Timing lights

[green7racer]

My dyno guy and I have been trying to get the timing right on my race car over the last couple of days and we're having trouble getting a stable "flash" on the front pulley with his digital timing light.
The ignition system is all Mallory with a 6AL controller, magnetic trigger disturber and coil.
What we're seeing is multiple flashes which makes sense seeing as it's a "multi spark discharge" controller but how do we get the first flash to stabilise and give us a solid timing mark?
Is the digital light too sensitive?
Do we need to revert to my 1970's Radio Shack timing light built from a kit?

 

[greyjasper51]

few things, dont know if its the same as our systems here being that is has a dizzy, but you need to lift the revs to get it out of any sort of idle control mode that it may be in, about 2000rpm should be good, seeing as it will has a dizzy its not a wasted spark system so you shouldnt have to half the ignition angle that its reading

also take the vaccum advance off if it has any

that multiple spark your seeing just look for the one that is closest to the TDC white mark you have and adjust to that, the other should be 180 degrees out of phase

you may be running a scatter spark ignition idle point and not know it yet hence giving you a wavy signal

 

[rsanter]

What car or era car is this on?
I have an MSD on my cars and set them with the basic old,school non digital timing light that you can still get from many places

Bob

 

[green7racer]

Thanks guys.
Bob,
this is on my Triumph TR7 V8 race car.
Engine is a Rover 4.6 litre V8 and no computers in sight.
I'm guessing "old school" might be the way to go so we'll give that a try.
Cheers.