need a timing light

[RatLabGuy]

Wasn't sure if this was better here or not, if not, feel free to move it...

I need a timing light/gun, to use w/ my 22re.... hoping Santa would bring it but, oh well.
They range from $10-$200+. Typically i'm good at picking which tools require "investment" and which aren't worth it... but just not sure here.

Is a HF generic $15 gun reliable?
Or is big-name brand the only way to go?
I see the advantage to having an adjustable advance - however the motor has extra tick marks too (5, 8, 12 maybe?) - how mush would I use this? Clearly 1 deg increments would be more accurate.
Tach feature? Seems it'd be more logical to get a good tach gauge for inside the truck?
Are these Equus/Innova jobs any good?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Equu...ewItemQQcategoryZ43989QQitemZ4600351526QQrdZ1

Educate me! Just a shadetree backyard mech and won't use it often, but I want it to be right when I do.

 

[StudNuts]

the el cheapo timing lights work great for basic TDC timing - 0 degrees. But the guns with the timing advance IMO are the only way to go. When you start working on engines with timing points of BTDC and ATDC, youll need the timing advance option in the gun for it to be useful, if not your initial timing pointer on the balance will always be TDC then youll have to manually degree your balancer (timing pointer) and it will read high numbers. The advance gun will make the timing pointer read 0 while setting your timing to your advancement. Im not sure if i made this clear or not, but i tried.

 

[RatLabGuy]

yeah, I think I know what you mean. on this engine, the oil pump has a lip over the balancer w/ a few notches, labeled (I think) 0, 5, 12 or something like that. 0 is TDC and the others are for reference; w/ just inductive timing it flashes @ 0, you can get the "flash" line it up w/ the 5 notch etc by changing ignition timing.
But w/ the "advance" feature, basically you could get any advance w/ some accuracy (say 4, 7 etc). Def an advantage.
I was already leaning towards and advance-enabled one, now I'm sold on it.
Now... is generic okay or major name only safe way?

 

[wbcarver]

Some of this comes from being a mechanic for way too long, but I *think* it is still valid advice for the average person working on their own stuff.

1)
The advance light is the only way to go.

· On your 22RE the marks are pretty easy to see.
· On many other things they are not. But, you can usually make out the zero mark even in grease crud etc.
· My eyes ain't what they used to be. I appreciate the dial more now than ever.

· If you ever want to dial in your advance curve for performance you may be off the scale on the factory timing marks. You will need the advance dial.


2)
Get one with a good clamp-on inductive pickup (No wire pulling required)


3)
Extra stuff like a tach, on the timing light is un-necessary fluff
· And one more thing to screw up.
· If you need those features, get a dedicated tool for it.

4)
Brighter (Higher CP) white or blue-white light makes it easier to see especially if you work outside in the sunlight.
· Sometimes it means the difference between can see and can NOT see.

· Check & compare the specs on the lamp. Or even better, see if you can try out a couple different ones (Borrow etc) before you buy.

· On better quality lights the lens come into play. Focuses the beam better.

5)
Brand name tools = get what you pay for.

· A better brand will have most of the features listed above and you will probably only buy this tool once if you buy a good one.

· Up until a couple years ago when distributors and setting timing during a routine tune-up, pretty much became a thing of the past, my Snap-On Light has been in near daily use for over 20 years. Only had it repaired once.


NOTE: My fault. Timing lights do NOT like direct interaction with steel blade fans.

 

[BUCKETOBOLTS]

I believe Sears sells a nice light with advance. It's not as expensive as some but still has a warranty. I have had my Snap On since '93. I like the digital read out with tach. And I can say I've never had to have it serviced. It even has a large rubber tip for those unexpected flex fan encounters.

 

[Rich]

I believe Sears sells a nice light with advance. It's not as expensive as some but still has a warranty.

I've got that one... works well.

 

[greg slade]

I know the Equus ones are total garbage! Summit sells them and mine did not last a year.

 

[RatLabGuy]

I know the Equus ones are total garbage! Summit sells them and mine did not last a year.

Hate to bring thsi back up.... but...
I bought one of the Craftsman deals w/ Advance on eBay, used. Turns out when I went to go use it, there is some intermittent short in the inductive pickup? Basically it flashes intermiently, always on-time but dadgum it's hard on the eyes like that!
Anyway the seller is cool and refunded my $$ and I'm sending it back to him.

Once I got it I came back to the problem of no tach - well I DO have one in the gauge cluster, but its for the V6 motor and I have the 4 - so it's off by 50%. I need another tach so I can calibrate it (cluster has a little adjuster knob for this, not the cool "switch" some do).
Anyway, buying another tach is $30 min, more like $50+.

So now that I have to buy a gun (again), it'd be cheaper to get the "advanced" equus deal w/ tach built in.

Has anybody else had issues w/ these?