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davidw99
Samba Member
Joined: September 04, 2003
Posts: 696
Location: Boston, MA
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 Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:19 pm Post subject: Timing Light Hook Up |
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I have what is probably a dumb question, but I cannot get a timing light to work and I don't know why.
I bought one a while ago and it worked. The second time I used it (months later) it would not light. I bought a new one. Worked only one time. Each time the light was hooked up to a battery, either in the VW itself or another car.
I bought a new one after taking the second one back believing it was defective. The new one won't work even once. I followed the hook up directions perfectly.
My question: do the types of plug wires make a difference? That is, do silicone wires cause a read problem on the inductive pickup?
If not the wires what could the problem be? I am totally fluxed. Any suggestions appreciated.
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67rustavenger 
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Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 9749
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Timing Light Hook Up |
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I had that problem a couple years ago. To remedy the problem.
I use a well charged deep cycle battery on the floor behind the car.
I first hookup the inductive pickup on the #1 plug wire.
Then connect the + clamp to the battery and leave the - clamp off the battery post until the engine was running.
Once the engine was started I connect the - clamp to the battery and check the timing.
Once the timing is set I remove the - clamp then shut down the engine.
I have not had a timing light issue since I started using this procedure.
I burnt out at least 5 timing lights trying to use the vw battery in place and connecting the +/- cables on the generator and engine grounds.
YMMV.
Good Luck.
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Gary Haberman
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2013
Posts: 70
Location: Farmingdale, NY
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: Timing Light Hook Up |
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Having two 6 volt bugs I understand the frustration of using the typical timing light so I use a self powered one (bought mine from Summit Racing). just clip the inductive pickup on the #1 point at the crank pulley and push a button.
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herbie1200
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006
Posts: 833
Location: Rome - Italy
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 5:34 am Post subject: Re: Timing Light Hook Up |
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| 67rustavenger wrote: |
I had that problem a couple years ago. To remedy the problem.
I use a well charged deep cycle battery on the floor behind the car.
I first hookup the inductive pickup on the #1 plug wire.
Then connect the + clamp to the battery and leave the - clamp off the battery post until the engine was running.
Once the engine was started I connect the - clamp to the battery and check the timing.
Once the timing is set I remove the - clamp then shut down the engine.
I have not had a timing light issue since I started using this procedure.
I burnt out at least 5 timing lights trying to use the vw battery in place and connecting the +/- cables on the generator and engine grounds.
YMMV.
Good Luck. |
The first procedure you detailed is not relevant for timing light damage/safety.
The issue is in the last sentence in bold: if you have a generator, the +timing light shoud NEVER be connect to the +generator (D+). This is a terminal with a lot of positive and negative spikes, the regulator internally has some sparkles on that line so you can suppose voltage peaks over 3-400Volts, positive and negative.
The + of timing light should be on the B+ terminal of the generator, or (easy to reach) the +15 faston on carburetor starter heater. |
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EverettB
Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000
Posts: 69798
Location: Phoenix Metro
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Timing Light Hook Up |
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| Gary Haberman wrote: |
| Having two 6 volt bugs I understand the frustration of using the typical timing light so I use a self powered one (bought mine from Summit Racing). just clip the inductive pickup on the #1 point at the crank pulley and push a button. |
I clip it to the B+ terminal on the regulator as mentioned above - This works most of the time if your regulator is actually putting out 7 volts, although sometimes it doesn't work at idle. Works great to check full advance. 
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bluebus86
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Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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fl59bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005
Posts: 1976
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:38 am Post subject: Re: Timing Light Hook Up |
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The light I purchased fortunately works on both 6 and 12 volt systems, and I normally use it only to verify timing.
If the OP has a multimeter he/she can try to verify the bulb still has continuity through it.
Or... a simple test scenario, the one I use most often, is to pop the distributor cap, position the distributor rotor near the #1 firing position, then hook the alligator clip to the negative coil terminal and ground the probe on an engine case stud, fuel pump stud or similar while rotating the distributor by hand.
This should cause the light to illuminate, thus ruling out a defective test light. |
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