Craftsman digital timing light3/28/2023 ![]() ![]() MSD offers a series of adhesive tapes for each popular balancer diameter which are accurate enough to use in lieu of a dial-back light. This can be done with a degreed balancer, but these are expensive. Plus, you may also want to know what the total mechanical advance is and at what rpm it occurs. If you want to set initial timing at something more than 10 or 12 degrees indicated on the tab using a traditional timing light, this becomes a guessing game. A does not mean advanced - in fact, “After” is the exact opposite. Sometimes the tab will be marked with a “B” for before and “A” for after. These tabs can also display timing after top dead center (ATDC). The tab will offer several hash marks indicating the number of degrees of timing before top dead center (BTDC). Most engines use a timing tab that is welded or bolted to the front timing chain cover. Upscale versions will also display battery voltage.īefore we get into how to use a dial-back light, we should run through why they are needed in the first place. The more sophisticated electronic dial-back lights offer a digital screen usually at the back of the gun that will display rpm and the amount of timing delayed. Original dial-back lights used a simple dial with a timing scale. These timing lights use electronics to delay the onset of the spark based on how much delay is dialed in on the light. The next level up from a basic timing light is what is called a dial-back light. The most common form of timing lights powered by a simple pair of clamps hooked to a 12-volt battery source. These lights use batteries in the body of the light that amplifies the signal from the inductive pickup on the plug wire. The simplest timing lights are self-powered. Timing lights can be described in a number of ways, so let’s go over that with a short description of each. All guns today use an inductive pickup that surrounds the plug wire and picks up the electro-magnetic energy that surrounds the plug as the voltage passes through the plug wire. ![]() Your grandfather might have one of those lying around his shop. In the old days, all timing lights used a small spring that fit between the spark plug and the plug wire that was connected by a clamp to send a high-voltage trigger to the light. That stroboscopic flash is intended to “freeze” the location of the timing mark on the harmonic balancer relative to a timing tab usually attached to the engine’s front timing chain cover. We’ll start with the basic light and then move on to the more sophisticated dial-back versions and how they function.Ī simple timing light is really nothing more than a stroboscope designed to flash when triggered by the spark from the engine’s Number One cylinder. Over the course of decades of technical writing, we’ve discovered that not everybody understands how a timing light functions and the insights it can offer on the state of your engine’s tune. ![]() ![]() Reason for edit: No reason given.It’s a sign of the times when late model engines with distributorless ignition systems (DIS) no longer require the services of the ubiquitous timing light.īut for the remainder of the performance world that does rely on distributors, a timing light is an essential tuning device. IF YOU CAN, YOU NEED BETTER TIRES AND YOUR SUSPENSION NEEDS MORE WORK!!Įdited by grumpyvette on 04-02-13 03:38 PM. IF YOU CAN,T SMOKE THE TIRES AT WILL,FROM A 60 MPH ROLLING START YOUR ENGINE NEEDS MORE WORK!!"! Love to fix it if I can.Īn ANALOG multi meter, with a swinging needle voltage indicator on a dial,Ĭonnected to both electric leads to the bulb while you try to use the the timing light should indicat by the needle on the dial bouncing that theres voltage reaching the bulb, if the bulb won,t flash its the bulb, if theres zero voltage indicated start back tracking until you find a fuse or break in the connections I'll add that the quality of construction was impressive inside were the handwritten initials (written in English) of the person who assembled it. I opened the metal (not plastic) case on it, and didn't see anything amiss. Does anyone know how would I check to see if the flash tube is bad, or if the problem is elsewhere? I checked on, and only the flash tube (and the decal) is available. I have a Model #161213400 Craftsman Inductive Timing Light which I've had since the 1980's. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |