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What timing light do you like? #1080094 09/21/11 11:22 PM 09/21/11 11:22 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 392 Mississippi lahatte OP enthusiast
lahatte OP enthusiast Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 392 Mississippi	I need to get a timing light for personal use. Any recomendations?

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: lahatte] #1080095 09/21/11 11:37 PM 09/21/11 11:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN A ahy master
ahy master A Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN	I have two. A Sears "dial back" and a Flaming River battery powered unit. The MSD ignition on my hot rod drives the Sears nuts. It jumps all over. No problem with the Flaming River and MSD. I like the MSD... and keep the Sears in reserve for non-MSD vehicles without degreed dampers or timing tape.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: ahy] #1080096 09/22/11 09:00 AM 09/22/11 09:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,344 Central TX roe master
roe master Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,344 Central TX	I got a cheapie from Autozone, dont even remember the brand. But I'm only working on my car, a daily driver, so I can get away with it. 1971 Plymouth Satellite 408/904 8 3/4 3.23 SG

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: roe] #1080097 09/22/11 09:51 AM 09/22/11 09:51 AM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,465 Carson City, NV B babarracuda pro stock
babarracuda pro stock B Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,465 Carson City, NV	Both me and my friend Tony have Sears dial back lights. We set timimg by toal and at 2500 the Sears works fine. I recommed that anyone with a performance motoer set by total timing. It's the only way to be sure of timing.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: lahatte] #1080098 09/22/11 10:10 AM 09/22/11 10:10 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Way back either Jacobs ignition or MSD I forget which did a test on regular (non dialback) lights & found that the Sears one (I forget the # but it was there std Penske model iirc) was the most accurate (probably was not MSD that did the test as they did not vote themselves #1). IMO I think dialbacks are a slight bit inaccurate (1/2-1 degree) but they are SO much fun to play with! To answer your Q I'd get a good deal on a name brand one on craigslist or eBay and for sure find exact TDC & what works for me is to do the math & use a micrometer to measure a strip of paper & use it as a ruler to make a dead on accurate new slit on the dampener with a hacksaw blade for initial/total (the main ones you need) then use the dailback to check the slope if needed. .0632683" is (1) degree and for example 2&1/4" is 35.5 degrees total live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: lahatte] #1080099 09/22/11 10:30 AM 09/22/11 10:30 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	The blue one in this picture is the best by far out all the timing lights I've tried over the years. It's bright and accurate and I use it with MSD mags. It makes the Flaming River one looks like a peice of junk. Now the Flaming River one is OK, not junk but nothing like the blue one. Mine say French Grimes on it but he don't make it. Now everyone needs a dial back one also and Sears have always worked good for me. I don't like how the Sears one has a plug in wire, it sucks. If you don't use MSD the Sears dial back would be my choice.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: Challenger 1] #1080100 09/22/11 10:43 AM 09/22/11 10:43 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,115 MD floyd master
floyd master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 4,115 MD	I bought one of these off Amazon last month. I needed one quick and it had decent reviews. It worked fine. http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16314

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: lahatte] #1080101 09/22/11 11:04 AM 09/22/11 11:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	This one sold by MSD is just like my blue one, MSD does not make it, but like I said. It's the best one, not the cheapest but the best. web page

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: lahatte] #1080102 09/22/11 11:40 AM 09/22/11 11:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa B buildanother I Live Here
buildanother I Live Here B Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 11,543 chicagoland,usa	I still got an old mac red plastic job, and I have the trigger wire tied so that it's flashing as soon as you hook it up. It's cheap, but it does the job.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: RapidRobert] #1080103 09/22/11 11:45 AM 09/22/11 11:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 656 Alberta R rustbuckett68 mopar
rustbuckett68 mopar R Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 656 Alberta	Is it a good idea to cut a slot in a balancer with a hacksaw? Wouldn't that cause a stress riser at 6000 RPM?

