I see many people say their old dial back Craftsman timing light works with MDS ignition. I have one, all metal, at least 20 years old, and it doesn't do anything. Works fine on other cars. [censored]?

I have an msd timing light. It’s the only thing that worked on my msd unit. I don’t like the dial back units.

I have a red Craftsman, about 10 years old, dial back, seems to work and be accurate with MSD.

The old chrome Sears/Penske/Cratsman lights work. Inductive pick up. It was same as the original MSD light. Typically they can be found on ebay.

Or the modern light MSD sells. Or a Ferret 80 if you can find one.

No dial backs.

as I have several of them and they all work.

No guarantee but try hooking the light to a separate battery instead of the one in the car.

I bought a Flaming River light, since I also have an old dial-back Craftsman light. My complaint is it uses 2 D batteries and the light is very hard to see in the daytime.

I have an old Craftsman dial back that works fine with MSD ignitions that I keep in the garage.

I also do have a MSD brand timing light that I keep in the trailer as well.

I went through two of those and will not buy another!

(No guarantee but try hooking the light to a separate battery instead of the one in the car.) [/quote]

I agree this works on any timing light I've tried it on.

Yep a three volt light just isn't as bright as a 12 volt light but it is convenient and works with any ignition. I have an old non dial back Penske light if I need it.
Ever notice that no matter how carefully you put your 12 volt light away, when you take it back out the wires are always all tangled up?
How does that happen?

The dial back works fine with an analog MSD, you cannot use a dial back on any of the digital boxes. I bought a cheapo at Auto Zone (Innova?) for that. I have two Craftsman chrome dial backs, one Actron dial back, and the Innova...all read the same when checked back to back on the same car.

Trust me when I tell you………that when a dial back light starts showing erroneous readings…….it doesn’t give you any indication it’s doing so.

I have a 30-35 year old digital Matco light that works great with MSD
and anything else I used it on.

Improper mindset.
Think, "When I put it away with neat, coiled wires, I want these wires to become so intertwined and tangled that anybody that attempts to steal it, will be so frustrated they will return it right back where they found it".
Works every time for me.

MSD does a 12 volt light 8992 and they also have a light that uses 6 AAA batteries 8991. Haven't used the battery powered one to compare. These lights look just like the old Ferret lights that were (are) considered the best and these or the MSDs are the ones most usually seen in pro pits and engine shops. Also claimed to still be made in USA. Would not be surprised if Ferret still makes these for MSD.

MSD has always said dial back lights do not like multi spark ignitions. Most race engines use a fully degreed balancer, have the base timing locked out and timing set at idle. No need.

Trying to set full timing with a stock balancer, the engine reved up to 3k+, and dialing the mark back to line up with zero is not accurate as the electronics in the light fall behind resulting in false readings. As per an MSD tech long ago.

Gxt the parent company of Ferret went out of business in 2017. I wonder if anyone bought the timing light part of their business.

Many years ago I borrowed an expensive dial back light. It didn't agree with my non dial back Penske so I just handed it back and never felt the need to try another one.

Looks like a Ferret 80 to me.




On ebay right now...




I have one of these I bought like 45 years ago. Still works perfect. Bright.