I am rethinking engines, and looking through the GMPP catalog. Several late model type engines refer to a "reluctor wheel." What is its function and where does it go? It seems to be on FI engines and not on carbed engines, so I glean that it may do with timing, but I wanted to be sure....

It would be a wheel with notches in it, that the crank sensor "reads" to find the current crank position.

Used for ignition timing, computer RPM measurements, fuel timing...

It goes somewhere on the crank. Sometimes inside the engine, sometimes outside.

[This message has been edited by ryan.hess (edited 06-05-2007).]

Its the round thing with notches in this diagram:

Thanks!

I kinda thought so (though I wasn't sure of location). Nonetheless, plusses for you!

Reluctor wheels are also found in distributors on cars with electronic ignition, and they've been around awhile. The first one I remember seeing was on a '78 AMC straight six.

quote Originally posted by Jim Gregory: Reluctor wheels are also found in distributors on cars with electronic ignition, and they've been around awhile. The first one I remember seeing was on a '78 AMC straight six.

In an electronic ignition, a rotating reluctor and magnetic-pickup coil replace the traditional cam, breaker points and condenser in the distributors of cars equipped for electronic ignition. This system reduces the time between tune-ups. The high spots of the reluctor interrupt the magnetic field of the pickup coil and the permanent magnet. These interruptions, or pulses, are transmitted from the pickup to a nearby electronic control unit. There, the pulses signal a transistor to break the low-voltage sub-circuit and release high voltage from the coil to the spark plugs. The short-lived electronic ignition system was a transition from the points and condenser system to the computerized ignition system. It came into widespread use in the mid-1970s, but there are still a few engines that use electronic ignition.

On GM V8s its on the rear of the crank near the flange end. We've gone from a 24x to now a 58x system. The old stuff (4.3L) was 3x!

Way back in the days of huge room-size computer systems, we called them trigger wheels. Whereas they provide the pulse for the stator or (sensor or pickup). Ops age showing again.

------------------
[IMG]



Trueleo.com/fiero.htm
RSpiderII@aol.com