What brand manufacturers offer automotive timing lights?Īutomotive timing lights come in three styles: inductive, digital, and self-powered. Not every timing light is compatible with MSD systems, so be sure to check that the one you want can meet these requirements before purchasing. To properly measure this sequence, the timing light must be able to show the beginning of the sequence. Typically, the distributor only provides a single spark for an ignition sequence, but in MSD systems, there are a series of them disbursed at a specific timing. How do timing lights help multiple spark distribution systems (MSD)? Units with a dwell meter measure for how long the coil is being charged and allow for prevention of pitting or burning due to an accurately set point gap.Adjustment knobs coupled with a tachometer allow for more precise timing measurement at different RPMs.Adjustment knobs that allow for the timing to be read at different RPMs are available on some models.It should be able to read both two-cycle and four-cycle engines. The standard timing lights come with a xenon light tube that is able to read timing when the vehicle engine is at idle.Knowing this allows adjustments to be made via manipulation of the distributor cap to make the spark plugs fire before or after the piston has reached the top dead center, depending on the malfunction or issue that needs to be fixed. By aiming this strobe light in the proper place, usually the crankshaft pulley, you will be able to read the degree markings on it, which are indicative of where the crankshaft is in its rotation and the respective pistons. Inductive timing lights, when connected properly to the cars engine and battery, detect the electricity every time the plug fires, and every time the plug fires, the timing light shoots a beam of light. The light is powered by the vehicle it is being used to test. The light can be a stroboscope that may use a simple neon lamp or a xenon strobe lamp that provides brighter light and better use in daylight or in shop lighting. Timing lights are diagnostic tools used to observe ignition timing in vehicles with distributors and are available as self-contained units or as a part of a more comprehensive engine analytical tool. Yes, you can do the same thing with a degree tape or a degreed damper, but you might need two people to be able to watch the tach and damper at the same time.See Your Cars Diagnostics More Clearly With Automotive Timing Lights Then you look to see how many degrees you have the light advanced. I just went to my desired rpm and clicked the advance/retard button until the timing mark flashed on ZERO degrees. It has two digital windows side-by-side, one reads rpm and other reads the advance you have it set at. Got to say it was REAL easy to determine when your advance is coming in. I used a friends Snap-On digital a couple of weeks ago. He said the others, (dial type),will be off by 4 or 5 degrees when you are at full advance. If I got this all wrong I appologize in "advance" !!!! HA! HA!Īccording to Ignitionman the only rollback lights that work with modern ignition systems are the high end digitals like Snap-On, or MAC. as I would like to own one of these useful tools myself! I am no help as far as what brand to buy, but I will watch other replies to your post and see what suggestions other guys may make. Maybe someone else can clear this up for both of us. The only thing I am not sure of is if you need to add your initial timing to the timing found as explained earlier. You would then read the amount of timing marked off in degrees around the outside of the knob and that is your total timing at this rpm. They way I understand it, you can set your rpm anywhere you wish and "dial back" the timing mark to zero using the knob on the timing light (by "dial back", I mean watching the timing mark on balancer while your engine is running and adjusting the knob to bring back the timing mark to zero degrees). Although I don't own one and have never used one, these devices are very useful for discovering the amount of timing your engine has at any given rpm.
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