The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Timing light

Anybody use a battery contained timing light? I've seen them on eBay. I have a 6 volt system in my 48 3100 and wondered if this would be a good thing to have.

Thank you

Never tried that approach. If I need to use my delay-flash light on a 6V system, I just connect the power leads to a separate 12V source like a motorcycle or lawn mower battery.
Jerry

I need a new timing light. Any specific suggestions for one with the adjustment knob? It also needs to be bright enough to illuminate the BB without being directly aimed at it (distributor is in the way of my ancient, dim, non-adjustable one).
Carl

Since I do not know much about this issue, I went with a pretty top of the line one. Its really nice and does more than I expected. Whats really cool is how you can advance it anywhere you want. It has a tach and everything. Expensive, but I only do things once.

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-5568-P...amp;keywords=equus+5568+pro-timing+light

Get a Snap-On MT 2261. There's one on Ebay right now for $99.00. No sense in buying some off the wall knockoff when a professional quality tool that will last you a lifetime is available.
Jerry

The Innova 5568 is not an "off the wall knockoff" and it is, a
well respected and professional quality tool. 99% of the
reviews that I've read are positive. There's always someone
that has a problem because they expect more than they've
paid for. The Snap On digital advance timing light is also
made in China, looks very similar and as usual, is priced
four times as much. Not sure if it has a dwell or voltage
mode as their site description makes no mention of that.
The ones I see on ebay are "pre-owned" and not buy now, but
are up for bid starting at $99.

I've been hearing the same comparison between Snap On and
(the old) Craftsman hand tools since I was a kid back in the
50's when I bought my first tools, which by the way, I still
have and use often.

I've had one of the Equus timing lights for quite some time
and it will fire, off of a 6v or 12v battery, is plenty
bright enough to hit the mark even out in a sunny driveway.
You get all this for a hundred bucks, Tach, Dwell, Timing,
Voltage, and Advance timing.

The only negative for an old man like me is, like most new
electronic test equipment, it is capable of giving me way
more information than I can handle. Because of all the
different modes and information that is available and the fact
that I don't use it every other day, I have to get the
instructions out every time I pull it out of the tool box.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Deve, will the innova work on 6 volt systems?

Thanks

I do not know for sure. A good idea is to send a message to the seller or to Equus to see if the Innova series is capable of that.

From a few sites that ask this question, the answer is no, but the guys liked it so well they bought it anyway and then used a separate power source to run it. So apparently the metal inductor you put on #1 plug has a sensitive enough trigger to work fine IF you use a separate power source.

Geeze, you guys are as hard to convince as my "big old wife!"

So.....I just had to pull the truck out in the dark and hook
up the light to the 6v battery in my stock '50, 3604 and
document the experience for you.

Not the best picture that I've taken, but...it does show the
Innova timing light reading voltage, rpm and if you look
closely at the logo on the valve cover you can see the
strobe lighting it:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/161372137

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Thanks Denny. Sorry to make you get out of your chair. Ill check into the innova 5568.

Thank you

I have already lived most of my lifetime up. Would it still be a good deal for me?
Carl

Thank you for the suggestions on the timing light. I wrote everything down. Now I just need to find a safe place to hide it so I won't lose it...
It sucks catching up in age with DG.
Carl

That's good to know Denny. Thanks for the effort. Working with both voltages is a big plus for the year trucks we deal with.

My grandkids are going to inherit most of my tools, including some Dad passed down to me from the early 1950's. I'm sure yours would appreciate the same favor from you!
Jerry

Just had to prove a point Dennis. It does trigger off 6v just
fine. And I made it back to my rocker and knitted throw just
fine without falling also.

Your lucky to have grandchildren Jerry or kids that are
interested in those tools. Mine are going to end up on the
auction block and my "big old wife" will head to warmer
climates with the spoils when I'm gone.

dg

Five generations so far, Denny, starting with my grandfather back in the 1920's. My son is a nationally-certified GM technician, although he's not working in the automotive industry right now, and my grandson has expressed an interest in continuing the family tradition as soon as his hitch in the Marines is up. That's one reason I'm still pressing on with the construction project on the shop- - - -it's not likely that I'll live long enough to see it become more than a hobby shop, but I'll leave a legacy to build on, maybe!
Jerry

Our family's fascination started In 1914 when my grandfather was sponsored by old man dodge to leave our family's black smith shop in Denmark to work for him.

Great point Jerry! And somehow you just brightened up my day. (You must be slipping. )
Carl

Good evening Denny. I received my innova 5568 today. Do you have any steps and/or advice on its use. I appreciate your help. Thank you

As I posted earlier Dennis:

"The only negative for an old man like me is, like most new
electronic test equipment, it is capable of giving me way
more information than I can handle. Because of all the
different modes and information that is available and the fact
that I don't use it every other day, I have to get the
instructions out every time I pull it out of the tool box."

But....the basic timing light is pretty simple. Induction
pickup around #1 plug wire (Arrow to plug), green wire clipped
to distributor for rpm/dwell reading and red/black power
leads to a battery. Make sure it's in the 4-cycle mode and 6cyl.
A 12v supply might give you a little stronger strobe light.
So if you do have a spare 12v, set it next to the fender and
power it off of that as Jerry pointed out earlier. But, it
will fire off of the 6v also. I've not really found a need for
the advance settings myself and generally setting the correct
point gap put's the dwell in the ball park. Only use I'd have
for that is to double check my gap or to check for any wear on
the cam, which I've never seen in any distributor yet.

This is probably the best way to introduce you to your new
timing light. Only takes a few minutes of your time:


dg

Thank you Denny. I'm thinking of exchanging this timing light for one without the dwell feature and save $80 since I have electronic ignition. Thanks again. All advice is helpful.

If you take it back, get a $12.99 vacuum gauge and you will be able to keep your stovebolt-six tuned just as well as the engines of those who fiddle with gauge/metered-timing to set to the timing mark on the flywheel (and, you can also nicely adjust the carburetor using the vacuum gauge).

Yes. The Vac gauge is something that Tim and Dads50 convinced me to get in listening to the posts on it. Turns out it was a very good idea.

Dennis, that 5568 is really a nice light, amazing in its capabilities, more functions than I know what to do with. If this truck is the only reason you will ever need a timing light, maybe it's overkill. I got it because I will be diagnosing many vehicles over time.

Thanks Deve. Yes, this is the only use for a timing light.

Only reason I bought mine in the first place was my Sun 6 volt
model X http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/161459570
and Sears Roger Penske timing light, which itself was
probably forty years old, crapped out on me and I figured
it's only a few bucks more to get one that would keep up
with technology and last me my remaining 27 years.

dg

Equus makes lower cost ones that still have that well made feel to them.