Exhaust gas analyzer question

gears · Jan 27, 2022

Hey everyone, I need to find a reliable way to measure CO output on a Zamboni - it runs on propane indoors and my old Penske/Sears tuner/analyzer doesn't work as well as I'd like. Anyone (Hobo?) have any experience with these things? I don't want to dump $4000 on one. Grainger has them for around $1700 but I'd obviously like to spend less.

Thoughts or direction on where to get one second hand?

560Dennis · Jan 27, 2022

Tailpipe sniffing kits Are 200 plus USA for setting air fuel ratio .
Dwell meter and timing light are reasonable also.
These are suggestions ,not sure how in-depth you want to go from the posted information.

Steve@Advance · Jan 27, 2022

Just about any mobile fork lift service would come out and adjust it for you.

Make any fuel system repairs first, have everything clean and well tuned, valves adjusted, oil changed.

Should be a one time adjustment.

gears · Jan 27, 2022

Thanks Steve, they have a guy that comes out every few years - but he's not cheap and comes from the Zamboni dealer, I'll look into the forklift mech.

Dennis, where are you finding tailpipe testing equip for $200?

I've done searches and found some of the combustion analyzers on Grainger and Amazon but they're not automotive specific. I know that doesn't matter, for testing HC and CO. I am also leery of many of those $179 free shipping products.....

The one I have is circa 1977, runs on 3 C cell batteries and has an analog needle and 3 separate scales for Air/Fuel ratio, CO and a Propane CO reading. The sensor requires exhaust to pass through the 1/2" tube you stick into the tailpipe.

Doug - Iowa · Jan 27, 2022

For what its worth, we were concerned about CO from the forklifts in our factory. We already had detectors in the ceiling, but people were concerned about fumes collecting in their work areas. I mentioned it to our insurance agent, and he fixed me up with our insurance company's health and safety lab. They have a loan process and sent me a freshly calibrated meter to use for a week, all I had to do was pay the return shipping. You might ask. We did not use it to make engine adjustments, just to confirm our air was under the exposure limit for CO. They've also loaned equipment to do dust and audio testing. All free, just pay shipping which was under $20 if I recall right.

gears · Jan 28, 2022

Thanks Doug - that may be the perfect solution for the ice rink. For my own tuning I may pursue one of those sub $200 Amazon sniffers.....

560Dennis · Jan 28, 2022

https://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResultsPageCmd?
q=air%2Ffuel+ratio+kit&storeId=10001&catalogId=10002&langId=-1

Check me on this but I think it 15.6 to one is stoichiometric for propane combustion

johnlobb · Jan 29, 2022

Ebay has them for under $250.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/323839719858?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1Aw3ffKkxSWCnYi5sgm5LXw52&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=323839719858&targetid=4580702891777577&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=418640321&mkgroupid=1233652283797640&rlsatarget=pla-4580702891777577&abcId=9300602&merchantid=51291&msclkid=dc705bcc31d8172148ac3a39727e2980

Exhaust gas analyzer question

gears

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560Dennis

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Steve@Advance

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gears

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Doug - Iowa

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gears

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560Dennis

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johnlobb

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