The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest timing light

I am looking for recommendations for a decent timing light to replace my 30 year old Craftsman inductive unit. A professional mechanic suggested that it might be time to replace it since his Snap On unit and mine disagreed by 8 degrees when measuring initial advance at idle and by 14 degrees at full advance. My price range is around $100.00. Thank you.

Larry

what engine? how is it running with that amount of 'disagreement'?
if I had 2 tools disagreeing that much and the engine ran decently, I'd be wanting a 3rd opinion

Bill

The engine in question is the 258 in my CJ, but I used the timing light for my 57 Chevy 1/2 ton with a 235 as well, so I hope I'm sort of on topic. The reason the subject came up is that the Jeep wasn't running very well at all...no wonder, given how far the timing was out. So the Snap On light was accurate and my old light was not. It had been dropped and otherwise abused over the years by someone who will remain anonymous.

Bill,

I like the quotes in your sig...#2 is too true...

hahaha, you must buy the same kinda trucks I do!
and the topic being tools, can't really be off topic, I just was curious about an engine 8-14* out that would run!

well, if the old one looks to have been abused, back to the original question - I'd just run down to my local favorite tool place and buy what I could afford, I don't see any need for top dollar with things like that

Bill

Yeah. I am just looking for something that will be as accurate as my old one was when I got it back in 1978. It held up pretty well for 30 years or so, just like my marriage!

Larry,

If your local O'Reilly's Auto Parts will loan you one out of their loaner bin, take and check it against your trusty Craftsman and make sure it is truely off. Also, might be the way to go unless you use one a great deal. Just my .02.

Hank

Thanks...great idea. I do use a timing light fairly often doing tune ups on the family rigs and those of friends who claim to be mechanically deficient. Of course I leave my wife's Subaru alone, but anything with carbs and points I can deal with. I've even managed to swap in a TBI and HEI into the old CJ and it runs!

Larry

So, anyway...any ideas on particular brand names of timing lights? Thanks again.

Larry

I quit using timing lights years ago.
mostly due to the rubber on the harmonic balancer slipping.
My dad taught me how to use a vacuum gauge to set timing. Hook it up to manifold vacuum and set the carb idle mixture to around 18 inches,turn down the idle to 500rpm or so,turn the dist until you get the highest reading and back off 1or2 inches of vacuum.
This has worked on everything from a '47 ford 8n to my CJ7.

Thanks. I have done that before, but I sort of got out of practice. I'll try it.

Larry

I have an old Sun 6v timing light I never use if you're interested.

Quick question, does either timing light that you are using have an adjustment knob/switch? I would disregard the one with the adjustment if it had it.

The pro's Snap On unit had one.

Hey Tiny. When I get the 48 back together it will be 6 volts. I may ask you if I can borrow your timing light. Unless Dune (or somebody) can help me use my vacuum gauge to tune the 216.

Looks like the ownership of my old Sun unit is going to change. I'm currently in heated negotiations over price.

Here is good link,

http://automotivemileposts.com/garage/v2n8.html

I don't want to mess up Tinys deal, but the timing light does not have to be connected to the same battery that the truck is running. You can connect to another 12 v battery for the 6v system, kinda a timing light jump-start if you will.