roughskinjrz

well i tried to set the timing today, and to get the white line to line up with 0 on the balancer, the timing was set at 89-over 90 and i couldnt see if after that, because the timing light after 90 went to 0. i turned the distributor, and then it wouldnt start, i moved it the other way, and it would go higher over 90. what is wrong here, it seems to run alright at 89 or whatever, but i thought this was suppose to be at 12?

it is a brand new digital timing light.

roughskinjrz

ttt

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

you can't TTT if it's only been 2hrs, be patient, geez!

somethings wrong. What spark plug wire is your timing light clipped to? The one going to the #1 cylinder I hope?

ugh, digital, are the settings messed up at all?

Did you unplug the EST connector?

roughskinjrz

im sorry for being impatient.

i had it on number 1 spark plug no questions about that.

yeah its a digital, no i dont think its messed up it just has an LCD, shows me my RPM and what not.

what is EST connector, i have a carbureted motor remember.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

oops, mixed you up with someone else...
ok, old school setup, easier...

either the ring on the balancer has slipped (I think that's pretty rare), or....?

Try clamping the timing light onto different wires, until you find the one that's around ~10* or so... make note of that wire....


I've never used a digital timing light, (like with dial back and all that jazz), so maybe there's something else with it...?

roughskinjrz

well hopefully the ring hasnt slipped, i will try it on all 8 spark plugs until i get one that shows around 10 degress, what do i do say if its 3 or 7? whats the difference?

F-BIRD'88

Are we talking about a Equis brand digital timing Light from CTC?
Been known to have the chip inside "lock up" and give wild irronious timng. Read the instructions and make sure the settings are right # of cylinders etc. Othewise it is "locked up". Return it and get the cheaper dial back timing light with a NON DIGITAL dial on it. They work just fine.

Or buy the right Mr. Gasket balancer timing tape and use a conventional timing light.

Those cheapy digitial timing lights are junk.

roughskinjrz

yes equis from canadian tire.

really? it cost me 150$, ill bring it back for the 100$ one, the next tep down is like a dial i have to turn it, i hope its the timing light.

roughskinjrz

before i bring it back, above, about the ring slipping, how does that happen, and what IF that actually did happen?

do i just make a new white line to fix that?

id rather keep this LCD timing light, i just want to make sure its the light, i dont have another vehicle to test it out on.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

I bought a $30 plane jane one from C-tire. A $5 MSD timing tape, (which I really didn't need...) and I set it up... after the timing tape flew off, the timing was set, so I didn't worry about it... until I buy a balancer with the numbers on it, up to 60*...

roughskinjrz

yes i checked they have a cheapo 49$, 99$, and a 149$, i figured the LCD would be better, but i guess not, i will bring it back for the 99$, but i just wanted to make sure its the timing light and not my balancer.

i can say that turning the crank pulley by hand, well with a socket on the bolt, it felt like it slipped a couple times, i was wondering maybe i have to set it up again.

anyone tell me how to set it up maybe ill do that instead, and check before i bring back the timing light.

F-BIRD'88

trust me, its the light. balancers do not slip more than a few degrees if any.

You don't want a light that is not going to work. Even when they do work, they suck.
the $99 dial type advance light works very well and will do every thing you need a timing light to do.

The Digital light is junk. Been thru this before with a few friends. Take it back and get the $99 advance light at CTC.

Trust me you won't be the only one returning this junk timing light. There may even be a line up at the service counter

If you just got to have a mechanics tach. They sell a separate tach/dwell meter that is about $30.

If you ever see a digiital caliper guage for sale, pass on it and get the one with a good old mechanical dial. These cheap digital calipers are also junk.

roughskinjrz

sounds good man, tomorrow morning i will be getting the 99$ dial timing light, i was worried about why the hell my timing was above 90, i was surprised it fired up.

i will let you know what happens.

Dialed_In

iTrader: (3)

My Matco digital light took a dump on me a while ago while I was at the track so I sent it back for credit and got an MSD light. Always use the same light and never loan it out, especially if you're a bracket racer. A different light can be off by just a hair compared to the first one. If you loan it out and they drop it or misuse it, it'll lose it's accuracy.