Ferret Timing Device

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Jul 13, 2011 | 06:19 PM

540milotalon

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 871

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From: Near Shenandoah Valley

Ferret Timing Device

Just got my new Ferret pulse timing tool. I have a antique timing light. Will I be able to use it? Will I need to buy new light?

Jul 13, 2011 | 06:30 PM

swooshcmk

Elder User

Joined: Apr 2002

Posts: 950

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From: West Bend

Can you dial in the degrees on the timing light or will it only flash when you pull the trigger?

You could get by with one that just flashes, but you'd have to mark your crank pulley for the 8-9*BTDC to line the strobe up to.

A more modern light that lets you dial the degrees in AND gives you RPM readout is the cat's meow

Jul 13, 2011 | 06:52 PM

540milotalon

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 871

Likes: 5

From: Near Shenandoah Valley

Nah, it's a flash only. Could the timing mark be marked using a protractor?

Jul 13, 2011 | 08:57 PM

Otahyoni

Posting Guru

Joined: Jan 2010

Posts: 1,665

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From: Terre Haute, IN

How does a timing light with adjustable advance predict 8° BTDC?

I suppose if you knew the diameter of the balancer you could use some math to turn 8° into a measurement....

Jul 13, 2011 | 10:18 PM

540milotalon

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 871

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From: Near Shenandoah Valley

Well, that's what I was thinking. I've yet to measure anything; but thought, say the Harmonic bal. was 8" multiplied by 3.1416 divided by 360 times the 8*=.5585 measured on the radius. One degree off would be 1/16 of an inch+/-. I used to be that good. As a matter of fact, the older I get the better I was in a lot of things.

Jul 14, 2011 | 04:23 PM

38Chevy454

More Turbo

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 521

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From: Cincinnati, OH

Just as you thought, the mark is about 9/16 inch from the TDC line. I made a new line for the timing. You need to use an inductive timing light, not an old in-line style. I had trouble to get the timing light to pick up the signal, had to fiddle with it some and finally got it to work. A dial back timing light could be used and not need to mark the line on balancer 9/16 inch away.

Jul 14, 2011 | 07:39 PM

540milotalon

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 871

Likes: 5

From: Near Shenandoah Valley

Thanks 38, I was hoping my meds weren't off a little. I might buy a new light soon anyway. Like Swoosh was saying, being able to check the rpm would be nice.

Last edited by 540milotalon; Jul 14, 2011 at 07:47 PM. Reason: typo