TheSamba.com :: View topic - Setting the timing with a petronix

Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:55 pm

Hey all. I'm here helping Marc (of Marc and Eliana) set his timing. He has a pertonix, so the coil is a little different than my bus/bug. If I connect the timing light to the coil, I get a constant light, no matter where the distributor is pointing. I'm a little confused on how to help him with this? Any help?

Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:10 pm

BigBlueVW.blogspot.com wrote: Hey all. I'm here helping Marc (of Marc and Eliana) set his timing. He has a pertonix, so the coil is a little different than my bus/bug. If I connect the timing light to the coil, I get a constant light, no matter where the distributor is pointing. I'm a little confused on how to help him with this? Any help?

why are you connecting a t-light to the coil? hook up the light to the battery and the lead to #1 spark plug. there is no mystery to it

Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:24 pm

Um. I am using a static light (test light). I'm guessing you are referring to a stobe? Is there a way to set the timing with a static timing light?

Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:24 pm

He's not using a strobe, he's timing it statically using a test light.

Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:25 pm

Aarrgh! Beat me to it! I shouldn't've been so fancy with the links....

Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:04 pm

negative side ...aka ,, black wire from the dizzy, not the red

Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:04 am

whc03grady - you crack me up.

We went and bought a strobe at the parts store. Worked fine and he is back on his way...

Thanks.

Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:23 am

You should still be able to use a static test light to time a pertronix equiped distributor. Although the pertronix kit replaces the mechanical points, it still has to create an open circuit same as the points did to cause the magnetic flux created around the coil when there is power to "collapse" resulting in the high voltage output for the spark plugs. I have never tried this on a pertronix equiped distributor but have done it on GM HEI type distributor/coils. I suspect that if you hooked up the test light between the negative terminal on the coil and the black wire on the pertronix that you will see the same effect as with points. I might not be right on how the pertronix is wired, but the pertronix kit still has to do the same thing as mechanical points with regards 12 volts to the coil.