I recently bought a timing light off ebay (without instructions).
It has the dial advance on the back and I understand how this works.

Here's my question. The dial goes from 0 - 60 degrees, but it goes
slightly past 60 and slightly under zero. How can I calibtate the dial
to ensure that zero is actually zero on the dial. I don't have access
to a conventional timing light to check the zero spot.

Thanks.

You really should have thought of that before you went for the "bargain".
There is no way to calibrate anything without a stable reference. You're
gonna have to trust it, now - or buy another light. You didn't tell us what
your timing?

-W



"Joe Here" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a timing light off ebay (without instructions).
It has the dial advance on the back and I understand how this works.

Here's my question. The dial goes from 0 - 60 degrees, but it goes
slightly past 60 and slightly under zero. How can I calibtate the dial
to ensure that zero is actually zero on the dial. I don't have access
to a conventional timing light to check the zero spot.

Thanks.

You need a reference.

Go to a shop and ask them if you can check your light against an engine
that's been properly set.


"Clams Canino" wrote in message
news:zLunb.49270$Tr4.105703@attbi_s03...

You really should have thought of that before you went for the "bargain".
There is no way to calibrate anything without a stable reference. You're
gonna have to trust it, now - or buy another light. You didn't tell us
what
your timing?

-W



"Joe Here" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a timing light off ebay (without instructions).
It has the dial advance on the back and I understand how this works.

Here's my question. The dial goes from 0 - 60 degrees, but it goes
slightly past 60 and slightly under zero. How can I calibtate the dial
to ensure that zero is actually zero on the dial. I don't have access
to a conventional timing light to check the zero spot.

Thanks.

Since I don't know what light you have I have selected these instruction to
help you.

http://www.mainlineauto.com.au/produ.../f82manual.pdf
Your on your own

Jack

"Joe Here" wrote in message
...
I recently bought a timing light off ebay (without instructions).
It has the dial advance on the back and I understand how this works.

Here's my question. The dial goes from 0 - 60 degrees, but it goes
slightly past 60 and slightly under zero. How can I calibtate the dial
to ensure that zero is actually zero on the dial. I don't have access
to a conventional timing light to check the zero spot.

Thanks.

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 14:08:31 GMT, "Clams Canino"
wrote:


You really should have thought of that before you went for the "bargain".
There is no way to calibrate anything without a stable reference. You're
gonna have to trust it, now - or buy another light. You didn't tell us what
your timing?

-W

Sorry,

I'm trying to time an old Chrysler 45 HP outboard. It still has the
point/condenser system. The "advance" plate reaches it's maximum
advance at about 3/4 throttle, then backs off slightly at W.O.T.

I'm trying to achieve the timing specs at W.O.T.

Thanks.

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 08:21:52 -0700, "Jack Rye"
.# wrote:

Since I don't know what light you have I have selected these instruction to
help you.

http://www.mainlineauto.com.au/produ.../f82manual.pdf
Your on your own

Jack

Thank you, I think I have it?

Using a test lamp, set the timing to TDC on an old car or such. Then,
at slow idle, see if the timing light agrees with this setting. If
not, use the dial to compensate for the off-set (+ or -2 degrees for
example)

A thought that occurred to me was to fire up the wife's car with #1
plug wire connected to a dummy spark plug. By aiming the light at the
spark plug and the dial set to zero, I could see if the spark and the
light were in sync, or compensate accordingly?

Isn't it funny (!) how it's often the wife's car/hair
dryer/iron/kitchen utensils/scissors that find their way into the
garage for some "take no prisoners" experiment...been there, done
that. It's usually the grease stains the give me away!