Craftsman timing lights--which one?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Abeness, Oct 12, 2005.

  1. Abeness

    Abeness Guest

    Sears offers two "heavy duty" timing lights, one for $50 and one for
    $70. The description of the more expensive one notes "0-60 degree
    advance scale for more accurate and easy timing measure". Is this a
    useful feature, worth another $20? Or will the $50 one be sufficient?
    I've never checked timing before, but am competent.

    Also, I'm assuming that the Craftsman Engine Analyzer is a reasonable
    choice for checking engine rpms. Would anyone suggest otherwise? Thanks.
     
    Abeness, Oct 12, 2005
    #1
  2. Abeness

    Elle Guest

    Last year I inquired here about timing lights. The consensus was to buy the
    cheapest one possible. See the reasoning in the thread at
    http://1tiny.com/306

    Ebay has some very good deals on timing lights.
     
    Elle, Oct 12, 2005
    #2
  3. Abeness

    Misterbeets Guest

    Look at http://www.iequus.com/item.asp?cid=20 first.
     
    Misterbeets, Oct 12, 2005
    #3
  4. ----------------------------

    Not entirely perfect advice, because the 'cheapest one possible' is not
    worth backing over with your Honda, because it isn't electronic . .

    It's just a flash tube that runs off your high tension ignition spark,
    and you have to use it at night.

    Been there as a teenager, waited until dark.

    'Curly'
     
    'Curly Q. Links', Oct 12, 2005
    #4
  5. Abeness

    Elle Guest

    Yes, I guess I should have mentioned cheapest _induction_ timing light
    available. Induction timing lights being the type that have a lead clamping
    around an ignition wire.
     
    Elle, Oct 12, 2005
    #5
  6. The one I had as a teenager worked in my parent's garage...
     
    Mike Iglesias, Oct 12, 2005
    #6
  7. Abeness

    Abeness Guest

    Thanks, guys. Excellent info. Looks like those Equus folks make a
    cheaper tach, too:
    http://www.iequus.com/item.asp?cid=40

    Do I need a code reader for a 94 Civic EX? I was looking for one awhile
    back, and now see that these guys make one.

    I'll check ebay for a light.
     
    Abeness, Oct 14, 2005
    #7
  8. Abeness

    Guest Guest

    Any tach that doesn't use either an internal battery or the car's
    battery for power will not give accurate readings, except by chance.
    That model 3010 tach looks like a tach I bought for $5 long ago that
    was off by 20%, and I ended up gutting its circuitry and substituting a
    proper tach circuit from an electronics magazine.
    Pre-1996 cars generally have ways to read codes without any special
    equipment, and I believe Hondas made even after that year allow this,
    at least to a limited extent. Factory and Mitchell manuals cover this
    area much better than Haynes and other third party manuals do. However
    if your 1994 is similar to a 1995, here's free access to a factory
    manual:

    www.honda.co.uk/owner/CivicManual/
     
    Guest, Oct 14, 2005
    #8
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.