timing tape install/timing light accuracy

[Rapid Robert]

I have a quality dialback but several sources say they regularly can be inaccurate. should I invest in a regular non dialback light to confirm readings? installing a timing tape if i clean the surface & glue it down with superglue does that sound like a workable plan? thank you for your time. RR

 

[Newbomb Turk]

The truth is it doesn’t really matter.

You can have 4 different timing lights and they can all read differently. Part of that is what’s called slew rate.

Think about how points work. They mechanically take time to open and close.

It’s the same with whatever electronics are used. They are electric switches. So they take time to switch on and off.

Some switches are faster than others. There are also differences in the various lights but I’m not clear on those. But there are differences even in the lights.

Saying all that, as long as YOU use YOUR timing light on YOUR engine and the plugs are telling you the timing is correct you are golden.

Where you run into issues is when you try and use your light on an engine that was timed with a different light. Your light may say 10 degrees at idle but the other said 12.

As long as you use your light on your stuff the numbers don’t really matter.

I’d keep what you have and use it.

If you go to the track and forget your timing light and you borrow one you could get into trouble.

Outside of that you don’t need a different light.

 

[Inertia]

My personal experience, and reading discovered that the induction pick-ups are so sensitive, and the high tension voltages are Soo hi, the pick-up triggers from the orher h/t wires nearby.
If you isolate or move the induction pick-up away from other wires, down by the spark plug, not up in the loom, - the roaming scatter/ multi-flashes can be greatly reduced.

 

[RustyRatRod]

The digital dialback lights are pretty close. The ones with the dial on the back and sticker for the degree gauge......not so much. It's best to mark the balancer anyway, leave the light on zero and let the engine be the dial back. Much more accurate. Least in my opinion.

 

[Rapid Robert]

good info, I do have an "innova" digital. thanks guys. I am going to squeaky clean the dampener & superglue the tape unless someone suggests a different glue or maybe just use the tape loose to mark the dampener as suggested. RR

 

[toolmanmike]

good info, I do have an "innova" digital. thanks guys. I am going to squeaky clean the dampener & superglue the tape unless someone suggests a different glue or maybe just use the tape loose to mark the dampener as suggested. RR

The digital advance lights are fairly accurate. @halifaxhops checks them out and has found a lot of the dial ones that are off a ways.

 

[4spdragtop]

Hey Robert, read thru this.
How to - Hillbilly Timing Tape