Timing light problem

[Harry L.]

I purchased a timing light from Sears, the price was 69 dollars. It was just a regular simple light. I hooked up the red clamp to the positve terminal. the black clamp to negative, and the clamp around the number one plug wire. Well, nothing happened. My neighbor came over with his 30 year old SnapOn light, and that worked. I got a replacement at Sears and this new timing light does not work. This new timing light is their newest model. I tried different hookup ways, nothing makes the new light work. Does the clamp that goes around the no. 1 plug wire suppose to slide freely. I think that this can;t be normal. Does anyone have any help that I am not getting? DUTCH

[Mike M.]

Re: Timing light problem

my snap-on INDUCTIVE timng light has a provision to tighten the wire going to #1 plug wire. if one doesn't tighten the critter, mine won't work. i assume your craftsman light is also inductive. does the timing light's wire to your spark plug wires have a clamping device on its end?mike

[John H.]

Re: Timing light problem

I tried different hookup ways, nothing makes the new light work. Does the clamp that goes around the no. 1 plug wire suppose to slide freely. I think that this can;t be normal. Does anyone have any help that I am not getting? DUTCH

Harry -

The inductive clamp doesn't grip the plug wire tightly. Have you tried it on a different plug wire? Any wire will trigger it.

[Harry L.]

Re: Timing light problem

The clamp does not snug tight around the wire. John, I did not try another wire. Wound another wire give me the same accurate reading? DUTCH

[Mike M.]

Re: Timing light problem

john is suggesting that the plug wire you're attaching the timing lite to may be broken. if you hook the lite to plug wires 2 thru 8 and they all flash the timing lite, then plug wire #1 is a dud. are your plug wires the currently available repo carbon core's plug wires? in my experience, they are junk. i make up my own plug wires using packard 440 steel core plug wires.mike

[Alan T.]

Re: Timing light problem

You have to make sure that the clamp is facing the right way, there should be an arrow on the inductive clamp that points the way to the spark plug. If this is not done, you will get no flash. I know because I recently purchased a timing light that I thought was broken because I could not get it to flash, till stupid me finally read the instructions.

Alan

[Tom L.]

Re: Timing light problem

Your car wouldn't happen to be a big block with shielded wires, would it? Had a similar problem myself, turned out you can't clamp over the shieilding. I put the clamp over the bare wire and all was OK. Good luck!!

[Harry L.]

Re: Timing light problem

I never thought about this before, I went out this morning and unhooked the ground clamp on the metal shield of the no. 1 wire and guess what? My sears timing light works. DUTCH