Posted By: lahatte
What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 03:22 AM
I need to get a timing light for personal use. Any recomendations?
What timing light do you like?
Posted By: ahy
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 03:37 AM
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.
Posted By: roe
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 01:00 PM
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.
Posted By: babarracuda
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 01:51 PM
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.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 02:10 PM
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
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 02:30 PM
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.
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.
Posted By: floyd
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 02:43 PM
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
http://www.actron.com/product_detail.php?pid=16314
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 03:04 PM
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
web page
Posted By: buildanother
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 03:40 PM
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. 
It's cheap, but it does the job.
Posted By: rustbuckett68
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 03:45 PM
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?
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 03:55 PM
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.
Posted By: lahatte
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 06:14 PM
To be picky, it's a 'damper', not a "dampener". It doesn't make something wet.
Sorry, a pet peeve.
Sorry, a pet peeve.
Posted By: 540challenger
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 07:13 PM
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.
Posted By: justinp61
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 07:23 PM
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.
Posted By: can.al
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 07:54 PM
my equinox is digital, has dial back and displays rpm.
very nice to use
very nice to use
Posted By: BSB67
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 11:17 PM
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.
Posted By: ramairthree
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/22/11 11:21 PM
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.
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.
Posted By: WheelsUp73
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/23/11 12:07 AM
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.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/23/11 12:29 AM
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.
Posted By: RapidRobert
Re: What timing light do you like? - 09/23/11 03:05 PM
Quote:And here I was expecting a "thanks guys for the suggestions"
To be picky, it's a 'damper', not a "dampener". It doesn't make something wet.
. 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