2) Soldering up the components is fast and easy if you have any soldering skills.
3) It really doesn't take any computer skills to program the Arduino.
4) You don't absolutely need an enclosure but if you want one then the carving took the lion share of the time. A Dremel and file is what you need.
5) I'd love to do this for the folks that want one but hobby time is scarce until I retire.

[dreamaker]

I would like to share a few things also, in case someone wants to build one themselves. The container is the most time consuming thing of the project like BonS said. I have no training or background in electronics of any kind, just willing to take on a challenge.  If you look at my pic., with the open case it look more complicated than it is, there is a processor board under the sync board, called Arduino clone. You don’t have to build that, you buy it; price is anywhere from $6.99 and up. The sync board you build, it plugs in to that board. The trick I found to soldering is cleanliness; I take Scotch bright pad and lightly clean the foil on the board before soldering (Most people’s problems with soldering is contaminated foils, it may look clean, it may not be). Far as soldering the sensors, rather than using solder coil, I used solder past, made it quick and easy, the rest I used solder coil (solder on the roll). I didn’t use the hot plate method, I used a RadioShack soldering iron, I just bought an extra tip, and ground a small flat spot on an angle at the tip, and that worked fine.  Board should take about 15-30 min to finish.  Go for it!!

[tz89]

I just got a new batch of boards in the mail today. I'll be doing a 6 sensor build this weekend and will post a picture. If you want a board PM me.

[tz89]

Got a nice build out of my new batch of boards......

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,73795.msg740987.html#msg740987

[dreamaker]

Here is a little update for me, on my unit, thought could helpful to the people building one.

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/categories.asp

Overview just to get an idea!! If you noticed the length of the hose I didn't make them to short, if you make them too short they get stiffer, this way they stay flexible.



Here are two close-up of the connectors. This great idea is courtesy of BonS



Here is a shot of the bottom of the unit, see the four rubber bumpers and the two magnets, note the magnets  have elect. tape on it .



This is the magnet I used, got it from the sight above. K&J!!



Note the gap, the magnet never touches the flat surface, or in our case the gas tank. The rubber bumper are slightly higher than the magnets.  Got the bumpers at RadioShack. By the way you don't have to use a flanged case to use the magnets, just screw the magnets from the inside of the case.



Another thing I did, I used some spark plug wire separators I had lying around, to stabilize and minimize loads on the sensors itself.

[tz89]

Have you hooked it up to your bike? I'm anxious to hear (and see some pix).

Thanks.