Need help - which brand of timing light?

[Alloy Dave]

My old timing light went kaput.

I need a new one, preferably an advance light. Went to Sears and bought one...big mistake. The pickup lead was plastic. Used it one time on the Camaro, and it slid down the wire, touched the header tube, and ruined it within 10 seconds.



I need one with a metal pickup, and I'd like to stay around $75 or less in price. I'll only use it 1-2 times a year.

Recommendations on brand?

[TOMMY GUN]

Seems a metal pickup could just short out something quickly.

I've had a Craftsman w/ the plastic pickup for 15 years or so w/ no issues.

Maybe a tie wrap on the wire while you're using it?

I never understood exactly the purpose of an advance light.

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[TOMMY GUN]

Check your local auto parts stores and see if they carry a brand you have heard of before.

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[Vette Killer]

Originally Posted by Alloy Dave

My old timing light went kaput.

I need a new one, preferably an advance light. Went to Sears and bought one...big mistake. The pickup lead was plastic. Used it one time on the Camaro, and it slid down the wire, touched the header tube, and ruined it within 10 seconds.



I need one with a metal pickup, and I'd like to stay around $75 or less in price. I'll only use it 1-2 times a year.

Recommendations on brand?

Probably more than you want to spend but I really like the Snap On digital one...very accurate and has the ability to run a transducer if you ever want to play with diesel pumps...

[Alloy Dave]

Originally Posted by TOMMY GUN

Seems a metal pickup could just short out something quickly.

I've had a Craftsman w/ the plastic pickup for 15 years or so w/ no issues.

Maybe a tie wrap on the wire while you're using it?

I never understood exactly the purpose of an advance light.

.

No, the metal won't short anything.

The purpose of an advance light is that if your timing setting is more than what's on your timing tag, you won't be able to read it without an advance light. My tag only goes to 12 degrees, and I'm running over 15 degrees of timing. With the advance light, you turn the dial until the mark on the balancer appears to be at zero, then look at the dial you adjusted, and that's your timing.

[Alloy Dave]

Originally Posted by Vette Killer

Probably more than you want to spend but I really like the Snap On digital one...very accurate and has the ability to run a transducer if you ever want to play with diesel pumps...

Yes, Snap on is a nice piece, but I don't need anything that fancy. My prior craftsman lasted me 30 years, but they cost reduced them.

[TOMMY GUN]

Originally Posted by Alloy Dave

No, the metal won't short anything.

The purpose of an advance light is that if your timing setting is more than what's on your timing tag, you won't be able to read it without an advance light. My tag only goes to 12 degrees, and I'm running over 15 degrees of timing. With the advance light, you turn the dial until the mark on the balancer appears to be at zero, then look at the dial you adjusted, and that's your timing.

I could have used that in the past.


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