timing lights?

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volaredon

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ok yeah// I know they're obsolete. not something I need at work on newer crap. But my MAC TL90 died, won't switch over from the tach function to the strobe anymore... (worked the last time I used it) but between my kid and me we currently have 5 vehicles with distributors that can be adjusted.
and need to be. so I need to replace mine. Who's good? I had bid on a snap on one, and then the guy added pix and I decided I didn't want that one anymore (whew, I got outbid) as that one the nose of, looks like it kissed a hot exhaust manifold. there are lots out there with funky broken appearing displays on the butt of the gun. Don't want that.
I want one that shows digital advance (would rather have that than the dial), some kind of built in advance is a must. I'm looking at an OTC one now that I like the looks of, there's a particular Snap on one ID like to have if I can find a decent one that works, used, for a fair deal. think its an MT1261. Don't quote me on that.
the only "Sun" ones I've seen are designed to be used with a scope. I don't want the cheap "sun tune" or "actron" type
I've got Dads old "Penske" that pre dates inductive pickup, and doesn't have advance capability. I'm most likely looking at used ones.
I have a Snap on "Counselor II" scope but its not portable enough.
 

Harbor Freight dial back timing light. Reasonable price works for my needs.

20250430_214201.jpg


Like the Dial back, set it to your desired degrees advance BTDC.

Then you just zero out at TDC on the harmonic balancer groove with the timing light by adjusting the distributor.


☆☆☆☆☆
 
volaredon said:
ok yeah// I know they're obsolete. not something I need at work on newer crap. But my MAC TL90 died, won't switch over from the tach function to the strobe anymore... (worked the last time I used it) but between my kid and me we currently have 5 vehicles with distributors that can be adjusted.
and need to be. so I need to replace mine. Who's good? I had bid on a snap on one, and then the guy added pix and I decided I didn't want that one anymore (whew, I got outbid) as that one the nose of, looks like it kissed a hot exhaust manifold. there are lots out there with funky broken appearing displays on the butt of the gun. Don't want that.
I want one that shows digital advance (would rather have that than the dial), some kind of built in advance is a must. I'm looking at an OTC one now that I like the looks of, there's a particular Snap on one ID like to have if I can find a decent one that works, used, for a fair deal. think its an MT1261. Don't quote me on that.
the only "Sun" ones I've seen are designed to be used with a scope. I don't want the cheap "sun tune" or "actron" type
I've got Dads old "Penske" that pre dates inductive pickup, and doesn't have advance capability. I'm most likely looking at used ones.
I have a Snap on "Counselor II" scope but its not portable enough.
Click to expand...
Those MAC lights were dandy's. Made by Actron. .The Innova lights are good like Rusty put up a link for. Get a digital advance. The old dial advance lights can be very inaccurate.
 
You have nothing to loose. Take it apart. Might just be a dirty switch.

I have a seats light that I bought in the 80s. Some years ago it stopped flashing. I took it apart and found some soso solders. Resoldered them and it is good to go
 
I have a bosch dial back timing light that has worked great and seems pretty accurate.
 
I recommend against any sort of advance/ retard "readout" type light. I have seen a couple that became inaccurate. I have bought a few at garage sales/ thrift stores, and before the house fire I had no less than three of the old chrome Sears/ Penske ones that were excellent. One of them was the first I ever bought, in the 70's from Sears.
 
Never was a Horror freight fan.
Got one coming. Appears to be an older model OTC. 3375. It's digital, comes in a foam padded case, only one like it I saw listed. Some pawn shop listed it. I've had a few of those chrome sears one, think my kid may have ended up with at least one of them, the dial back version didn't seem accurate I liked the digital feature on my Mac light while it worked so I favored that style when I was looking. Seems like actron made them for many/most. I had bid on a snap on but seen other pix before it ended, glad I got outbid.
Lots of those listed looked like they had a rough life and still overpriced.
 
I did another search on the timing light I got coming, looks like it was also sold as a "ferret instruments" model 86. I've heard of ferret but never seen anything by them before.
I don't know when they switched but looks like later "OTC" ones were actron made. Seems like they made a lot of them, resold by many as their own
The few of these lights like I wound up buying that are listed as for sale, are quite expensive under the ferret brand. Looks like this company is/was based out of Cheboygan MI...
So it's an American company, that's cool
 
Dave999 said:
ah you already have one
my post was pointless
Click to expand...

abodyjoe said:
i have this and like it..

[/URL]




.
Click to expand...
Dave
Can't say that as you must have deleted what you said , maybe someone else would get some good out of it, I can't be the only one wondering what's good these days
And Joe
I seen that one listed a bunch and was considering that one.
This is something I use but don't use as much as I used to, so I didn't necessarily have to have brand new. Strangely though I was looking at some used ones that were priced more.
The one that I was bidding on that I'm glad that I ultimately got outbid for was more.
I don't remember now why I passed on that one you show. I did see that same light listed under a few different brands.
For some reason I was keyed in on one particular unit until I seen the one I wound up getting.
 
well it was an innova equus the red one....

solid handset
digital
metal cased induction pickup on a removable (for storage) and replaceable flying lead
multifunction

got one 15 + years ago and apart from the usual problems with MSD works great. spent the money cos i really only wanted to do this once

i keep my old auto parts store basic for MSD stuff for some reason it works even with the pickup missing its clamp...



Dave
 
OCT used to make a very good balancer puller and fitter but seem to have disappeared US Pro Tools make the same installer puller now. no idea if the US in pro tools has anything to do with the US mind but the puller looks good
 
Woodys_Cuda said:
Mike, any ideas for current timing lights that work with the MSD ignitions? I'd like to see a list of them that won't break the bank. I need a new one.
Click to expand...
The only one I know that does is the one sold by MSD. Someone needs to take one of the old Actron/ MAC lights apart and reverse engineer the circuit board. It's probably a pretty simple board. I see none of the Innova lights work with multi spark.
 
Thanks, yeah my local mechanic shop has the new dial back lights. They tried to set up my timing and the car ran like ****, timing was way off. I resorted to my trusty vacuum guage to get it running right again. I'd like to put a light on it for a reference to keep it running as well as it is now. Plus if I ever need help I can answer that common question, what is your timing set at? lol. An MSD timing light sounds expensive!
:mad:
 
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