What timing light?

[swamp-fox]

My 1978 90hp is drying from a new paint job right now. Hopefully Saturday I will put it back together.
I know I need a timing light, so I went to the local auto part store. There was a digital and inductive....Which one should I get? What is the difference, besides about $60 in price.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What timing light?

The cheapest one is fine. Digital is not necessary. You do not need any bells or whistles.....

 

[sschefer]

Re: What timing light?

The cheapest one is fine. Digital is not necessary. You do not need any bells or whistles.....

Agree, just make sure the light is the brightest you can get or you'll need to do your timing somewhere that's shaded from direct sunlight. Automotive timing lights are made for using in a shop and a lot of the time your outboard will be outside and the flash of the light will be difficult to see.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

Ok, well if I'm going to be in sunlight, I guess a digital will be the best?

My plan was to time it on the trailer at night, so I could have the place to myself. But I don't know if the way my trailer is made, if I will be able to strap it down good enough to run it WOT. So I might have to do it on the river during the day.

Basically the only real difference is the digital is easier to read? Like the difference in a analog and digital watch?

 

[ajgraz]

Re: What timing light?

Could be way off here, but my guess is the digital has a tach in it, the cheaper does not. If you got a working tach in the dash, you do not need that feature. And unless you can change the number of poles on the digital or on any built-in tach feature, it may not work for you anyway.

Cheapy inductive is gonna be fine. There may or may not be a difference in brightness, but a shade structure or even a dark umbrella over your shoulder helps if using in broad daylight.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

Ok that helps thanks! I do have a tach, however it's 30years old like the motor. It was working the last time the motor was running but I don't know how accurate it is.

One more question. While searching on ebay to look at different types I found some self powered timing lights. They run off 2 D batteries. Has anyone ever used this type. Because this is the boat I'm running, all the back is closed in and trying to run cables to the battery will be a pain.


Thanks for the help!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What timing light?

Swamp, You can get power for the timing light from the motor, where the battery cables connect. You also can time it without running the motor at all. This is much safer for you and much better for the motor.

Simply remove spark plugs 2-6 from the motor, and install them into the plug wires. Now tape the bases together and ground them to the block. Remove the prop. That motor has a distributor right? If so, set the throttle to the spot where the carbs just start to open. Now, with the key on, jumper the starter solenoid to crank the motor. The timing should be 4-6* BTDC. Open the throttle wide and check timing. Max spark advance is 21* BTDC.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

I didn't even think about using the leads on the motor for power...duh..I also didn't know that procedure. I've read a bunch of threads and different manuals and haven't found that. That sounds a lot better! I think I will do that.

I called up a cousin who I didn't think about before, that has hot rods and he has a timing light.

Thanks to all, glad I asked!!!

My plan is to put the motor back together Saturday, bring it home for the July 4th and hit the water. Hopefully I wont have to many questions...lol

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: What timing light?

I hope you changed the impellar??

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

I changed it about a 1 1/2 years ago, the last time it ran. I ran it 2 times on the water for about 10minutes each, then the distributor went out. It's been sitting under a shed since then.

It should be alright, right?

 

[bktheking]

Re: What timing light?

I'm missing the connection here, why do you need a timing light after a paint job, did you mess with the timing when removing the powerhead to paint? I'm thinking not, if the motor was running fine before paint then you don't need to time it.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

HA HA, Sorry I guess I added to much information to the first post.

The distributor went out 1 1/2 years ago. I now have new one.(used one) I decided to change everything..switchbox, stator, rectifier, carbs, fuel pump, etc.
Since I had all of that off I figured I would give it a fresh coat of paint and decals.
Now the painting is done and I'm putting it back together this weekend.

I'm trying to have all my ducks in a row and get everything I need so I can get it done.

Sorry for confusion, again thanks for all the help guys.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What timing light?

OK, do you have a service manual? The idle pickup timing is set by moving the brass collar on the midsection of the distributor. This collar had the fingers that open the carbs. The balance of the settings (idle stop, max spark adv, throttle stop) are above the distributor on that small black plate.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

Chris
Yes I do have one, however it's not a very good one. I have downloaded a general manual and with the book I have, I've been reading alot on how to do it. I've been reading threads on iboats and printed the lync and sync off also.
I think I know in general what to do. Though I will try your way, none of those places say to do it like that. That must be one of those old boat mech tricks...

One question (and I don't know if I should start a new thread) is How do I get the spark plug wire out of the coil? I know the ones that go to the distributor cap unscrew. When I tried to unscrew it last night it didnt look like it was doin anything. I didn't want to mess the wire up....I have a new coil is the reason I want it out...

 

[bktheking]

Re: What timing light?

I believe they just pull out, there is a metal clip on the end that acts like a spring fit.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What timing light?

Yes, the high tension lead pulls out of the coil. However, I can't think of any reason to remove it unless you have a bad coil.

The reason I do the timing and synch the way I do is that I do not have a test tank or a test prop to use. I do not want to set max timing on the boat at full throttle, as top speed is in the 60s on my speedboat, and I don't want to run the motor at high speed w/o a load on it.

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

I bought a new coil. I know I didn't have to but I wanted everything as new a possible, not 33 years old. About the only thing on it that is from '78 is the distributor. I'll just keep the old one incase the new one goes out...ha ha...
One place I go is the Atchafalya Basin to duck hunt. It's about a 20mile ride. Then if something breaks and I can't get to the bank or sand bar, I could be in Cuba before the coast guard gets to me.
And yeah I hear you about the going 60mph.
I would have had to sit in my splash well..Wasn't crazy about doing that with a spinning flywheel going 30mph.
Your basically just turning the motor over right? You disconnect the gas line? I just realized you have to use the jumper because it won't spin or start if the throttle is in forward and WOT or forward and idle?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What timing light?

Yes the jumper defeats the neutral interlock, so you can crank the motor in gear. This saves disconnecting the shift cable from the motor. Removing the prop saves your feet from the blades, while cranking. Gas line can be on or off. You are only cranking for a few seconds, then adjusting, cranking, adjusting.....

 

[swamp-fox]

Re: What timing light?

Yeah I do like my feet. I was going to wait and do that step of the timing next week, because that is when I will be able to borrow the light. But since it's that easy, I'll probably won't be able to wait and I'll just buy one.