Timing light connection fault?

[waltraud]

Hi,

got a cheapo orange timing light of the bay and i've ahd no luck gettin it working. I attached it to earth and then a 12v feed in the engine (DG), clipped the timing bit onto No1 lead (right top from abck of engine). I was just wondring if i had by chance atatched it to the wrong terminal could it short out ? Any suggestions as to a reliable 12V to clip the +ve lead to- thanks.

[BOXY]

Try it on a different HT lead. Any one of the leads will trigger it and make it flash. It needs to be on No.1 to set the timing though.
Not sure if cross connecting it would kill it. Check the 12 +ve connection you are using stays live when the engine is running. To be certain you could always run a flying lead off the battery all the way to the engine over the back seat.

[waltraud]

Cheers boxy, that was my next plan to run it off jump leads, useful suggestions, thanks.

[California Dreamin]

8mm post on the back of late alternators or stud on the back of the starter.

Martin

[waltraud]

Thanks also, did this today and got nothing. Very cheap eBay light, will get another poss draper or something a little better- might check practical classics!

[BOXY]

Try posting on your local Freecycle group. I got a Snap-On one when I asked

[waltraud]

Cheers Boxy- got a s/h rachis tribe off the bay for 15- having our a new dissy in recently with timing only by aligning the metal parts of the unit and engine case at the same point it needs timing me thinks!

[sarran1955]

Hello,

If you have got electro mechanical ignition (Hall effect~), then your strobe will not work,

Same for all Hall systems, Bosch Lucas..Valeo and so on..

Its because of the way the coil is loaded, not really switching on and off....

Need an electronic widget...

Cordialement,

[BOXY]

My Snap-On gun worked with my old 009 dizzie and the "new" hall sensor dizzie I fitted a couple of months ago? The signal trigger for the gun is the HT lead so why would an electronic ignition effect it working? The plug is still going fire at the same time whether it's points or a magnetic switch triggering the coil isn't it?

[waltraud]

I shall try my s/h 1980s tachostrobe by the weekend to see if I'm in need of widgets, my old timing light worked fine till it broke its just that I then got a very naff, cheapo one of ebaygum which was dead before I started with it!