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My old Sears timing light has finally given up the ghost and it's time to buy a new one. I'm thinking of getting one of the self-powered timing lights that doesn't need to be hooked up the car's battery. Seems awfully convenient and I also have old motorcycles, some are 6 volt and one doesn't have any battery at all! I thought maybe a self-powered timing light might be a good all-around device for me. I know the self-powered ones don't have all the advance and read-outs of the fancier timing lights, but my needs are pretty basic, and I have to use timing marks and degree wheels on some of my vehicles anyway.
Before I buy one, I thought I'd get advice from anybody with either positive or negative experience with such lights. Also like advice on the best models out there.
The only self-powered timing light I ever used had a neon lamp instead of the conventional xenon flash tube. It wasn't very bright. In fact, it was frustratingly dim.
If that's what is available in this day and age, my suggestion is to not bother. Get a real timing light that needs +12V power.
My dial back is probably 25 years old so I won't recommend a brand but I definitely recommend getting a dial back timing light. They are so much more versatile and informative that I would be lost without one. Being able to measure base timing only tells you little about your overall advance curve and I've tried to use timing tapes but always found they seemed to be printed slightly off-scale for the diameter balancer they were made for and half the time ended up peeling off after a few months.
I agree with Frankie. You may not use all of the available features but I would go with a modern day digital timing light. I have an old Sears Craftsman light from about 40 years ago which still works great but I just bought a Bosch Model CP7529 Dial Back timing light. Although you say that you only need the very basics it is still nice to have a light that does the basics and much more in case you ever need those capabilities. The newer lights also measure your rpm's and make it easier to set up your complete advance curve just in case you install a new distributor/a new vacuum cannister/new weights and springs etc. Just my 2 cents.
The newer lights also measure your rpm's and make it easier to set up your complete advance curve just in case you install a new distributor/a new vacuum cannister/new weights and springs etc. Just my 2 cents.
C.J.
And they are lot smaller than a SUN distributor machine.
The only thing one of those lights fail at, is they make you change weights and vac cans with the dizzy on the car , or you have to remove the dizzy each time you make change, vs leaving it on the SUN machine.
I've had a dial-back Actron CP-7519 light for many years - works great!
And that one is the one I use with three.........."hands"
Throttle with one hand, gun and trigger with the other and teeth to turn back to zero on the balancer
I have that one also. Works great but haven't resorted to using my teeth to adjust the dial. Also, on a BB car have to remember to not absent mindedly put the cable clamp over the braided shielding on the plug wires. Doesn't work too good that way.
Last edited by DansYellow66; Nov 27, 2019 at 07:44 AM.
This is the one I use, good for mechanical tachs and dial back feature and also comes with hard case. " Innova 5568 Pro Timing Light".
I have the Innova 5568a that looks a lot like the one in this picture, but with the model number 5568a. Even though the manual says that it operates on 10-16 volts, it has worked fine on m '54 with 6 volts, and it shows the voltage when running with the battery charging. It is very easy to use, and provides a lot of info.
The dial back Actron available almost anywhere is more than most hobbyists need.
After using a traditional timing light for 40 years, I finally purchased a dial-back Actron light a few years ago. I really like it.
Two comments about features:
1) I think it's worth paying a bit more for a dial-back light that has digital up/down buttons rather than a **** that has to be turned. This allows one-handed operation, which frees your other hand for moving the distributor or throttle.
2) My Actron display can only show advance OR rpm at any given time. When checking your mechanical advance curve, it is helpful to be able to see BOTH the advance and rpm at the same time. Some other brands of dial-back timing lights has this useful feature.
This is the one I use, good for mechanical tachs and dial back feature and also comes with hard case. " Innova 5568 Pro Timing Light".
This is what I have. I purchased it a couple years ago from Summit. Comes in a case that also has enough room for my vacuum gauge. The timing light housing is adjustable from straight to 90 degrees allowing it to fit in different tight spaces for best viewing. The leads can be unplugged making it easier to store and the light is very bright for my old, tired eyes.
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
If you are using a multi spark ignition like MSD6AL the simpler the timing light the better. If no multi spark then the sky is the limit. I think the LCD displays with all the gadgets like RPM, dial back and it even cleans the garage for you (kidding ) are pretty awesome. But I suspect they are a bit too sensitive for accurate use with multi spark ignitions.
Myself I feel the 12v powered by the cars battery is gonna make better light than a small bunch of dry cells and more reliable but some of the new LED technology is amazing as I'm replacing all my incandescent flashlights with LED - halogen too.
If you don't buy the iconic brands like SnapOn or NAPA you can probably buy 2 timing lights for under $100 and cover most ignitions while having a means to check your results.
I can assure you the Flaming River self powered is plenty bright. My engine builder who has a dyno recommended it to me and it works great. I have a CD box and also a dial back light and can confirm it is not reliable with the CD box.
I've had a Snap On dial back for 35 years. It's my favorite for sure but it stays at a friend's engine shop for dyno tuning bbecause it works great with every ignition we've used it on. I needed another one for convenience and I bought this Sun off of eBay. I think it was about $40 with shipping. Like new in the original box. Very happy with it.
Need new timing light
