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Good hand-held timing light/tach combo.

Posted By: hemi68charger

Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/24/14 10:22 PM

As the Subject states; any good hand-held timing light/tach combos I can use with my MSD unit?

Cheers,
Troy
Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/24/14 11:31 PM

I was thinking of an Equus light with built in tach till I got to the MSD part. Not sure if that'd be a dealbreaker but here's a BTT for ya
Posted By: fourgearsavoy

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 04:00 AM

You know I always read about MSD ignitions not playing well with their timing lights. I use a Snap-On digital with my MSD 6AL all the time without any trouble at all.
My digital timing light has a built in tach and I can also dial in how much advance I'm looking for.
Their not cheap though I think I paid about $350 for it 15 years ago
Gus

Attached picture 8218910-frontveiwsavoy.jpg
Posted By: Sxrxrnr

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 09:15 AM

I run a 6520 MSD and companion distributor on our Challenger and same on another car. Use this timing light for over 1 year. Works well, I like the built in advance monitoring system very much. Can provide both initial and total advance readings very easily and accurately. This in spite of warning on MSD ignition systems.

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-5568-Pro-Ti...va+timing+light
Posted By: skicker

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 01:31 PM

Quote:

You know I always read about MSD ignitions not playing well with their timing lights. I use a Snap-On digital with my MSD 6AL all the time without any trouble at all.
My digital timing light has a built in tach and I can also dial in how much advance I'm looking for.
Their not cheap though I think I paid about $350 for it 15 years ago
Gus





word for word...as previously stated they aren't cheap.
Posted By: therocks

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 02:52 PM

Gus I have the Snap On light also.Works with my MSD setup.Mine was like 200 bucks years ago.I wonder what they cost now.I still have to make a trip down and drop off my air chisel so you can get a price on rebuilding it.Might be cheaper to get another one.I sure miss it.Rocky
Posted By: Supercuda

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 02:59 PM

Quote:

Gus I have the Snap On light also.Works with my MSD setup.Mine was like 200 bucks years ago.I wonder what they cost now.I still have to make a trip down and drop off my air chisel so you can get a price on rebuilding it.Might be cheaper to get another one.I sure miss it.Rocky




http://store.snapon.com/Timing-Lights-Timing-Light-Digital-Tach-Advance-P651145.aspx

Looks like $354
Posted By: therocks

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 04:41 PM

Mine was under 200 when I bought it.Lent it to a guy at work and he melted the lead.Boy was I POed.It was only like a month old.New lead and its been flawless in over 20 years.One reason I keep my box locked even though its home and Im retired.Rocky
Posted By: Jwilli500

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/25/14 07:29 PM

Clicked on the Snapon link above and under "specifications" it lists country of origin as CHN. Surely that doesn't mean China right?
Posted By: Crazy68Dart

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/26/14 03:07 AM

I have a Craftsman dial back timing light... seems to work fine with the 6AL. Wish it had a tach, though!
Posted By: jbeintherockies

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/26/14 04:26 PM

I have a full MSD ignition (6AL, blaster coil, distributor) on my barracuda and I use this timing light with no issues:

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3568-Digita...al+Timing+Light

Here is their web-site's QA on multiple spark usage:
http://innova.com/en-US/Product/Detail/92c55edb-d0fb-445d-96c5-7a53f73eaad1

Since the multiple spark ignition systems are electronic ignitions, I guess their answer is yes.
Posted By: dwayne welder

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/27/14 05:17 PM

Hello All! I collect and sell the old, "SEARS PENSKE" timing light's! Non dial back! If you use any other timing light, you need to rev engine past 3,000 rpm to set timing!! Because the MSD ignition fire's the plug, 3 time's in 20 degrees at idle! If your timing light doe's not pick up the first fire your total timing will be off!!! With the dial back and up timing light's they may pick up who now's what signal!!!
Posted By: therocks

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/27/14 06:44 PM

I set mine with my SnapOn and its where its supposed to be.My old Craftsman dial back worked on it also.I think the bulb burnt out as its 40 years old now.Rocky
Posted By: jbeintherockies

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/28/14 04:09 AM

Summit racing advertises the Innova digital timing light as multiple-spark compatible:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ino-3568/overview/


On the MSD website, I found this thread on the subject, dating back to November 2011:

http://www.msdignition.com/forum/archive/index.php?t-17398.html


It is now July 2014. I bought my timing light in November 2012 and I have never observed my Innova 3568 TL wigging out at low RPM. Maybe they addressed any issues with msd type ignitions at lower RPM? I will call them tomorrow to find out for sure.
Posted By: hemi68charger

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/28/14 05:06 AM

Quote:

... I will call them tomorrow to find out for sure.




That's just what I was going to do as well tomorrow. I got to thinking, "why not call the manufacture of the ignition system I have in the car?" Duh..........
Posted By: jbeintherockies

Re: Good hand-held timing light/tach combo. - 07/28/14 03:50 PM

Just got off of the phone with Innova support and they said "no, none of our innova products support multiple-spark ignition systems."

Also, their "FAQs" section for the Innova 5568 (as apposed to the 5368 that I have) states "Our timing lights will only work on conventional breaker point, electronic ignition systems, or with DIS (distributorless ignition systems). Some DIS systems are not adjustable. Consult the vehicle's service manual for procedures and specifications before attempting to time vehicles with DIS systems."

Next I called Summit's tech line and asked them why Innova says their lights are not compatible with msd but Summit's website says they are. The tech guy informed me that their advertising department handles that aspect of their websites. He then spent some time to identify a timing light that states in the manufacturer's documentation that it is compatible with msd. The only one he could find was the Flaming River timing light, model FR1001.

I guess I need to buy a different timing light to set my initial timing.
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