Still keep a timing light around?

[paramud]

Do you guys still keep a timing light around? I have an olds craftmans one that I have never used. I actually just replaced the timing belt on a 95 ranger and didnt use it. Im mainly work on motorcycles and very light car stuff on the weekends.

Is it worth it in my limited space of my garage?

 

[lakeroadster]

I'd say yes. I have one and use it on my '69 Camaro that is factory stock.

 

[Fireball027]

I would keep it. Never know when you would need it. I actually just had to go buy a new one so I could set the timing on my Honda.

 

[malykaii]

Don't have space? Hang it from the ceiling.

 

[redwrench60]

Yup. One at work and one at home. Occasionally I still get an older something in the shop that needs one. I seem to use the one at home more.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Yep. Distributor in the DD.

 

[canuckian]

Had one and used it often. Started buying newer cars and didn't need it so got rid of it. Just bought a 72 chevy pickup and will likely need to get another. wish I'd have kept my first one.

 

[joel63]

I have one and I will soon be using it for a tune up on 1972 beetle.

With that said, I hope it still works. I haven't used it since I got rid of all my

distributor equipped cars a few years ago.

 

[wyo george]

I have one and use it regularly, I own five vehicles that I can use it on. With that said, I can't say if you need one or not. That's a call for you to make.

 

[Lx460]

Last time I used one was on a 1996 Ford F-250 with a 5.8. That was over 10 years ago. I still have one in the box because you never know...

 

[bonneyman]

I finally snagged an older C-man timing light last year and I've put it to use several times. Tune-ups, engine knock, just to check and see if the distributor slipped. I'd keep it.

 

[fasteddie313]

Man I wish I had a good timing light, need one with the advance feature in a bad way..

But atm the budget is SHOT..

 

[wyo george]

BTW, I also still have a tach/dwell meter that I use a couple times a year!

 

[malykaii]

Wait, so this is garage journal, where even if it's a one time use tool you can borrow from AutoZone (noid lights) we,go and buy them because more tools!

Your telling me you have a tool that's not big (like a shop press) and you want to throw it out?

So unlike garage journal.

 

[wantacoe]

I usually have an old car so I still use mine and the dwell meter too.

 

[fasteddie313]

I can monitor the lambda system on my 80 porsche with a dwell meter and set the AFR accordingly..

 

[Wrenches of Death]

Do you guys still keep a timing light around?

I've still got my old Mac with the dial advance. The last few times I used it were on an IH tractor and a Lincoln welding machine.

On the flip side, my 04 Silverado has a 4.3L V6 with an actual distributor and in 11 years and 52,000 miles I don't think I've ever even bothered to check the timing.

My gut reaction answer to your question is,

"It is better to have a timing light and NOT need it, than it is to NEED a timing light and not have it."

How's THAT for a "Pearl of Wisdom"? Yeah, I know. I just dislocated my shoulder patting myself on the back.

WoD

 

[Spire]

Just bought a new timing light for my '88 Ford IDI Diesel...





And a Ferret Impulse Timing Adapter of course.

 

[unslow1]

Keep it. I got rid of my dwell meter and had to go buy another within a year.

 

[Schurkey]

IF (big IF) the engine in question has a magnetic pick-up bracket built into the timing pointer and a proper groove in the torsional damper, the slick system is a magnetic timing meter.

Of course, with the right probes, it'll show injector timing on diesel engines, too--using the flash of light from the combustion in the cylinder.

Keep it for when you have a car with bad vacuum lines. Otherwise, use a vacuum gauge to set your timing.Much more accurate and optimum for your engine.

I'd LOVE to hear how that's done. Please, in great detail!

First Guess: Results in wildly over-advanced initial timing.

 

[Rural53]

I used one hooked to individual spark plug leads to work out which one was dud.

 

[sberry]

I lost mine over 20 yrs ago, we recently bought one but its still in the package. The dud wire was a good idea but I don't really need one to start and time common engines.

 

[damienga15de]

I use mine a lot, I tune up a lot of friends sr20 / 16 ve engines, correct timing makes a lot of difference to them

 

[volleyball]

Mine broke a decade ago and I was going to fix it but I have been thinking to just get a new one.
What model would people recommend? Are there any that have computer interfaces?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

What model would people recommend?

Never had one but recently wanted one....Was doing 97 Accord Plug-Well & Valve Cover Gaskets and loosened 1 of the distributor bolts without originally thinking about it, then quickly realized if I removed it, I had no way to re-time it...so If anything put me in the category of, I don't have one but would like to get one. With the full knowledge they are getting to be one of those seldom needed & used tools with current ignition systems, I'd like to avoid selling a kidney for one, but at the same time, if I'm gonna get something, I like having something that works good on most if any applications....Any features I should be looking to get? Any recommended lights?

 

[sberry]

Correct timing makes a huge difference to any of them but setting by number or light does not account for fuel grade and a couple of other things.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I still use mine occasionally too. I last used it after putting together a 22RE Toyota engine and troubleshooting an issue with a 1997 Harley, along with a clear plug thingy to see inside. Worked great.

 

[mcmtech]

Still got one and still use it every year or so. I have a classic car again so have another reason to keep it around.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I used one hooked to individual spark plug leads to work out which one was dud.

I've done that a few times, it's an easy way to find a misfire.

 

[PKile]

I still use my Snap On inductive advance light when tuning my 1993 Toyota 22RE, I also have a Heath digital dwell/tach that I drag out if all I want to do is check RPM, the leads are shorter and easier to handle than those on the timing light.

Adjusting the timing with a vacuum gauge is great, but you can't use that method in California if you have to smog test the vehicle. One of the things they check on older cars is the ignition timing.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

If it's the clamp on type, keep it. If it's the type that you have to connect in with your plug wire, get rid of it and buy a clamp on.


It's better to have one and not need it, than need one and not have it.

 

[Jim C.]

Absolutely!!! I like tinkering with old Corvettes so a timing light is an essential tool in my garage.

Jim C.

 

[Buster21]

Keep in mind that it not only will do timing but it also makes a nice diagnostic tool. We had a car that my wife drove and it had a intermittent no start, engine would crank fine but would not turn over. So I taped the button down on the timing light and hooked it up, I told her to watch for the light, I was trying to find out if it was a spark or fuel problem. Sure enough the next time it wouldn't start she said the light pulsed, and sure enough I narrowed it down to a fuel issue. Just a thought.

 

[454ragtop]

Still have a couple cars with distributors, so still need one, plus I work on others old stuff once in a while. I have a Ferret digital dial back type, has a tach also, love it, was actually given to me by a good friend.

 

[george4]

Absolutely!!! I like tinkering with old Corvettes so a timing light is an essential tool in my garage.

Jim C.

You said that just to make me feel bad. Just sold my '89 and it was the only reason I had for owning a timing light. I am chasing a 64 tho.

 

[Vantastic]

I used mine yesterday. I actually bought a new on last year because my old one did not have adjustable advance.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have a several time a year need for mine. Even if I didn't, I'd still keep it for its rpm reading function.

 

[RiverRider]

I keep one around for my 135-horse Mercury outboard. I've used it to verify ignition system function a time or two on other stuff.

 

[48RON54]

I use one so rarely that I just borrow one from a friend when the occasion presents itself.

 

[LordPsychon]

I remember seeing my dad's old timing light for the first time, swore it had to be a laser gun or a radar gun and gosh dad aren't you just the coolest for having this awesome tool. When I got to see it in action, it was kind of a let down. I think he probably still has it buried under all his woodworking stuff (his new hobby), going to pay him a visit and see.