healeys
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Re: [Healeys] FW: Timing light query

To: simon.lachlan@alexarevel.plus.com, healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] FW: Timing light query
From: warthodson--- via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net>
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2019 13:56:06 +0000 (UTC)
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: healeys@autox.team.net
References: <302695954.6108567.1552917366513.ref@mail.yahoo.com> x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/64.0.3282.140 Safari/537.36 Edge/17.17134
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Simon,Some timing light instructions indicate that the clamp that goes on t=
he #1 spark plug lead must be oriented with a specific side of the clamp fa=
cing the plug. This orientation is probably based on assuming that the car =
has a specific ground polarity. For example negative ground. Since you said=
 your car runs OKish, I=C2=A0 would suggest using the car battery & connect=
 the positive lead of the timing light to a good source of positive voltage=
. Connect the negative lead of the timing light to a good source of negativ=
e voltage. One of these two can be a good ground connection such as the eng=
ine, not a painted surface. I do not recall which way you have the battery =
hooked up so will not suggest where to connect your leads. Finally, clamp t=
he spark plug lead around the #1 plug wire &=C2=A0 with the engine running =
pull the trigger on the timing light see if the light flashes. Some timing =
lights has two brightness settings. Read the instructions to determine if y=
ours does. If yes, try them both. If it is not flashing, try reversing the =
direction the clamp that is attached to the spark plug wire & check for the=
 light flashing again. Finally, I also assume a 123 distributor is not a "M=
SD" multiple spark discharge type of electronic ignition device.Good luck.G=
ary

-----Original Message-----
From: simon.lachlan <simon.lachlan@alexarevel.plus.com>


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iv.yiv2237962354WordSection1 {} --&gt;=C2=A0I started the timing light saga=
 by asking if I could run my lamp off an independent 12v supply. And the an=
swer was =E2=80=9Cyes=E2=80=9D. (A moot point anyhow as my spare battery ha=
s died).At the time of asking I said something like =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ve g=
ot a Mac timing light and it works fine=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D. And it did, last=
 time I used it! Now, it=E2=80=99s =C2=A0about as much use as a chocolate t=
eapot. One little glimmer and then nothing. I shouldn=E2=80=99t have tempte=
d fate=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6It=E2=80=99s a decent looking thing and I somehow d=
oubt that it=E2=80=99s just given up the ghost while sitting in its case.I =
don=E2=80=99t abuse the tool=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6I connect it and disconnect a=
ccording to its rather pedantic instructions and I keep it secure in its ri=
gid plastic case. It=E2=80=99s not been bashed around though I came close t=
his afternoon.Thing is=E2=80=A6.when I had the car tuned for its Webers on =
the rolling road about 2 years ago, the guy tried two lights, one of them a=
 Snap-on, before he could get a reading. That got me wondering about lamps =
in general and then, this afternoon, about my car in particular. And I reca=
lled that these lights seem to be quite fussy in what they like by way of s=
park plug leads. I see that cheapo lights can be had for under =C2=A320.00,=
 say $27.00, on eBay. I could just about run to that, but it would be prett=
y silly if that didn=E2=80=99t work either.(Our two daily drivers are diese=
ls so I can=E2=80=99t try the lamp out on them).What else can I say? Car ru=
ns OKish. (Timing is off!!). It has a 123Ignition distributor which uses ca=
rbon(?) leads. Not copper anyhow. And it has a Sports coil with about 7,000=
 miles on it. Nothing in there looks dodgy, but does it ever?Anybody had th=
is sort of thing happen? Any ideas?Simon =C2=A0 =C2=A0


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<font color=3D'black' size=3D'2' face=3D'arial'>
<div>Simon,</div>

<div>Some timing light instructions indicate that the clamp that goes on th=
e #1 spark plug lead must be oriented with a specific side of the clamp fac=
ing the plug. This orientation is probably based on assuming that the car h=
as a specific ground polarity. For example negative ground. Since you said =
your car runs OKish, I&nbsp; would suggest using the car battery &amp; conn=
ect the positive lead of the timing light to a good source of positive volt=
age. Connect the negative lead of the timing light to a good source of nega=
tive voltage. One of these two can be a good ground connection such as the =
engine, not a painted surface. I do not recall which way you have the batte=
ry hooked up so will not suggest where to connect your leads. Finally, clam=
p the spark plug lead around the #1 plug wire &amp;&nbsp; with the engine r=
unning pull the trigger on the timing light see if the light flashes. Some =
timing lights has two brightness settings. Read the instructions to determi=
ne if yours does. If yes, try them both. If it is not flashing, try reversi=
ng the direction the clamp that is attached to the spark plug wire &amp; ch=
eck for the light flashing again. Finally, I also assume a 123 distributor =
is not a "MSD" multiple spark discharge type of electronic ignition device.=
</div>

<div>Good luck.</div>

<div>Gary</div>
<br>
<br>

<div style=3D"font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----=
Original Message-----<br>
From: simon.lachlan &lt;simon.lachlan@alexarevel.plus.com&gt;<br>
<br>
<br>

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<div>
<div class=3D"yiv2237962354WordSection1">
<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal">&nbsp;</div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>I started the timing light saga=
 by asking if I could run my lamp off an independent 12v supply. And the an=
swer was =E2=80=9Cyes=E2=80=9D. (A moot point anyhow as my spare battery ha=
s died).</span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>At the time of asking I said so=
mething like =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99ve got a Mac timing light and it works fine=
=E2=80=A6=E2=80=9D. And it did, last time I used it! Now, it=E2=80=99s &nbs=
p;about as much use as a chocolate teapot. One little glimmer and then noth=
ing. </span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>I shouldn=E2=80=99t have tempte=
d fate=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6It=E2=80=99s a decent looking thing and I somehow d=
oubt that it=E2=80=99s just given up the ghost while sitting in its case.</=
span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>I don=E2=80=99t abuse the tool=
=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6I connect it and disconnect according to its rather pedan=
tic instructions and I keep it secure in its rigid plastic case. It=E2=80=
=99s not been bashed around though I came close this afternoon.</span></div=
>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>Thing is=E2=80=A6.when I had th=
e car tuned for its Webers on the rolling road about 2 years ago, the guy t=
ried two lights, one of them a Snap-on, before he could get a reading. That=
 got me wondering about lamps in general and then, this afternoon, about my=
 car in particular. And I recalled that these lights seem to be quite fussy=
 in what they like by way of spark plug leads. </span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>I see that cheapo lights can be=
 had for under =C2=A320.00, say $27.00, on eBay. I could just about run to =
that, but it would be pretty silly if that didn=E2=80=99t work either.</spa=
n></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>(Our two daily drivers are dies=
els so I can=E2=80=99t try the lamp out on them).</span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>What else can I say? Car runs O=
Kish. (Timing is off!!). It has a 123Ignition distributor which uses carbon=
(?) leads. Not copper anyhow. And it has a Sports coil with about 7,000 mil=
es on it. Nothing in there <i><u>looks</u></i> dodgy, but does it ever?</sp=
an></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>Anybody had this sort of thing =
happen? Any ideas?</span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span>Simon</span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"><span> &nbsp;</span></div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal"> &nbsp;</div>

<div class=3D"yiv2237962354MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-bottom:12.0pt;"><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
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