Vintage Snap-On Timing Light

[Crossfire05]

I ended up with a old Snap-on Timing light when my Dad passed away. I believe it was purchased in the late fifties. Trying to decide what to do with it. Now to show my ignorance (me from computer timing system age). How would I quickly tell if it works without a lot of trouble? Pics attached. If it works I will most likely try to sell it. Trying to downsize my stuff!

 

[seber]

Attach clips to the battery. The other lead to a spark plug wire. Start the engine. The light will flash with every firing of the plug.

 

[Fly YX]

Not to much to troubleshoot just
Hook it up to the battery and the inductance clamp start the engine and if the light is flashing it's pretty much working.

 

[Crossfire05]

Attach clips to the battery. The other lead to a spark plug wire. Start the engine. The light will flash with every firing of the plug.

Any spark plug wire?

 

[crf450x]

Any spark plug wire?

For checking operation, yes.

 

[Crossfire05]

Nothing happened. Must need repair.

 

[malibu101]

OP- PLEASE take no offense to my question below.
I'm only asking because it sounds like you don't know much about a timing light.

Was the engine running when you tested the light?

 

[anndel]

Depends, if coilpacks are on each spark plug it might not have much energy to trigger the induction pickup of the timing light. It needs old style spark plug wire and if you can find a vehicle that uses that, #1 spark plug wire.

 

[Crossfire05]

OP- PLEASE take no offense to my question below.
I'm only asking because it sounds like you don't know much about a timing light.

Was the engine running when you tested the light?

No offense taken! I'm not that bad.

 

[Crossfire05]

Depends, if coilpacks are on each spark plug it might not have much energy to trigger the induction pickup of the timing light. It needs old style spark plug wire and if you can find a vehicle that uses that, #1 spark plug wire.

That is what I was afraid of and why I asked the original question. I didn't think it would work on my cars (all coil packs).

 

[malibu101]

No offense taken! I'm not that bad.

You never know what some people do or think.
It's a crazy world of idiots out there.

Until reading this post I didn't know a timing light wouldn't fire from a coilpack. I learned something again from here.

 

[Crossfire05]

You never know what some people do or think.
It's a crazy world of idiots out there.

Until reading this post I didn't know a timing light wouldn't fire from a coilpack. I learned something again from here.

If one was to connect both of the wires (negative clamp and inductance clamp) to the negative (black) battery terminal and the red clamp to the battery positive should the light come on and stay on?

 

[malibu101]

If one was to connect both of the wires (negative clamp and inductance clamp) to the negative (black) battery terminal and the red clamp to the battery positive should the light come on and stay on?

I just tried it with my Craftsman light (with inductive clamp) and I got nothing.

I guess you just have to ask a buddy that has an engine with "real" plug wires and a distributor if you can test your light.

 

[Crossfire05]

I just tried it with my Craftsman light (with inductive clamp) and I got nothing.

I guess you just have to ask a buddy that has an engine with "real" plug wires and a distributor if you can test your light.

Thanks for trying! I will have to find a neighbor that has a older car. Wish I had my 1969 Firebird! Those were the days.

 

[vssjim]

That clamp for the spark plug wire looks to be to old to pick up pulse through plug wire jacket. Most likely being that age it only work with a spring type adapter that goes between plug and wire or like snap on use to have a brass part to go between cap and wire. Inductive timing lights have to have a large inductive pick up to work and that is not what I am seeing here. Retry with touching with out insulation before deciding it wont work.

 

[Bert_]

That clamp for the spark plug wire looks to be to old to pick up pulse through plug wire jacket. Most likely being that age it only work with a spring type adapter that goes between plug and wire or like snap on use to have a brass part to go between cap and wire. Inductive timing lights have to have a large inductive pick up to work and that is not what I am seeing here. Retry with touching with out insulation before deciding it wont work.

Yeah the old timing lights did not have an inductive pickup. The need an actual connection to the spark plug wire, the lights used to come with a spacer that went between the plug and the plug wire that gave you a spot to clip to.

I have an old light like this, not snap-on. I did have to replace the flash bulb inside once, it was pretty cheap.

 

[6PTsocket]

For checking operation, yes.

If you were using it to set timing it would be the #1cylinder plug but to see it work any plug will do. If the only available car has a coil over plug setup this will not be so easy. You would need an extension between the coil pack and the plug. You could try a lawn tractor.

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