|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: 408strokerdart]
#309580
05/06/09 08:24 AM
05/06/09 08:24 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
|
Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
|
Quote:
I tried to put my timing light on the engine last night just to pull the trigger to get nothing. It is a self powered unit so I threw in new batteries...still nothing. This timing light has been used exactly 2 times and is always properly stored. Flaming river junk!
So, what does everyone else use for timing lights? I prefer self powered since I really don't have an easy to access power terminal. Also, do all of them work with multi spark MSD? Let me know what you are using and why since I guess I am in the market for a new one.
WOW, I love my Flaming River 1001 unit, I'm not all
that easy on it and its never given me any problem.
Dont get a dial back unit... MSD and them dont get
along to well... I guess its the multi spark
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#309581
05/06/09 08:29 AM
05/06/09 08:29 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
408strokerdart
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
|
Quote:
Quote:
I tried to put my timing light on the engine last night just to pull the trigger to get nothing. It is a self powered unit so I threw in new batteries...still nothing. This timing light has been used exactly 2 times and is always properly stored. Flaming river junk!
So, what does everyone else use for timing lights? I prefer self powered since I really don't have an easy to access power terminal. Also, do all of them work with multi spark MSD? Let me know what you are using and why since I guess I am in the market for a new one.
WOW, I love my Flaming River 1001 unit, I'm not all
that easy on it and its never given me any problem.
Dont get a dial back unit... MSD and them dont get
along to well... I guess its the multi spark
I am surprised as well Mr. P, but I am frustrated that it is old enough I can't get exchange and am simply out my cash after only a couple of uses and taking good care of it. I don't want a dial back.....don't really need one. Did I just get a bad one?
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#309584
05/06/09 08:46 AM
05/06/09 08:46 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
408strokerdart
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
|
Quote:
I am surprised as well Mr. P, but I am frustrated that it is old enough I can't get exchange and am simply out my cash after only a couple of uses and taking good care of it. I don't want a dial back.....don't really need one. Did I just get a bad one?
Does the flash light portion work? I would say you
were unlucky and got a bad one. I also have the issue
of getting power so thats why I bought that one, plus
it was pretty cheap when I got it and the first thing
I thought of at that price was "this cant be very
good" but I was way wrong
No part of it works. I checked the batteries and the bulbs.
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: 408strokerdart]
#309586
05/06/09 08:53 AM
05/06/09 08:53 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 603
Central Oregon
Rodney
mopar
|
mopar
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 603
Central Oregon
|
I understand your frustrations, I used the light we bought from the parts store {don't remember the brand} used it on a couple engines, was going to check the timing on the GTX last weekend and the dial back failed to work. I borrowed an old Craftsman dial back and it worked perfectly. Can these high energy MSD ignitions be toasting something in the lights  I've been through several lights in the past few years..
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: RonP]
#309587
05/06/09 08:59 AM
05/06/09 08:59 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
408strokerdart
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
|
Quote:
I don't think those lights are really built that well, but I do like mine. Because they are built somewhat cheaply, I would look at the solder connections inside. I am not sure how familiar you are with electronics, but I had to fix one for a friend twice. it could just be a broken connection. Worth looking into before you toss it.
Good point Ron. I will give it an electrical autopsy before throwing it.
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: 408strokerdart]
#309588
05/06/09 09:00 AM
05/06/09 09:00 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
|
Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
|
I've owned 3 timing lights in my LIFE, 1 was the chrome Craftmans or Snap-on(cant remember) from back in my dealership days about 40 years ago, a flat looking thing with a swivel head that I got from Jegs about 4 years ago... thats a piece of crap, that one was used (tried to use 1 time)and my current Flaming River
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: RonP]
#309589
05/06/09 09:01 AM
05/06/09 09:01 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,547
State College, PA
RyanJ
moparts member
|
moparts member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,547
State College, PA
|
Brian here is one I use on dyno at Riders: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail...mp;autoview=skuMSD #8991 Self Powered.... It reads dead on against my older Craftsman non dial back that I use at the shop. I have seen some variation in readings between other lights before, especially dial backs.... I just set timing on an alum 360" W9 dirt motor a few weeks ago at a guys shop & did not bring my light.... had to use the owners MAC Dial back & it was not happy operating at low engine speeds with the MSD. Mostly it would'nt light, & then when it would it was giving off double signals etc. At higher RPM it worked "so so" Never had those issues with the non Dial back stuff. If I was buying a new one today it would be the MSD after using it & about 10 other brands including snap on/mac/flaming river/craftsman in past 5+ years, I like it best.
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: Rodney]
#309591
05/06/09 10:05 AM
05/06/09 10:05 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
408strokerdart
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
|
Quote:
MSD sell a light!
Should be designed for their ignition systems.
powered internally, that's good
200 dollars Ouch!
