8 replies to this topic

[Big_Adam]

Morning ... ish.

A question. Would a timing light make doing the timing on my car easier? Currently I'm doing it by ear and gut instinct. So I assume a tool made for the job would help.

Just been looking at a Draper Timing Light for a silly cheap price. Was wondering if it is any good. Don't want to spend money on what is a reject disco light.

Just determined not to spend a large sum of money on rolling road. Well, unless I have to.

Also, I've forgoten to go to the bank.

Damn.

[dklawson]

Well, 14 GBP would be about $30 at the moment and that seems marginally OK for a plastic housed timing light. However, a timing light is a must-have item if you're going to change and/or experiment with your car's tuning.

My suggestion would be to start watching eBay and find a good, used, advance-type timing light. As more and more cars are set up for OBD diagnostics, fewer professional mechanics use external tune-up equipment. Watch the auctions for an "advance type timing light". These are the ones with adjustment knobs on the back. For performance tuning they are the BOM. They are more versatile than the one shown in your link. New, they will cost around $80 for a good one, I've bought NOS and used ones for around $20. (I've bought more than one off eBay as I've given them as gifts to friends).

Don't' be scared of plastic housings if they are from a name brand company. Over here... that would mean Snap-On, Mac, Cornwell, etc. I'm sure you have some comprable professsional tool brands in the U.K.

EDIT:
For reference, see this link and then click on ESI112 (chrome plated advance type timing light)
http://www.handsonto...Lights_218.html

You'll see quite a range of cost and function and you'll see why I suggest eBay for lower prices. Such as this auction...
http://cgi.ebay.com/...tem260219159706
which will not be of use to you in the U.K.... but is provided for reference.
The OTC lamp in the link below is VERY common. It was sold under many brand names. My biggest complaint with it is its very uncomfortable pistol grip and heavy weight.
http://cgi.ebay.com/...tem260217936697

Edited by dklawson, 11 March 2008 - 12:21 PM.

[Dan]

Adam, you CANNOT time an engine by ear. Nomatter how much experience you have. Buy a timing light. On the whole Draper tools are cheap because they are garbage but that one will at least work. You would be better off with one that has a built in tacho unless you have a tacho multimeter. I seem to remember that the Gunsons lamp with a tacho is sold at Halford for about the same price. I've checked their website and the only one on there is the metal bodied version but there are more available in store.

<edit> Sorry, didn't notice the discount. The Gunsons one will be about £40 - £50.

Edited by Dan, 11 March 2008 - 12:17 PM.

[lrostoke]

I'll just add I've got the timing light you linked to, and I've dropped it, knocked it etc and it stands up to abuse, and for just setting up the timing to a known setting it works fine.

[Big_Adam]

Adam, you CANNOT time an engine by ear.

Really? I just did it till I got the highest idle speed with no vac advance. Seemed to work for me...well bar the fuel drinking.

So, I want a timing and advance light? There's a snap on one on ebay going semi cheap at the moment so I might go for that.

Item number: 120231020350

So go for that then?

[dklawson]

So, I want a timing and advance light?

These aren't separate items: "timing and advance light". It's a timing light with advance. The link you posted to for the Draper part is for a fixed fire strobe. Every time the spark plug fires, the light fires the lamp, everything is synchronized to happen at the same time.

With an advance timing light the knob on the back is part of an additional timing circuit. The clamp you put around the #1 spark plug wire sends pulses back to the gun. Inside the gun the electronics look at the rate these pulses come in and determine the time between pulses. The electronics look at the knob on the back to see if you've turned it. Then, math happens. The electronics subtract a percentage of the time between spark plug firings and fire the strobe AHEAD of the next pulse (advance) according to where you set the knob. This is a must-have feature to check the operation of things like the centrifugal and vacuum advance of your distributor. It's also great if you want to set the maximum advance for your engine's ignition timing.

What you want in addition to the timing light is a simple dwell/tach. The dwell/tachs also sell for little money (used) these days. Ideally, while shopping for a dwell tach, look for one that uses an inductive pickup for the tach (just like the clamp on the timing light). The meter will still require a connection with clips to coil (-) to measure dwell. However, having the inductive pickup on the dwell meter means there will be no selector switches for the number of cylinders the engine has. (Fewer things to screw up).

The Snap-On light you've selected looks like it's had a productive life. Generally even used Snap-On tools are a safe bet... but this is eBay so Buyer Beware. The price is currently very attractive but every time I've looked at such items, last minute snipers run the price much higher.

[Big_Adam]

The clamp you put around the #1 spark plug wire sends pulses back to the gun.

Ooooow! That's what the hell that clamp if for! I wondered about that.

[dklawson]

As I suspected... two snipers battled it out in the last few minutes of the auction with the last bid being entered with 10 seconds to spare. It went from 15 GBP to 26 GBP in two minutes.

Keep watching for brand names you recognize and feel good about. Big brands like Snap-On will almost always command more money and there are lots of good alternate choices for those of us who aren't doing this sort of work for a living.

[Big_Adam]

...

That £26 was from me.



I now own (well, once I paid) a Snap On timing gun thingy. Yay!

Edit : And yes I do have a stupid ebay name. I set it ages ago.

Edited by Big_Adam, 11 March 2008 - 06:06 PM.