Help I need Timing light instructions
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 221
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Help I need Timing light instructions
I borrowed a timing light that has a dial on the back to delay the light impulse, so you can tune the timing up to 36 degrees plus.
My timing is currently set at 10 degrees @ 600rpm and the dial on the light is set at zero. I played with the rpm's and found that at 2200rpm's the timing stops advancing. I assume this is the top of the curve on my centrifugal advance, with my vacum hose disconnected.
My first question is on this type of timing light. When checking the timing at 2200rpm's should the dial be set at 36 degrees and the timing mark lined up on zero marker?? Or is it 26 degrees on the light dial and the timing mark on the 10 degrees marker, like it was at idle??
This is driving me crazy! :crazy:
Thanks for any help you can offer
My timing is currently set at 10 degrees @ 600rpm and the dial on the light is set at zero. I played with the rpm's and found that at 2200rpm's the timing stops advancing. I assume this is the top of the curve on my centrifugal advance, with my vacum hose disconnected.
My first question is on this type of timing light. When checking the timing at 2200rpm's should the dial be set at 36 degrees and the timing mark lined up on zero marker?? Or is it 26 degrees on the light dial and the timing mark on the 10 degrees marker, like it was at idle??
This is driving me crazy! :crazy:
Thanks for any help you can offer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
Re: Help I need Timing light instructions (utahrookie)
To find out the degrees of advance at any RPM, set the RPM at the desired level, then turn the dial on the timing light until the mark on the balancer aligns with zero advance on the timing pointer. Whatever degree the dial pointer is aligned with (on back of the timing light) is your degrees advance at that RPM.
When you set the dial to zero, the light functions like a non-advance type light which requires you to use the timing tab or timing tape on the balancer to discover the degrees advance.
Mark
[Modified by mdsmith, 9:04 PM 9/4/2001]
When you set the dial to zero, the light functions like a non-advance type light which requires you to use the timing tab or timing tape on the balancer to discover the degrees advance.
Mark
[Modified by mdsmith, 9:04 PM 9/4/2001]
Drifting
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 1
From: Kirkland WA
Re: Help I need Timing light instructions (utahrookie)
I'm no expert, but actually you're right on both counts!
You can check what your timing is with an advance light several ways -- basically turn the dial up until the mark centers on "0" -- whatever it reads on your dial is what the timing's set. OR, as you noticed, you can do some simple addition. If you set the dial to 36, add or subtract whatever it reads on the mark from 36. If you set it to 36 and rev to 2200 and the mark reads -4, then your timing is set to 32 deg. If you set the timing to 36 and the mark reads +2, then you're at 38. Make sence? :confused:
You can check what your timing is with an advance light several ways -- basically turn the dial up until the mark centers on "0" -- whatever it reads on your dial is what the timing's set. OR, as you noticed, you can do some simple addition. If you set the dial to 36, add or subtract whatever it reads on the mark from 36. If you set it to 36 and rev to 2200 and the mark reads -4, then your timing is set to 32 deg. If you set the timing to 36 and the mark reads +2, then you're at 38. Make sence? :confused:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,361
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu Hawaii
Re: Help I need Timing light instructions (utahrookie)
Just use one reference point on your timing tab, the zero mark (the one with the deepest indent). Adjust the timing light **** so that the balancer mark is in line with the zero mark. Then stop shooting & look at what the resulting timing degree number is. If you know that you want 36 deg total and you got three hands, you can preset the **** and shoot for the zero mark while turning the distributor at 2200 rpm. Because I don't always have a helper, I just shoot what I have and do quick calculations to figure out how many degrees at idle I need to hit a total target number like 36 deg. Then I rotate the distributor at idle while shooting for the calculated mark. Once I hit the mark, I tighten down the distributor and check to see if I do hit my target at that rpm.
