Need advise on timing light purchase

Posted By: Ramrod39

Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/28/13 06:04 AM

Well, my Snap-On dial back timing light has bought the farm. I need to replace it. I don't wrench professional anymore, probably don't need a high end light. What are you guys having good results with?

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/28/13 06:55 AM

Quote:

Well, my Snap-On dial back timing light has bought the farm. I need to replace it. I don't wrench professional anymore, probably don't need a high end light. What are you guys having good results with?

Is that light one of the lifetime warrenty ones

I thought all Snap On had a lifetime warrenty

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/28/13 02:51 PM

I just got one off of CL for $5. I find true TDC then mark the dampener with white paint at 10-15-20-35-38 BTDC & .0632683" is (1) degree. Works fine. I measure that distance on a strip of paper & use it as a ruler around the dampener. But with that being said dial backs are sooo much fun to play with. Way back Jacobs ign did an extensive test on various brands of lights & came to the conclusion that the basic sears craftsman light (non dialback) was a very good one but craftsman quality has declined remarkably down thru the years. If I was to get a good one I'd want a digital dialback with a tach (equus?)

Posted By: 62maxwgn

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/28/13 02:53 PM

Quote:

Well, my Snap-On dial back timing light has bought the farm. I need to replace it. I don't wrench professional anymore, probably don't need a high end light. What are you guys having good results with?

I'll take your old one !!!!!!!!

Seriously,take the end apart and make sure the ground wire isn't broken,common with a lot of use !

Posted By: dogdays

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/28/13 05:49 PM

Never throw a Snap-On away!

R.

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/29/13 05:48 AM

been using this one the last few years, works great:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/equ-5568/overview/

They make these with a few less features at a slightly lower cost.

I had an older chrome dial-back with the dial on the back, but it did not work very good with the MSD.

Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/29/13 07:14 AM

I bought a battery powered Flaming River to use on the race cars and dyno tuning with the MSD 7 race boxes

I do have several of the older Craftsmen dial back lights but I hardly use them now, especially on the race MSD boxes do to killing many of them when Sears still honored the lifetime warrenty on all Craftsmen tools

Posted By: BTTG

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/29/13 11:04 AM

$30 cheaper at amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Equus-5568-Pro-Tim...ing+Lights+5568

I have this one and like it a lot.

Posted By: pjc360

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:08 PM

I bought an actron digital timing light, got it for 65 bucks and have been pretty pleased with it, altho i do wish the leads were detachable. I also have a dial back kal-equip light that has done well for me but the digital actron and the dial back kal-equip light read different, they are 2 degrees off from each other.
I need to get a thrid light and see what it says so i can compare it to my two lights.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:20 PM

Quote:

but the digital actron and the dial back kal-equip light read different, they are 2 degrees off from each other.

That's disheartening & that's what Jacobs' was saying that a lot of lights ain't accurate. 2 degrees error is way more than I'd be comfortable with

Posted By: 5spdcuda

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:30 PM

I have a Craftsman dial back that I bought several years ago that seems to work fine with my Crane CD ignition.

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:35 PM

I bought the standard non-dial back Actron because I thought my Craftsman dial back (or more accurately Dad's Craftsman dial back) was a little bit off. They read exactly the same, but its nice to have two now I guess.

Posted By: pjc360

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:36 PM

Yes, i dont like the 2 degrees difference ether. I just time it with my kal-equip light wich is the light that reads 2 degrees lower then the new actron just to be safe, my friend has a nice light that he said i can use, i just need to cruise over to his place and hook his light up and see if his light matches one of mine.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:52 PM

Quote:

Yes, i dont like the 2 degrees difference ether. i just need to cruise over to his place and hook his light up and see if his light matches one of mine.

Post what happens

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 05:54 PM

I know you said you don't need a top of the line light.
Just so guys know, I have used all these lights plus several others at work.
The blue one in my picture is by far the best light on the market. It is used by all the pro teams with MSD ignitions because it is the most accurate period.

Mine say's "French Grimes" on it and MSD sells a red one just like it. It cost 157 bucks and there's reason it's cost more. It's not a dial back, most race engines have a decreed crank hub on them.

Summit, Jegs sell them. It's the best just so you know.

web page

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 06:11 PM

Quote:

I know you said you don't need a top of the line light.
Just so guys know, I have used all these lights plus several others at work.
The blue one in my picture is by far the best light on the market. It is used by all the pro teams with MSD ignitions because it is the most accurate period.

Mine say "French Grimes" on it and MSD sells a red one just like it. It cost 159 bucks and there's reason it's cost more. It's not a dial back, most race engines have a decreed crank hub on them.

Summit, Jegs sell them. It's the best just so you know.

web page

Why do you say its the best, because of the pro teams using them or something else? I have an MSD setup going in my car and was considering buying MSD's light, but its not cheap. I don't really trust the other lights that claim to work with MSD though, so I'm curious.

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 06:21 PM

It has the strongest, crispest, fastest light that is very clear to see even in bright sunlight. And it is not affected by even a 44 amp mag and does not retard at higher RPMs.

And because I have used them all like I said and it's way better.

The flaming river one is the weakest, by far even with fresh battery's in it.

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 06:46 PM

Quote:

It has the strongest, crispest, fastest light that is very clear to see even in bright sunlight. And it is not affected by even a 44 amp mag.

And because I have used them all like I said and it's way better.

The flaming river one is the weakest, by far even with fresh battery's in it.

So is the MSD one legitimately the same but a different color and says MSD? Do you remember where you bought they one you've got? Are the pro teams using one identical to yours or are they using the MSD lights, or either or?

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 06:50 PM

I bought mine from French Grimes like 20 years ago when I was running his mags. Someone else makes it and MSD sells it, that must tell you something about it.

And yes the red one MSD sells is the same as the one I have.

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/30/13 06:51 PM

Quote:

I bought mine from French Grimes like 20 years ago when I was running his mags. Someone else makes it and MSD sells it, that must tell you something about it.

And yes the red one MSD sells is the same as the one I have.

Cool thanks, I guess I'll drop the coin on it then

Posted By: Ramrod39

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/31/13 04:14 AM

Do some lights have problems with MSD ignitions?

Posted By: GTX MATT

Re: Need advise on timing light purchase - 05/31/13 06:13 AM

Quote:

Do some lights have problems with MSD ignitions?

Yes, I don't know which lights are verified to work well and which aren't though, just that some wont read correctly.