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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: MileHighDart]
#1594893
03/18/14 06:44 PM
03/18/14 06:44 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,161
CT
GTX MATT
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,161
CT
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If you set the dial to 0 it operates like a normal like. Set it to 30 (or whatever number), and now whenever you 0 the timing on the harmonic balancer you will have 30 degrees of timing at that RPM.
Make sense?
Now I need to pin those needles, got to feel that heat
Hear my motor screamin while I'm tearin up the street
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: GTX MATT]
#1594894
03/18/14 06:59 PM
03/18/14 06:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,138
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,138
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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Especially usefull on balancers that do not have timing marks where you need them or wehre the line gets blocked by the alternator or some other engine component.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: MileHighDart]
#1594895
03/18/14 07:07 PM
03/18/14 07:07 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick
Still wishing...
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Still wishing...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
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They usually have a knob on them that you dial your desired advance to. Say you want 18 BTDC initial so you dial 18 and point it at the mark and if it is at 18 it will show the pointer at ZERO or TDC. If not not you adjust the dist until it is. Same with total. Set the dial to say 36 BTDC, rev it up to whatever rpm max timing is, say 3000 RPM and if the pointer is on zero you're golden and if it's off adjust accordingly. It takes all the guess work out trying to figure out which mark is which. Just so you know if your initial is where you want it but the total isn't, changing one changes the other. Confused yet?  Kevin
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: Twostick]
#1594896
03/18/14 07:15 PM
03/18/14 07:15 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,138
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
RoadRunner
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,138
East Aurora (Buffalo) NY
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I'm not sure if this is still true, but I do recall being warned that some dial backs do not like to work right with MSD or other multi spare ignitions. I am not sure if it was model or manufacturer of timing light that was the issue, age of device, or general design. I have used mine and compared the settings with my non dial back and it seems to work fine with my MSD 6AL.
68 Road Runner (383/4speed, post car w/decor pkg) - Major Project
69 Road Runner w/472 Hemi & 4 speed.
70 Challenger R/T SE EF8 w/ V9J, U - A32 - Major Project
2023 Ford Mach 1
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: MileHighDart]
#1594898
03/18/14 07:27 PM
03/18/14 07:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,010
Sac, CA
mopowers
master
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master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,010
Sac, CA
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Quote:
So then to find out what my total timing is, I could rev the engine up until the timing stopped advancing, turn the dial on the light till the timing mark on the balancer is at 0, and then the number showing on the dial is my total?
Correct ?
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: MileHighDart]
#1594899
03/18/14 07:30 PM
03/18/14 07:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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Quote:
So then to find out what my total timing is, I could rev the engine up to 2500 or so rpm, turn the dial on the light till the timing mark on the balancer is at 0, and then the number showing on the dial is my total?
Correct ?
Yes correct. 
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: mopowers]
#1594900
03/18/14 07:38 PM
03/18/14 07:38 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
Twostick
Still wishing...
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Still wishing...
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,562
Downtown Roebuck Ont
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Quote:
Quote:
So then to find out what my total timing is, I could rev the engine up until the timing stopped advancing, turn the dial on the light till the timing mark on the balancer is at 0, and then the number showing on the dial is my total?
Correct ?
This is more technically correct even if you KNOW what total mechanical advance is built into your distributor and at what RPM it maxes out.
Kevin
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: MileHighDart]
#1594903
03/19/14 01:54 AM
03/19/14 01:54 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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A working/functioning dialback for $15, man jump on that. Prior posts have explained how to use it. You dont need the box or the instructions. As said they dont play well with MSD's & in my experience they can be off up to a degree & I ain't sure if that is because they operate on a specific time delay & I ain't sure what diameter of balancer they are calibrated for & if the different makes' of balancer diameters are enough larger or smaller in dia to skew it since the marks will go farther in the same length of time on a larger dia dampener or if there is another issue but 1 deg ain't terrible. I prefer to find exact TDC with the 10 dollar tool in the plug hole then measure/mark (4) paint slits on the dampener: 10-15-20 and my total (35 or 38) assuming the OE TDC slit is accurate & if it ain't then I make a new long one for it all the way across for (5) total. I cut a strip of newspaper & use it as a ruler cuz it is flexible & easily goes around the dampener & .0632683" is 1 degree around the circumference & use my calipers to mark it, ie 2&7/32" is 35 & 1/2 deg. Aside from all that distraction I LOVE my dialback, it's a fun toy
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1594904
03/19/14 02:23 PM
03/19/14 02:23 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 965
S.W. Pennsylvania
markrr
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 965
S.W. Pennsylvania
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Quote:
Aside from all that distraction I LOVE my dialback, it's a fun toy
What make and model dialback do you have?
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: markrr]
#1594905
03/19/14 10:01 PM
03/19/14 10:01 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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It's a Sears chrome dialback unit from the early 80's & I recently got careless & let the plug in cord burn on the ex manifold. Sears cannot find me a replacement cord without the timing light model number but there is NO number on it (I looked 3 times). I even opened it up & no number on the inside just some casting numbers on the inside of several of the cheap chrome large housing pieces. It says "Craftsman professional timing analyzer" on the side. EDIT This one
Last edited by RapidRobert; 03/19/14 11:30 PM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: RapidRobert]
#1594907
03/20/14 12:38 AM
03/20/14 12:38 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,138
tucson az
frank
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,138
tucson az
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Quote:
It's a Sears chrome dialback unit from the early 80's & I recently got careless & let the plug in cord burn on the ex manifold. Sears cannot find me a replacement cord without the timing light model number but there is NO number on it (I looked 3 times). I even opened it up & no number on the inside just some casting numbers on the inside of several of the cheap chrome large housing pieces. It says "Craftsman professional timing analyzer" on the side. EDIT This one
Robert that looks exactly like my timing light. I purchased back in 80's also. Model # 161.219400.
According to the owners manual (yes I still have it) pick up and cable assembly P/N 38-739
Hope this helps
Frank
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: frank]
#1594908
03/20/14 12:48 AM
03/20/14 12:48 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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Yes Frank it definitely does as I want to keep using it if the cord ain't too expensive from Sears. Thank you much. I'll call sears with your number. EDIT Went online & it is NS1, maybe another type will fit since it is the plug wire clamp that got burnt, the "sensor" that picks up the plug wire flashes & I can easily splice the wires if that'll take care of it if I can find one
Last edited by RapidRobert; 03/20/14 02:27 AM.
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Re: Can someone explain a "dial back timing light"?
[Re: 383man]
#1594911
03/20/14 11:39 AM
03/20/14 11:39 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert
Circle Track
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Circle Track
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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Ron your pic reminds me, the next one I get will have a tach in it
live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
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Chit will melt real fast that way... 
