CLIFFNOTES:
-I found a good condition dyno at my school thats not hooked up
-My instructer says he cant get the software for it so its sat there for the past 2 years
-I would love to get this thing operating and start tuning some stuff
-I have tons of tuning knowledge but nothing on the set up or operation of a dyno
-Please help




Ok guys iv been in the honda game for a while now and just to give u a lil back ground Iv owned a turbo b, nitrous b & d, and right now I own just a stock ex with a z6 along with a stock lx 4door and a 09 4 door si. My stock z6 is turbo ready, so iv installed a wideband, 630cc injectors, and a s300 along with other goodies to handle some boost. I made a nice lil map for right now while its stock and I love playin around with it. Iv always tuned my own cars on hondata (no dyno) or ran a chipped ecu with some base map depending. Iv done several swaps, built motors, blew up motors lol and I hate paying people to do work for me, in fact I just dont do it. So iv never had any of my cars dyno tuned and I havnt even been around a dyno period. So I really would appreciate if a dyno operator would help me out step by step over the next few weeks.

I finally decided to try and make a career out of what i loved to do so I enrolled at cape fear community college in wilmington NC for auto technology systems. Well I just finished my second day and all weve done is basic introduction and the instructer had us go to the lab/shop just to look around and ask questions. Well im looking around, nothing to impressive, a few cool learning tools like peg boards with different operating systems layed out and so on. Well i get to looking in the corner and buried under a ton of junk I see a dynojet sticker on the side of a black box. I uncover the stuff and c a huge roller....oh **** thats a dyno!! So i promptly get the instructers attention and ask him if this is in working order or whats the deal with it. He says, "well we bought it from some shop who hops up imports (he's obviously a big chevy v8 guy, wears a nascar hat everyday lol) and thought theyd make money with it but didnt so we got it for cheap". "Weve had it for 3 semesters and its never been operated, if u want to know more talk to the other auto tech instructer". So I get his name and head out the door. The next day I get to speak with the other instructer about it, this is what he says. "well the only reason I cant use it is because i cant get the software for it." I say, "have u tried the manufacturers web site". He says no. I say well do u know the model number for it and he says no. I say is it inertia only or does it have a brake for loading and he says yes its both and it came with a bunch of red boxes, I think one is some sort of gas analyizer (im assuming a wideband) and rpm pickup, etc... I say ok, if i can get the software and donate a laptop can we get this thing working. He says sure, let me know what kind of info u find for it and well c what we can do.

So Im super excited and checked out dynojets website and find what i believe to b the right software..winpep7 or something. So I download it but realize its compressed and I dont know if i have winzip (havnt really gotten that far, id like some help before I look stupid trying to show the instructer something i really have no idea about) but Im sure I can get it uncompressed. What I need to know is where do i even start. The dyno does have a lift in front of it but its not bolted down and I am unsure of the proper layout so we can run both fwd and rwd and be able to saftly strap down both. The only thing I saw coming from the dyno was like a thirteen pin (big old school connector, im not even sure if its 13 pin or what) and wire harness with 3-5 cut wires. It also had two ***** on the side. I believe the model is a 224xLC but thats just what it looks like comparing it to the dynos on dynojets website. I can get any pictures (I didnt c any model #s or anything) or numbers u need to help me out on this. I consider myself semi computer literate but im def no computer technician. No other students really seemed interested and unfortuntly neither did my instructer. Please help me with this.....Please, i would love to throw my z6 on here and play with timing, fueling, dif parameters and the like, especially come tax time when I plan on purchasing my turbo kit. PLEASE HELP

 

Talk about a diamond in the rough huh? Great find!

Well, the first thing you need to do is to determine the serial number of the dyno. On the side of the dyno that the brakes protrude from, look for a serial number plate riveted to the chassis at the top, right corner. The number should start with 224xxxx. From that, you can call Dynojet at 800-992-3525 and transfer ownership to this school.

You can also find the installation and user manuals on the website at http://www.dynojet.com/downloads/select_manuals.aspx This will include the above ground installation, 4-post lift, etc.

The software you downloaded from the website will be the generic viewer version of software. It is fully featured, but without the specific configuration file for the dyno, you cannot make a run or enter the make-run screens. That software will have to be ordered and sent via CD.

When looking for a suitable computer, remember to look for one that has a 9-pin serial port on board. USB adapters will not work with this hardware. Pretty much any current computer (Windows 2000 or newer) will work.

Oh, and you can download a trial version of WinZIP from winzip.com, but Windows Vista or 7 has ZIP file support built in for extracting that file.

The cable coming from the dyno (connected to a 4" square board we call the break-out board) is a standard 25-pin serial cable. You can find them locally, but we sell a 25' version for $12.

 

Ok first step is to find serial number and have the ownership transfered to the school. Then I can get the software via cd which should b free, right? Heres some pics (im almost afraid that its not even a dyno cause to me its just so hard to believe). I dont understand y they have no interest in it.

Do u work with dynojet? whats up with this being ur first post lol?

 

I did read about the usb adapters not working, so I need a 25pin to 15 pin or I guess il just need to find another computer that has the 9 pin connector? 15 pin is the only connector like that, that i have on either of my laptops. I also remeber reading something about it needs its own desktop and that a laptop running it may produce problems, any info on that? Also what kind of proof of ownership do we need? Do we need the shops name or individual that we bought it from?

