{Timing Light} How does this thing work?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,606
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{Timing Light} How does this thing work?
Just received my "new" Craftsman Advance Timing Light from E-Stink. I have Lars paper on timing, but not sure how/when to use the advance dial on the light. Can anyone 'splain in English?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
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From: Austin Texas
Make sure your groove in the balancer is painted white so you can see it easily. Hook up to #1 cylinder, start engine. Set **** on zero and while looking at pointer and balancer, rotate the **** clockwise. When the painted line on the balancer is lined up with "0" on the timing tab, look at the timing light dial. That is your current timing. To set the initial timing, unplug vacuum advance and plug the open line. Repeat above procedure. When the painted line is on "0", that is static timing. Checking mechanical advance and total advance is similar, just not as easy to do with 1 person...not enough hands... 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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OK. That's simple enough...
Another question: I installed a "timing tape" on my balancer, lining up the "0" on the tape with the groove in the balancer. Is that correct? If this is correct, does this change anything as far as reading the timing setting?
Another question: I installed a "timing tape" on my balancer, lining up the "0" on the tape with the groove in the balancer. Is that correct? If this is correct, does this change anything as far as reading the timing setting?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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Likes: 5
Originally Posted by big_G
Well, IMO, the advance timing light negates the need for a timing tape. My balancer is an SFI type, with 360 markings, I just use the groove. 
Thanks again!