I'm ordering one
a one year warranty is good.
I am sure that MSD doesn't make their own lights. There is one on E-bag that looks identical to the MSD light, takes the same 6 batteries, same clamp for the plug wire, etc. Just doesn't have the MSD label/sticker on it. If someone has the MSD unit, please chime in and tell if there is anything distinguishing this light as built in house. The one on the bag is $89 which would fall right in line with MSD's 100% mark up.
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: RyanJ]
#309592
05/06/09 12:13 PM
05/06/09 12:13 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
408strokerdart
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
|
Quote:
Brian here is one I use on dyno at Riders: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail...mp;autoview=sku
MSD #8991 Self Powered....
It reads dead on against my older Craftsman non dial back that I use at the shop. I have seen some variation in readings between other lights before, especially dial backs....
I just set timing on an alum 360" W9 dirt motor a few weeks ago at a guys shop & did not bring my light.... had to use the owners MAC Dial back & it was not happy operating at low engine speeds with the MSD. Mostly it would'nt light, & then when it would it was giving off double signals etc. At higher RPM it worked "so so" Never had those issues with the non Dial back stuff.
If I was buying a new one today it would be the MSD after using it & about 10 other brands including snap on/mac/flaming river/craftsman in past 5+ years, I like it best.
Does the MSD light have both a normal and reserve power button by chance?
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: 408strokerdart]
#309593
05/06/09 12:35 PM
05/06/09 12:35 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,547
State College, PA
RyanJ
moparts member
|
moparts member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,547
State College, PA
|
Quote:
Quote:
Brian here is one I use on dyno at Riders: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail...mp;autoview=sku
MSD #8991 Self Powered....
It reads dead on against my older Craftsman non dial back that I use at the shop. I have seen some variation in readings between other lights before, especially dial backs....
I just set timing on an alum 360" W9 dirt motor a few weeks ago at a guys shop & did not bring my light.... had to use the owners MAC Dial back & it was not happy operating at low engine speeds with the MSD. Mostly it would'nt light, & then when it would it was giving off double signals etc. At higher RPM it worked "so so" Never had those issues with the non Dial back stuff.
If I was buying a new one today it would be the MSD after using it & about 10 other brands including snap on/mac/flaming river/craftsman in past 5+ years, I like it best.
Does the MSD light have both a normal and reserve power button by chance?
Yes it does have Normal & reserve buttons.... Post a link to the ebay auction maybe I need one as well  My Craftsman works great but still uses power & ground leads which can be a pain.
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: RyanJ]
#309594
05/06/09 12:39 PM
05/06/09 12:39 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,528
Mansfield, Tx
Jacob Pitt
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,528
Mansfield, Tx
|
I use a Matco light. It has two read outs one shows you engine rpm, and the other is timing advance. It is adjustable down to the .10. Works really good, but is hard to get if you don't know a Matco dealer.
2013 NHRA D4 Stock Champ
#4 in the World IHRA Stock
2x IHRA Div.4 Stock Champ
14x Track Champ
All using a Ultimate Converter Concepts converter. Call Lenny today 704-892-6837
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: RyanJ]
#309595
05/06/09 01:47 PM
05/06/09 01:47 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
408strokerdart
OP
master
|
OP
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,456
Out West
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Brian here is one I use on dyno at Riders: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail...mp;autoview=sku
MSD #8991 Self Powered....
It reads dead on against my older Craftsman non dial back that I use at the shop. I have seen some variation in readings between other lights before, especially dial backs....
I just set timing on an alum 360" W9 dirt motor a few weeks ago at a guys shop & did not bring my light.... had to use the owners MAC Dial back & it was not happy operating at low engine speeds with the MSD. Mostly it would'nt light, & then when it would it was giving off double signals etc. At higher RPM it worked "so so" Never had those issues with the non Dial back stuff.
If I was buying a new one today it would be the MSD after using it & about 10 other brands including snap on/mac/flaming river/craftsman in past 5+ years, I like it best.
Does the MSD light have both a normal and reserve power button by chance?
Yes it does have Normal & reserve buttons.... Post a link to the ebay auction maybe I need one as well My Craftsman works great but still uses power & ground leads which can be a pain.
I don't have the e-bay auction number, but it is a Ferret brand Model 81. Look at www.ferretinstruments.com I think this is the one that MSD is "rebranding" as their own.
|
|
|
Re: Junk Timing Lights?
[Re: Jacob Pitt]
#309597
05/06/09 02:23 PM
05/06/09 02:23 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 603
Central Oregon
Rodney
mopar
|
mopar
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 603
Central Oregon
|
Well the matco guy just drove up so I got the 300 $ model with RPM. he said last year they were around 250$  I can give it back If It doesn't work out for us.
|
|
|
|
|
alwys have.
