Buying Timing Light: Questions

I have been watching timing lights on E-bay and checking the ones at Autozone,
Sears, and Pep Boys.

For my purposes, will I be satisfied with a no-frills, $10 to $35 inductive
timing light? (These are the prices of lower end new ones and many used ones at
E-bay.)

This timing light is for my personal use. I anticipate using it maybe one day
every four years, starting with my 1991 Honda Civic LX. I expect I will
eventually buy either another Honda Civic, a Toyota Echo, or a Toyota Scion. I
also am contemplating a motorcycle or motor scooter. I hope this timing light
will be suitable for these, too.

Is there any notable advantage to digital readout (aside from the obvious)?

Also, can someone explain how one would use a "0-60 degree advance scale for
more accurate and easy timing measure"? (This is a feature advertised on the $70
Craftsman model at Sears. Sears has two, lower cost models, too.) I am guessing
that this means that, for my 91 Civic, I

(1) Jumper the ignition timing adjusting connector (located on the right of the
front passenger footwell; to stop the computer signal while I am checking and
adjusting the timing)
(2) Hook up the timing light to the battery and #1 spark plug
(3) Aim the timing light at the notch and pointer on the timing belt cover
(4) Look for the appropriate marks on the crankshaft pulley to line up with the
notch and pointer.
(5) Use the above "0-60 degree advance scale" to somehow tell me how much to
rotate the distributor body?? (Sorry for my naivete. I realize the timing light
instructions will tell me more, but I want to plan and understand.)

The Craftsman #2134 is a popular older timing light for sale at E-bay. Any
opinions on it?

 

I would get the cheapest one available with inductive pick up. If your
engine has marks only for TDC and you need e.g. 18° timing advance (or
for some reason you want to set the timing differently than what is
specified) I could see how the "0-60 degree advance scale" could be
useful, but I have yet to see an engine that did not have marks for the
proper timing advance.

 

Cheapest is fine.

I'm still using my dad's old one from the mid-'70s. It works great, but
obviously has no frills to speak of.

Mine's even non-inductive. You have to actually unplug one of the plug
wires to hook it up. Doing that on a running engine is an ouchie-ouchie!!

Loosen the distributor mounting bolts and turn the distributor to line the
marks up. It's very easy and takes seconds. Doo-dads on your timing light
are a waste of time, to my mind.

If it works and is cheap, you're fine.

 

Thanks, Randolph and Tegger.

Now I get it...

 

|I have been watching timing lights on E-bay and checking the ones at Autozone,
|Sears, and Pep Boys.
|
|For my purposes, will I be satisfied with a no-frills, $10 to $35 inductive
|timing light? (These are the prices of lower end new ones and many used ones at
|E-bay.)

|Is there any notable advantage to digital readout (aside from the obvious)?
|
|Also, can someone explain how one would use a "0-60 degree advance scale for
|more accurate and easy timing measure"? (This is a feature advertised on the
$70
|Craftsman model at Sears. Sears has two, lower cost models, too.) I am guessing
|that this means that, for my 91 Civic, I

Forget the Craftsman. I bought the best they had a couple years ago. It worked
intermittently from the start, then finally gave out altogether. So I took it
back to Sears. "Sorry, out of warranty. tough luck". They won't get any more
of my money.
I bought an Equus 3568 to replace it. I'm VERY please with it. Mine has the
digital tach and timing readout, which is unneccesary but somewhat useful. The
tach is more useful to me. For your purposes, get the base Equus #3551 and you
will be very pleased. Should be able to get it under $50.
Actron is a good quality brand, but I didn't care for the design. Might be a
bit cheaper though
Rex in Fort Worth

 

|Mine's even non-inductive. You have to actually unplug one of the plug
|wires to hook it up. Doing that on a running engine is an ouchie-ouchie!!

There are a lot of cars that you can't use that type on. On my Honda I'd have
to use the distributor cap because the plug is too recessed. Also, you take a
chance of damaging the plug wire from excessive handling.
Rex in Fort Worth

 

(Rex B) spake unto the masses in

That's what I do: Plug it in at the distributor.

As for damage, how often do you need to check the timing anyway? Once a
year is fine unless you change the distributor or cap.

 

Interesting, I have never before heard of timing lights that you plug
into the high-voltage side. Mine (no inductive pickup) connects to the
coil primary (switched side of course)

 

Just checked mine for some sort of ID. There's a sticker on the back, where
the hammer would be if it were a handgun. On that sticker is:

D. C. Timing Light
Model 417
Dixson, Inc.
Grand Junction, Co. 81501

and what appears to be a part number:
073-21709

Googling for this info brings up nothing except that Ametek-Dixson is still
located in Grand Junction.

The light dates from about 1970-75. It's hard white plastic, with a
leathery sort of texture molded in, and a racy black stripe down each side.

There are two alligator clips for the battery. The end you plug into the
spark plug lead has a double-headed coil spring, nicely sized to fit spark
plugs and their leads.

 

Update:
At Ebay I tried to bid successfully for two different low-cost inductive timing
lights over the last few days. I lost the first in the last few minutes of
bidding. Reflecting on this first attempt, I became a lot more aggressive (or so
I thought) the second time around. I lost the second one in around the last 30
seconds. People seem to be animals at Ebay when it comes to low-cost timing
lights(!).

Today as I was driving through town I noticed a pawn shop. It must be the only
one in a 40 mile radius. Truly on a whim I stopped in. It turns out they
specialize in used tools. The shop had exactly one timing light, a Craftsman
inductive (similar to many of the lower end Craftsmans at Ebay) w/a beat-up but
still useful plastic case. The clerk didn't know whether the timing light worked
but said I could give it a try first. Worked fine. Cost $15. (At Ebay, the final
price including shipping and handling, but rarely a case for the tool, runs
around $18 and up.) So I count myself lucky for getting a good price and not
having to deal with bidding or a long-distance transaction.

My 1991 Civic hadn't had any symptoms of poor ignition timing, but I did replace
its distributor last year. When doing so, I fudged that critical step of marking
the distributor housing and the base. So I have been wanting to check the
timing.

Seeing the TDC white mark and the three marks near it, then lining up the middle
of the three marks with the pointer and notch on the timing cover, is a bit
difficult. The middle mark and pointer seemed to line up without any adjusting.
But I wanted to learn something, so I let the car warm up, loosened the
distributor housing, jumpered the ig. timing adj. connector, and experimented.
Seems like the distributor housing has to be rotated a lot to place the pointer
far away from the three marks. In other words, setting the timing seems pretty
dummy-proof, as though there's a fair amount of tolerance set in, given the
timing marks and configuration of the distributor housing(?) Comments welcome.

Rex, I saw your comment about Craftsman but figured I couldn't go too wrong for
15 bucks, given I probably won't use the timing light again for a few years.

Thanks all for your commentary.