Re: Stupid timing light questions

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Biba:

What you've got there is called an advance timing light, and it's actually 
very useful.  It is especially useful for cars that don't have timing marks 
exactly where you might like them to be on the crank pulley.  The only mark 
you need is a good, clearly visible one at TDC.  That's the 'P' mark on an 
Alfa.

Here's how to use it.  Let's say you want 38 BTDC at 5000 rpms, but there's 
no mark on the crank pulley there.  Set the dial on the timing light to 
38.  Run the engine at 5000, and the crank timing pointer will point to 
TDC, not 38, when the timing is correctly set at 38.  Or, if you want to 
know what the timing is at 5000, turn the dial until the crank timing shows 
TDC, and read your actual timing off the dial on the light.  Pretty cool. 
huh?  Want to plot the advance curve at 500 rpm intervals?  Just watch the 
crank, keep the timing pointer at TDC (by turning the dial) and read your 
advance off the dial after each 500 rpm increase.  Very cool.  Of course, 
you need to be using an accurate tach, too.

Here's a trick for setting static timing on a Marelli Plex, Crane, etc. 
(works with points, too) without using any special tools.  Set the crank 
pulley to the desired reading (on the compression stroke for cylinder 1), 
like 5 BTDC.  Remove the coil wire from the center of the distributor 
cap.  Place the exposed end of the wire near a good ground, like the head, 
radiator support, etc., maybe 1/4" away.  With the ignition turned on, 
slowly and smoothly rotate the distributor body counterclockwise and 
look/listen for the spark from that coil wire.  Tighten the distributor 
body at that exact point, and your static timing will be set.  You're 
turning the distributor counterclockwise because the rotor in a 4-cylinder 
Alfa turns clockwise.

To recap, an advance timing light is a great thing to have, and you can set 
static timing on any type of distributor-fired ignition with no special tools.

Regards,

Dean


At 01:34 AM 10/27/2002, you wrote:

> Date: Sat, 26 Oct 2002 19:37:36 -0700
> From: alfacybersite <acs@domain.elided>
> Subject: Stupid timing light questions
>
> (It would be greatly appreciated if all responding say, "Hey, Biba,
> there are no stupid questions, etc. etc. - rather than, "Yup, right,
> pretty stupid Biba.").
>
> Since I've confessed to this before...one more time (not sure if pun is
> intended or not). Used to have a basic timing light. Rarely used it. ... 
> (snip)
>  . . . Must I go back to good old fashioned points and simply throw the 
> timing
> light in the trash, or is there a better solution?
>
> Biba
> Frustrated, again, in Irwindale, CA USA
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