Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-18-2020, 08:16 PM   #1
Habusailor
Senior Member
 
Habusailor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Fargo North Dakota
Posts: 264
Default Timing light

I am looking to purchase a new timing light. I have a need for one that works on 6 volt and also 12 volt cars. Will a 12 volt model work on 6 as well or do I need two of them? I have an ole one but light isn't that bright, I have to work in the dark to see timing marks

Any suggestions are welcome.

Sent from my SM-T550 using Tapatalk
Habusailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2020, 08:53 PM   #2
Black Fifty
Senior Member
 
Black Fifty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: The Thumb of Michigan
Posts: 107
Default Re: Timing light

Habusailor,
I have a 40 year old Craftsman that is 12 volt. It will work with my 6V car, but the strobe is brighter if I attach the battery leads to a 12 volt battery instead of the 6V car battery.
Best of Luck.
Mike
Black Fifty is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 09-18-2020, 09:40 PM   #3
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Timing light

Really need a deal back one, but no idea if any of them work on 6v.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-18-2020, 10:04 PM   #4
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,924
Default Re: Timing light

As seen on eBay > https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Pensk...oAAOSw6olfUVHi
Sears Penske Power Timing Light Model 244.2115 Manual & Box 6 or 12 Volt


__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
petehoovie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 06:42 AM   #5
V8 Bob
Senior Member
 
V8 Bob's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana
Posts: 1,517
Default Re: Timing light

Quote:
Originally Posted by JSeery View Post
Really need a deal back one, but no idea if any of them work on 6v.

My Craftsman does, connected to a 12V battery, per their instructions.
V8 Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 07:35 AM   #6
Hoop
Senior Member
 
Hoop's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 1,137
Default Re: Timing light

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
"Really need a deal back one, but no idea if any of them work on 6v."

Means "dial back" of course. Don't know what Habusailor needs.

Have to be careful with digital timing lights. There's a lot of cheap junk being sold. Accuracy and durability are problems.

Having a tach on the light could be a big help. If you really need it.

If you ran a shop and were working on a bunch of different cars that required it, a dial back would be the choice.
__________________
"Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."
Hoop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 09:14 AM   #7
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Timing light

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoop View Post
"Really need a deal back one, but no idea if any of them work on 6v."

Means "dial back" of course. Don't know what Habusailor needs.
Yep, that would be dial back! Unless you have a pully that is marked off in degrees it makes it a lot easier.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 10:44 AM   #8
Bored&Stroked
Senior Member
 
Bored&Stroked's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 5,009
Default Re: Timing light

I use my 12V one on my 6V cars - by dragging out a 12V battery to power the timing light. Kind of a pain in the butt, but I haven't found a timing light with dial back, a tach and other modern features that works on both 6V and 12V.
Bored&Stroked is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 10:59 AM   #9
flatford8
Senior Member
 
flatford8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lyman,ME.
Posts: 2,612
Default Re: Timing light

Not trying to hijack but, can anybody share a brand name and maybe a model # of a new one with the “dial back” feature? As far as quality, I don’t make my living doing this but it would be nice to have a reliable, accurate one that will last for a few years....Thanks,...Mark
__________________
I'm thinkin' about crankin'
My ragged ol' truck up
and haulin' myself into town.
Billy Joe Shaver
flatford8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 12:55 PM   #10
Bill OH
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 423
Default Re: Timing light

I have an Allen 6 - 12 volt that I purchased in the 50’s - still works very well. Perhaps this can be obtained thru E-Bay.
Bill OH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 01:34 PM   #11
Hoop
Senior Member
 
Hoop's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Jacksonville FL
Posts: 1,137
Default Re: Timing light

Would recommend not buying stuff you don't need, especially tools. If you don't need a dial back, don't buy one.

If you are buying a timing light only to set your initial advance of 2 or 4 degrees, I don't think you need a dial back.

If you want to know the rpm at which full advance, like 26 degrees, comes in, that's a different need.

Know what you're buying and why. There are plenty of videos on the internet that demonstrate how to use a dial timing light ... and why.
__________________
"Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."
Hoop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 01:52 PM   #12
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Timing light

What Hoop said, I was considering mapping out the advance curve. If you don't care about that or total advance you really don't need it. And then on a pre 8ba you don't need a timing light at all if you are staying stock and you don't even have a timing mark on the pully!
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 01:57 PM   #13
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,259
Default Re: Timing light

I have had two "dial-back" timing lights. One was a Sears Craftsman and I don't remember what the other one was. Both quit working almost as soon as I got them. Can someone recommend one that works well and lasts?

What about a power-pack of "D" cell batteries? I can't believe it takes a lot of power to flash the light and it would be a heck of a lot easier to lug around than a 12 volt battery. What does a xenon strobe need for power? Or are they being supplanted by LED's (like just about everything else). My neighbor has a battery powered timing light; I think it takes two "D" cells and it works well. It's not a dial-back though.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 03:16 PM   #14
51504bat
Senior Member
 
51504bat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal-Redlands
Posts: 2,997
Default Re: Timing light

I've got a 6/12 volt timing light. I know for sure it works on 12 volts and I believe on 6 volts as well but it's been a long time since my p/u was 6 volts. Anyway, anyone who wants it can have it for the cost of the ride. PM me if interested
Attached Images
File Type: jpg tl1.jpg (27.3 KB, 33 views)
File Type: jpg tl2.jpg (69.8 KB, 30 views)
__________________
Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.
51504bat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 04:13 PM   #15
Lawrie
Senior Member
 
Lawrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Qld, Australia
Posts: 4,195
Default Re: Timing light

buy a snap on one, nit cheap, but good unit.
Lawrie
Lawrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2020, 05:13 PM   #16
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: Timing light

This is interesting.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Profo...20(July12_2017)
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Timing Light.jpg (24.1 KB, 11 views)
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2020, 11:26 AM   #17
Scotty's 52 F3
Senior Member
 
Scotty's 52 F3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Marana, AZ.
Posts: 404
Default Re: Timing light

I have an Innova dial back light that works great on most of my vehicles. Needs 12 volts and doesn't like the solid core wires in my Flatty. Electrical interference. The instructions say to use a suppression wire on number one for inductive pickup.

Besides the dial back feature, it reads volts, RPM and Dwell. Can be set for number of cylinders and ignition types. Very handy tool.
Scotty's 52 F3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:08 AM.