Timing Light

[texaselite]

Going to try to set the base timing on my car for the first time. Any suggestions on what type of timing light to buy (in US)? Not looking to spend big $ for digital top-of-the-line, just need something to get the job done that is halfway reliable. Any specific brands/models I should go with?

Thanks!

[lotos]

I was wondering if we needed one with especially long leads since the battery is behind the seats, the plug wires are in the engine bay, and we're using the light up in the wheel well..

[texaselite]

That...and I have heard MSD igntion (I have MSD coil packs) don't work with some lights?

[HJ2]

That...and I have heard MSD igntion (I have MSD coil packs) don't work with some lights?

That's the first time I heard this. Have I missed something, and why should the MSD coils cause troubles?

[dapinky]

I have no idea of the makes available in the US, so can't help with that.

...But I can offer a suggestion (which is on another post somewhere else on this forum...).

To make life easier, what I've done is to line up the timing marks on the engine (with the wheel off, but I suppose it could be done with the wheel on) to the "correct" 16BTDC, then without rotating the engine at all, make a small mark (I used a hacksaw blade to put a small 'nick' into the outer edge) about 100 degrees clockwise on the crank pulley - directly adjacent to the sump flange (or thereabouts).
I put a corresponding mark against the block/sump face - (BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE VIEWING THE MARKS FROM THE FRONT, NOT THE SIDE - to avoid parallax error).

Both marks are then painted with a dab of white paint (or tipex).

Connect up the timing light, put car into service mode, check and adjust timing - you will need to get into the wheelarch to see the 'proper' marks correctly, but once you are happy that it's right, simply move the timing light to a position which you can adopt with the wheel on, and check your new marks.

Once you are happy that they're right, next time you wish to check, just look from the front of the wheel, and it takes no time at all!

I can check mine in about a minute - that includes finding the timing light! - I have a switch installed inside the glovebox which connects the 2 wires on the ALDL plug, so ficking that saves finding a paperclip to put it into service mode, stick my head down by the front of the wheel and job done!

Oh, and by 'shorting' the wires with a switch instead of a paperclip, it means you can have Elanscan plugged in at the same time - then it can tell you what everything else is doing (and helpfully allows you to set the idle speed acurately).

timing marks.jpg

[steve matthews]

Sears has a good unit at an affordable price.
I myself have no problem with viewing with wheel full right cocked.
Paint the tick mark white. Get a trash battery for $10.00 to run the light.
This all only takes 10 minuets for me to check.

Steve

[lotos]

Sears has a good unit at an affordable price.
I myself have no problem with viewing with wheel full right cocked.
Paint the tick mark white. Get a trash battery for $10.00 to run the light.
This all only takes 10 minuets for me to check.

Steve

So - no need for the wheel jack and stand to do this job? And I was wary of cutting into a belt when it seemed like paint wouldn't potentially weaken it. Thanks for the great advice.

[steve matthews]

Their is no cutting of any belt. The tick mark is on the crank pully.
Paint the tick mark white. The 16 degree mark is on engine fixed plate.
Mark this with white paint. these marks are only 1/8" at most.

Steve

[texaselite]

For the love, I cannot see/find the V mark on the timing pulley. Any advice/suggestions???

[dapinky]

It can be a tad awkward to find - it's really small!

(and it's on the outer edge, not the inner as you may expect).

If you can't find it visually (not surprising), try running a fingernail round the edge until you find it.....

....if all else fails, I suppose fit the timing light, turn the engine over by hand with a socket on the pulley bolt, when the light flashes, the timing mark should be at/near 16 Degrees - so at least you know which bit of the wheel to clean up with sandpaper to find the mark.

[texaselite]

Thanks for the heads up, got it!

[rip]

That...and I have heard MSD igntion (I have MSD coil packs) don't work with some lights?

That's the first time I heard this. Have I missed something, and why should the MSD coils cause troubles?

MSD coil packs produce a short burst of voltage just like any other & the light uses this to generate the strobe. If they didn't, you would not have a spark & the engine would not run.

I agree about the timing marks. If your pulley has some paint flaking off then the mark itself is difficult to spot. (mine does & I don't expect it is uncommon).

also, like Steve, I can see the timing marks with the wheel on full right lock.

[Megwenda]

Many lights have trouble reading the MSD's capacitive discharge multiple sparks

From the horses mouth

[GeoffSmith]

The problem appears to be with MSD's multi-spark CDI system (so more akin to ac rather than dc sparks) with adjustable timing lights.

Replacing our coil packs with MSD coil packs will have no effect whatsoever on the pulse shape which is detected by the timing light.

[Megwenda]

True enough....But this was probably where the unqualified original remark about MDS systems having problems with timing lights originated.

[GeoffSmith]

Yep. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

[lotos]

Yep. A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

Hey I resemble that remark

[GeoffSmith]