Topic: Timing light kills engine

[r6100mph]

Has anyone had the problem when you are trying to time a bike, you pull the trigger on the timing light and it draws amps from the bike and kills the engine?

I have the negative cord hooked up to the negative terminal on the battery

The postitive cord hooked up to the points, either 1-4  or 2-3,  and the

detector cord hooked up to the cooresponding ignition plug wire.  If i'm timing 1-4, then hooked up to cyl 1 plug, and timing 2-3 hooked up to cly 3 plug.

Get the bike idling nice around 1200 for a 75 CB400F, but then pull the trigger and it kills the bike.

Any thoughts?  Thanks!

[HondaMan]

You're not hooking up the light right.

Hook the positive cable to the battery (+) terminal directly.
Hook the negative cable to the engine block or battery (-) terminal.
Then connect the spark lead to the plug of interest.
 

[r6100mph]

Ah hah!  I appreciate the correction! 

I knew I should have gotten more than 3 hours sleep last night.  Not trying to make excuses.  Thanks again!