 

Hello again. Yes, I am the technical support manager with Dynojet Research. This thread came up through Google notify today and I jumped on here to answer your questions.

The cable in your first picture would normally be plugged into the break out board of the dyno on one end, and the other end to the I/O module of your hardware stack. Take a look around for something that looks like this:



The hardware is what interfaces the dyno to your computer, and that will be via a 9-pin serial RS-232 connection.

Looking at the pictures, you have a Dynojet model 224xLC with above ground kit there. That's about $45,000 new!

You already have the dyno, so we'd need to start with the serial number of the unit. Someone from the school needs to claim ownership by transferring it to the schools' name using a form you can download from our website. See this page: http://www.dynojet.com/forms It's the 3rd form down, Dyno Owner Account Activation Form.

 

Dude thanks so much u have been a great help and maybe getting my hopes up to high haha. Do u have a number where I could reach u at tomorrow (maybe u could pm it to me) if I need any help. Im going to print out everything for the instructer, have him fill out the form, try to decide on a way to mount this thing using ur instructions, and hopefully we can get this beast operating.

Showing me the hardware stack def makes much more sense. Like i said he did say it came with red boxes and I believe a few of them are options too!! WOOT WOOT!!

 

You can reach our technical department at 800-992-3525, but we won't be able to do much until you have an account setup with us. You can download all the installation and user manuals from the website though. That will get you pointed in the right direction.

 

awsome man, thanks so much!! Now lets just hope the instructer that originally made the purchase happen is more enthusiastic about it than mine, cause once i bring them everything they need its up to them to make this happen. Wish me luck

 

the third stack down says torque
is that a better way of picking up tq?
if it is whats concept?

 

The torque module reads instanteous torque as measured from a load cell (strain gauge) that can be optionally installed on the eddy current absorber unit. This can be used to show "steady state torque" - or the amount of torque being absorbed by the eddy current device to hold a vehicle at a specific rpm or speed point.

Typically a tuner will choose an RPM point, set the load to hold there, then bring the car to that RPM and apply a certain amount of load or throttle position. They will then look at the amount of torque required to hold the vehicle at that RPM point. Now, change the tune or timing and check again. If the torque load goes up, the car is putting more power to the wheels.

 

haha thats funny cause I was wondering the exact same thing, what is the torque module for. I read it showed a percentage of torque required or something. What i dont understand is y u would need that hardware, if u can apply load using the eddy current system. Couldnt u just make a full run after loading to c if torque was picked up in that area or couldnt u use the manifold pressure or throttle position to c if torque was gained..i.e. less manifold pressure or less tp at the same load would suggest more torque?

 

It is mainly used for part throttle (cruise) scenarios...not WOT runs like you would normally do in inertia mode (acceleration with or without load).

 

exactly so what i was sayin about manifold pressure and throttle position doesnt make sense to you? Sorry just tryin to pick ur brain a lil.

The other instructer wasnt there today, but I dropped of the ownership form and manuals with him, Il follow up on it tomorrow.

 

The load that you mention in post 11 would only be known by measuring the torque that the eddy brake was absorbing or pulling off. This is exactly what the strain gauge/torque cell measures.

 

So when using the load system/brake you cant get it at the same load every time? if not what is the point in having the brake on the dyno without the torque module? Even without knowing the exact torque the brake is absorbing u could still c engine torque increasing (by whatever means, like timing, fuel, vtec engagement, etc..) because ur thottle position just dropped slightly (because u had it on cruise control) and ur still at the same load. Do u c what im saying? Just tell me to shut the hell up if Im way outta my league here.

 

Another question was brought up lately. Do u guys send out employees to train us on the machine or help with setup? is there a fee for it? or do u just have the tech help number? either way im determained to make this work and thanks so much for all ur explainations.

 

With the load system, you can close-loop on speed, RPM, % of braking load and if you have the torque cell, you can close loop on cell torque. Typically for tuning, most tuners choose RPM. They have the dyno hold them in one RPM spot then vary throttle position to change their load cell in the fuel/timing map. Make their changes, then see if the load required to hold the vehicle at that RPM at that load cell goes up or down.

Without the torque cell, they won't see the finite differences in output. It's much finer than 23% vs 24% brake load for instance.

In steady state mode, you are not recording HP or Torque, so the only measurement of "torque increasing" that you could see is with the torque cell. For testing you don't vary the throttle position or RPM, the load varies.

 

The tech line is free once you're account is setup. We can send someone out to train you...2-days on-site training is $1500 expenses included.

 

ok I got ya now, thanks.

 

I'm interested in seeing where this goes. Hopefully you guys can get everything setup legit, and maybe even have the school pay for a tech to come and show you how to run the thing. Once the instructor learns a thing or two, maybe it could be something incorporated into the teachings of the class. Props to you for the sharp eye...Good luck with everything. I'll be subscribing to this thread to see the outcome.

 

Well no updates, still havnt stayed around for the other instructer. I think bring a dynojet tech out would b a great investment but im not sure if the 1500 would fly. A lot of schools have dynos, I know fayetteville tech has one and tons of other great tools. Last i heard they just got a flow bench...yummy