Digital timing light / solid core wire

diy83sc · 01-19-2003, 07:44 AM

Hi,

I picked up on eBay a snap-on digital timing light 2261 but am having problems reading the tach and suspect that the timing reading may be off. For instance, I preset the light to 12 BTDC, hoses plugged, aligned Z1 with the fan housing mark. I then reset the light to zero advance and the timing mark appears to be between Z1 and 5 BTDC. The manual says that solid core wire will give inaccurate readings and suggests replacing the number 1 wire with a conventional wire. Has anyone had similar results?

Tony

Superman · 01-19-2003, 08:32 AM

Solid core IS conventional wiring. And besides, I can't imagine why there would be a problem with the type of wire. One type of wire is not 'slower' than another. It's a matter of resistance. Copper core wire has little or no resistance. I've never heard of the type of wire having any effect on timing lights. I know I still have a lot to learn, but this is a new one.

Perhaps you can compare with a known, non-advance light.

tryan · 01-19-2003, 08:40 AM

yes, use an old wire on the #1 and try it. i may sound stupid but is the advance dial set up for an 8 cylinder? have you replaced your points or checked the dwell. .001 wear on the points can throw off the timming 2-3 degrees.

i put a mallory unilite on the boat and the stainless steel wires where not compatible with the pick up. feed back problems. the digitital gizmos in the light might be picking up some emf. hold the light further away and see if that effects the readings.

set your dwell and then set the advance on the light to zero and pick up the advance mark for idle. then check total advance with the dial.

diy83sc · 01-19-2003, 06:33 PM

Superman and tryan, the pickup apparantly has some incompatabilities. From the manual, "Solid core and some special application aftermarket spark plug wires can cause improper operation of the timing light." Yeah, I couldn't believe it but it's infact the case. Maybe tomorrow, I 'll head to the local parts shop and pick up a single... Kinda reminds me of a separate thread where the discussion wandered off to whether CD's are better than LP's

Thanks, Tony

Superman · 01-19-2003, 09:26 PM

CDs are impressive at first, but LPs are better. Higher fidelity, believe it or not, and warmer sound.

It may be that some wire types work more poorly with certain timing lights, but the problem would not cause the timing light to fire a few degrees away from 'actual.' the problem would be something else, like not firing the light. Sometimes, you have to hold the inductive pickup jaws closed.

There are technologies I like (TV remote controls for example), but weird-core ignition wires are not among them. I'm a copper core man.