Thread: Timing light, - advice needed

Gee......I'm getting all flashbacks of 'tuning' my HG station wagon. Adjust 'dizzi' whilst watching the exhaust and listening. Viola! all done.

Cheepy timing light is the go .... So long as it has battery lead connections .... and is not one of those "Direct plug inline to the spark plug lead / hang it up if your gonna do it during the day, unless you can drape a huge woollen army issued blanket over the bonnet whilst inside a fully sealed shed to block out the sunlight / best done at midnight with no moon glow, types" .... God, those things are horrible ....


Cheers
Mike

Originally Posted by bee utey

.......

PS James I hope you've checked the clearance in the pick-up with a brass 5 thou blade, like a good boy.

Yes Uncle J... Knew that from my days of owning a CM Valiant.

I've some leftover bits of Estar-based film from a past life... .004" thick. Reckon I can work out .005 from that.

Actually, have'nt done it yet... found out last night that the vacuum advance diaphragm is leaking like a sieve... not matter how hard/suddnely/long I suck for, the reluctor plate merely twitches.

What's the cheapest way... replace the vac. unit or just buy a Chinese dizzy from evilBay. ?

Originally Posted by superquag

What's the cheapest way... replace the vac. unit or just buy a Chinese dizzy from evilBay. ?

This is the BEST option .....

Advance Diaphragm Options


Infact ..... after you do some price and QUALITY research ... You will quickly realise that it is the only option

Originally Posted by bee utey

How do you accurately set TDC timing with electronic ignition? You don't get a timing pulse until it's cranking. A timing light lets you check static, vacuum and centrifugal advance, all for $30-$50 for a cheapie.

PS James I hope you've checked the clearance in the pick-up with a brass 5 thou blade, like a good boy.

You point the rotor button at No.1 cylinder

As I said, until your are playing with curves!

Refitting a known dizzy is easy, no light needed

People tend to utelise figures for setting timing, miraculous recomendations from the interweb (i.e. set to 12deg and it'll be sweet), which is not actually optimum timing, as its prior to preignition whilst utelising the fuel which you will fill your tank with and there can be large variances

People like the "reassurance" of a number....its not correct

EDIT, that's for a seperate elec ignition system, as in what a stinky rover that's not a P38 or D2 will have, things change a little with ECU controlled timing dizzy's like other makes

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Yes, I have had a few comical attempts to turn the crank fast enough to energise the ignition to check the timing by setting No1 with a gap to the head or whatever.
Mostly ends in lots of sweat and no result.
Regards Philip A

You really tried that?

I use a Meco Timing Light M1603.
Works fine, has battery connection.
Think I got it from Super Cheap.
Cant remember but I dont think I would have paid much for it.

Cheers.

A digital dial back is great but not so cheap. Shows rpm and accurate distributor advance checking on the care.
The advantage of a dialback light is you only need marks for TDC, no need for any others. Also has tacho display.

Equus - Products - 3568 INNOVA® Digital Timing Light - Diagnostics Made Easy