Topic: Inductive timing light

[davidm]

Should an inductive timing light work for checking the timing on my 76 CB550?  Or do I NEED to use a direct connect.

I have an inductive timing light and it doesn't seem to be working.  I've connected the battery clips to the battery terminals and clamped the inductive pick-up to all 4 cables with no light begin triggered.  Am I missing something?

Thanks
D

[angeldeville]

you only need to do a static timing on them, the light will actually be less accurate.

[Rocking-M]

Hum! Why is the light less accurate? Jes axin

Try making sure you connection is good at the plug wire. You might have to
fiddle with it a bit. I have an old sears one that fell on a header once and
the clamp was melted. I now have to use a zip ty to hold it together but
I can fiddle with it a bit and get a good strobe.

[Bodi]

Are you sure the light works?
Sometimes one direction of the clamp is better than the other.
I've used inductive lights for many years with no problem. My first light was a direct powered neon light, super dim (like I needed near total darkness to use it).

[MrZxp]

Sometimes one direction of the clamp is better than the other.

My timing light has an arrow on the inductive clamp indicating the correct way to connect - with the arrow pointing towards the plug... perhaps yours has also davidm?

[mrbreeze]

I have an old Sun inductive timing light with an advance knob from the 80's.It also has a directional arrow on the probe to make sure you hook the probe to the right direction on the plug wire.

[Gordon]

you only need to do a static timing on them, the light will actually be less accurate.

I'd like to hear more on this subject.

[Ibsen]

If your timing light have "This side against the spark plug" writen on the pick that clamps onto the plug wire try to turn that side away from the spark plug. Im' not quite sure why, but my timing light works that way on cylinder #1. On #4 it works with the clamp the correct way.
My guess is that is has something to do with the direction the power is travelling through the double coil curcuit.