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: rustbuckett68] #1080104 09/22/11 11:55 AM 09/22/11 11:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: Is it a good idea to cut a slot in a balancer with a hacksaw? Wouldn't that cause a stress riser at 6000 RPM? Paint marker would be a much better idea.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: RapidRobert] #1080105 09/22/11 02:14 PM 09/22/11 02:14 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 392 Mississippi lahatte OP enthusiast
lahatte OP enthusiast Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 392 Mississippi	To be picky, it's a 'damper', not a "dampener". It doesn't make something wet. Sorry, a pet peeve.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: Challenger 1] #1080106 09/22/11 03:13 PM 09/22/11 03:13 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,826 NY usa 5 540challenger master
540challenger master 5 Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,826 NY usa	Quote: Quote: Is it a good idea to cut a slot in a balancer with a hacksaw? Wouldn't that cause a stress riser at 6000 RPM? Paint marker would be a much better idea. They also sell timing tape too.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: 540challenger] #1080107 09/22/11 03:23 PM 09/22/11 03:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 11,684 W. Kentucky justinp61 I Live Here
justinp61 I Live Here Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 11,684 W. Kentucky	I use a 1970s Sears, we bought it for my dad when I was younger. It's worked great on anything I've used it on. I've never had a dial back though, always used a degreed balancer or timing tape on one.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: justinp61] #1080108 09/22/11 03:54 PM 09/22/11 03:54 PM
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,274 Ontario.Canada C can.al pro stock
can.al pro stock C Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,274 Ontario.Canada	my equinox is digital, has dial back and displays rpm. very nice to use

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: justinp61] #1080109 09/22/11 07:17 PM 09/22/11 07:17 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA BSB67 master
BSB67 master Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,316 Prospect, PA	Quote: I use a 1970s Sears, we bought it for my dad when I was younger. It's worked great on anything I've used it on. I've never had a dial back though, always used a degreed balancer or timing tape on one. Same here. No problem with my MSD. Maybe the dial backs are better today, but I know several guys that had faulty dial-backs that caused them problems for quite a while before figuring it out.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: BSB67] #1080110 09/22/11 07:21 PM 09/22/11 07:21 PM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 251 USA R ramairthree enthusiast
ramairthree enthusiast R Joined: May 2011 Posts: 251 USA	I have a basic non-dial back cheapie from autozone. I use a paint marker on the damper slot and the factory markings, at least on my two project drivers. On my nicer driver I have the timing tape.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: Challenger 1] #1080111 09/22/11 08:07 PM 09/22/11 08:07 PM
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 369 California, USA!!! W WheelsUp73 enthusiast
WheelsUp73 enthusiast W Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 369 California, USA!!!	Quote: The blue one in this picture is the best by far out all the timing lights I've tried over the years. It's bright and accurate and I use it with MSD mags. It makes the Flaming River one looks like a peice of junk. Now the Flaming River one is OK, not junk but nothing like the blue one. Mine say French Grimes on it but he don't make it. Now everyone needs a dial back one also and Sears have always worked good for me. I don't like how the Sears one has a plug in wire, it sucks. The blue timing light in your pic is made in USA by Ferret Instruments and by far is one of the best timing lights made. http://youtu.be/fAP_2rxz_GA

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: WheelsUp73] #1080112 09/22/11 08:29 PM 09/22/11 08:29 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Quote: Quote: The blue one in this picture is the best by far out all the timing lights I've tried over the years. It's bright and accurate and I use it with MSD mags. It makes the Flaming River one looks like a peice of junk. Now the Flaming River one is OK, not junk but nothing like the blue one. Mine say French Grimes on it but he don't make it. Now everyone needs a dial back one also and Sears have always worked good for me. I don't like how the Sears one has a plug in wire, it sucks. The blue timing light in your pic is made in USA by Ferret Instruments and by far is one of the best timing lights made. When the brightest minds in racing are using one, you pay attention.

Re: What timing light do you like? [Re: lahatte] #1080113 09/23/11 11:05 AM 09/23/11 11:05 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Quote: To be picky, it's a 'damper', not a "dampener". It doesn't make something wet. And here I was expecting a "thanks guys for the suggestions" . As mentioned yes a thin straight mark with a permanent paint pen would be better than hacksawing a new slit(s) and the light with the built in tach are real handy especially when a person gets serious about dialing in their curve live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

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