<VV> Good Timing

Sat Feb 20 13:16:21 EST 2016

Frank - When I enrolled in the DeAnza Automotive Technology program, after  
the Army, Snap-On offered a "deal" to all the future Automotive Techs. We 
were  able to buy about $1000 worth of Snap-On tools (in 1971, that was a lot 
of  Snap-On tools!) for half price. It was a defined package and included 
the timing  light. I still have and use most of those tools. I think I am on 
the fourth or  fifth Flex-head 3/8" ratchet. 
- Seth

In a message dated 2/20/2016 9:55:10 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
frankcb at aol.com writes:

Seth,
"40+ years old"  You mean your dad actually let you work on his car  BEFORE 
you even became a teenager??
How lucky can you  get???
Seriously, if all you're doing is  trying to get your Corvair  close to a 
STOCK setting, then you  probably don't need an adjustable timing light as 
long as you have a clear  view of the timing mark at the stock setting.  
However, if, like many of  us; you're "inclined to experiment" then the 
adjustable timing light is  an excellent investment.
Frank "timing is  everything" Burkhard
Boonton,  NJ

-----Original Message-----
From:  Sethracer--- via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
To:  virtualvairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sat, Feb 20, 2016 1:00  am
Subject: <VV> "Adjustable" timing light? - or  not?

The strobe light may be all you need, Ralph. The dial backs  allow you 
change a setting on the timing light, then check it at the  "zero" point on 
the 
balancer/rear cover. On a race motor, you might want  34 degrees of total 
advance at a higher RPM, say 2200. With the dial back  light, you can set 
the 
dial to 34, rev the engine to 2200 and see if the  flashing light ends up 
firing when the mark on the balance is right at the  Zero point on the 
casting. 
Honestly, I do not use one. When the bulb died  on my old Snap-On light 
(replacement bulbs no longer available - it was  40+ years old) I bought 
one of 
the battery powered ones from Flaming River  - also sold under other brand 
names. The batteries just slip inside the  light. It does not have a dial 
back feature. But it doesn't require  hooking up to the vehicle battery 
either 
- Perfect for the Corvair racer  with the battery exiled up to the trunk! 
Just slip the pickup over either  #1 or #2 wire, and aim it at the 
balancer. 
(Mine is already degreed for  easy reading.)

- Seth Emerson 

In a message dated 2/19/2016  7:40:19 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, 
_virtualvairs at corvair.org_ (mailto:virtualvairs at corvair.org)   writes:

What is the advantage of the "Adjustable" timing light?  What does the 
Adjustment actually do?
I have an old strobe pistol type  timing light and it seems to meet the 
needs of a beginner like me,  
Would it be helpful to step up to such a  light?

Ralph
==============================================================

Basically  know as a "Dial Back" it allows you to go off / past the timing 
scale on  most engines and see what is happening above that.

All you do is  keep the strobe on the TDC mark and read the dial or  
meter...

Prior to this you needed to mark the Crank pulley to  be able to see... 
and many engines with full accesories would hide most of  the pulley.

Matt Nall
Charleston, Oregon
http://tinyurl.com/The-Corvair-Patio

http://tinyurl.com/Matts-Tech-Pages

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