Am in need, went to the parts store and was amazed at how high tech these things have gotten - And expensive. Basic models were about $45, all the way up to $200 with models with digital readouts and tach functions ect.
I don't use one enough to justify even the $40, so I dug this relic out of a bin in my garage, and am looking to rehab it. As you can see, there are 2 lose wires, I am guessing this was for some kind of clip that clips onto the spark wire ?
Little trick. You can time it off the #6 as well since it's 180° out. I do this because my battery, and the timing pointer are also on the passenger side, so I don't have wires going across the engine.
My old Penske light has only has one pickup lead. A spring-like extender between the plug and wire provides the alligator clip access to the plug spark.
I recently found a really nice Craftsman at a swap meet for $10. Never owned one all these years with the Bird, I am no mechanic but I just set the timing by where the thing runs the best and where it will restart easily when hot. LOL
I recently found a really nice Craftsman at a swap meet for $10. Never owned one all these years with the Bird, I am no mechanic but I just set the timing by where the thing runs the best and where it will restart easily when hot. LOL
I usually eyeball it too, with decent results.
My problem is I just put a rebuilt carb on, so between the idle mixtures needing to be set and the timing, I'm getting some really viscous backfires ,,, And I'd like to at least get the timing textbook correct, which would leave me with getting the right mixture from the carb.
My old Penske light has only has one pickup lead. A spring-like extender between the plug and wire provides the alligator clip access to the plug spark.
I could rig something like that up, I just wonder why theres 2 wires on mine.
Your two alligator clips connect to the terminals on the battery. Your missing hall-effect sensor would have illuminated the light when the high current passes through your #1 or #6 spark plug wire to fire the plug.
Jim's setup is a little different. The coily thingy attaches to the top of the #1 or #6 spark plug, and the boot for the spark plug wire goes over the top of the coily thingy. Then the alligator clip that Jim showed attaches to the coily thingy to get the signal to illuminate the light. Jim's light would have the two alligator clips that go on the battery as well.
Went to murrays, or oreillys whatever it is now, they don't loan timing lights. I could buy one then take it back when done, I'd feel a bit childish doing something like that. Guess I'll just have to wing it.
I have three. One is going back to my dad, one will stay in my box. I have one you can have, nothing fancy by any means, inductive pickup. It lost its focusing lens, but it still works just fine.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
Thanks for the offer Yellowbird, truly appreciated. I broke down and bought an $80 model at autozone, has a tach also, which should come in handy for adjusting my carb mix.
Was shocked to find out how far the timing was off, the notch was a good 4 inches away from 0, had to turn the distributor probably a good half radius turn to get it in the ballpark, which of course messed up my idle speed, so I had to adjust that as well.
Was running very hot, over 200 on the gauge. Typically does not go over 190, running for miles on hot days ,,, But of course, alot can happen sitting around a year. Idled it about 15 minutes, no backfires, so at least I'm making some progress.
