Timing light

[Rainer S.]

Just started my 63 SWC Fuelie for the first time after (4) year body-off. (Had run the engine to break in the cam (3) years ago, but not with everything installed and connected).
Engine started right up. That Fuelie sure sounds sweet, even my wife likes the sound, after listening to my big block 454 ElCamino with loud exhaust.
So much for old technology...But my new technology 2 year old timing light, made by Actron, mod CP 7504, does not work anymore, after only (1) time use (3) years ago. Had to cut short on running my engine, since I was unable to set the timing.
My question is:
Who makes a good, reliable timing light I should buy ? (I will not buy this make again...)

Rainer

[Tony Merendino]

Re: Timing light

I have 2 Actron timing light one is about 12 years old and the other a dial back model is 3 years old. Both work like a charm. No problems. I bought them both at Sears. If they stopped working I would return them and expect a replacement or credit. What happened to your light? I would not expect it to cease working just because of non use.

[Rainer S.]

Re: Timing light

Tony,
I don't know. I connected the light as always to the battery and the light lead to the #1 plug wire, using the clip-on. The light will not flash. Connected to different plug wires to rule out bad wire etc, still no light.
I will ring-out the wires from the clips to the light tomorrow...

Rainer

[Joe R.]

Re: Timing light

Hi Rainer:

True confessions time: I once concluded my relatively new timing light had quit, when in fact I had connected it backward to the battery. My cutoff switch is on the negative side of the battery, and somehow I had a brain fade and thought the cutoff was the positive side. Most lights are protected against reverse battery and simply don't function when connected wrong.

[Gary C.]

Re: Timing light - SNAP ON MT2261 is best

There are several listed on e-bay. Gary....

[Jim T.]

Re: Timing light

Bought my timing light at Sears over 25 years ago. No problems with it. Still keep it in the original packing box. I also have an antique timing light. My first one. It plugs into extension cord for power and still works.

[Jim Cear]

Re: Timing light

I have a Sears dial back I bought 5 years ago, works great,no problems

[John H.]

Re: Timing light

I have an Actron CP-7519 dial-back light I've had for years - works like a champ, reads exactly the same as my neighbor's Snap-On dial-back. Actron makes the Sears dial-back light too (same guts, different housing).

[Clem Z.]

there are very accurate timing lights

that operate off of 2 "D" flashlight batteries. just clip the inductive pickup around the plug wire,no need to hunt for a 12 volt power source. they are good up to 6000 RPMs for power timing. they sell for less than $50 and they are just a round tube type shaped item that allows you to get into tight places and you only have 1 wire to keep out of the fan blade.

[Rainer S.]

Re: Timing light

Thanks everybody for the your suggestions.
I checked the wiring on my timing light and found a loose wire on one of the clips. Re-soldered and it works like a new one now. (As it should, since it's new..)
Could not get the timing just right, the vacuum advance unit is hitting the coil, preventing me from turning the distributor a bit further to get the proper degrees BTDC, timing mark is still 1 1/2" away from the scale..
Will cont tomorrow...
John, what is the dial back feature on the timing light for ?

Rainer

[George C.]

Re: Timing light

Rainer,

Check the discussion board back a couple weeks ago on timing. I had a similar problem, that turned out to be weights that were sticking. If you find the post it will tell you to put a rubber band around the weights, and recheck the initial timing, to insure the weights are staying closed. If that is the problem then you can determine the cure.
Almost as simple a fix as your timing light.

Good luck,
George

[John H.]

Re: Timing light

Rainer -

The dial-back feature allows you to check maximum advance, which is well beyond the end of your timing tab, without using a "timing tape"; the tabs generally are only marked out to about 14*-16* BTDC, but maximum advance ("total timing") is generally in the range of 34*-38* BTDC, depending on your engine specs.

With a dial-back light, holding the engine at high rpm to check advance, you simply turn the dial on the light until the timing index line on the balancer visually aligns with the "0" on the timing tab, and the dial tells you what the advance is at that rpm. Makes it simple to check the operation of your centrifugal advance system and to "map" your advance curve.

[Rainer S.]

Re: there are very accurate timing lights

Thanks everyone.
George, I found the post you mentioned , in ref to the advance discussions.
John, thanks for describing the dial back feature.
I will check the counter weights ETC. Have the distributor out right now to replace the leaking seals on cross shaft for tach and fuel pump cables.
Will put it back together this W/E...

Rainer