hey gents i got a timing light on ebay awhile back and i only used it a few times to set my base timing. it has the dial back **** on the gun for setting total timing but i dont have the instructions for this gun and have no clue how the dial back works. any ideas how this thing works? thanx

 

Those dial back lights with built in retard/advance feature, particularly the cheaper ones, are notorious for being inaccurate, anywhere from 2-10 degrees inaccurate!

Also, they won't work with MSD ignitions which iirc your truck has.

Use five different dial back lights and I bet you get five different readings.

Just use some timing tape, a tach, and an "old school" fixed timing light to check/set total.

 

When you say "old school" do you mean old school like this that isn't even inductive?

 

riverguideguy, with a dial-back light, and the engine at 3000rpm, turn the dial clockwise and you'll see the timing mark on the balancer "retard" and move closer and closer to the 0-degree mark on the timing tab. Keep turning the dial until the timing mark lines up with the 0-degree mark, check to see how many degrees you've dialed in on the light, and that's your total timing. Easy!

 

You can probably get a manual on-line if you search. I've got free manuals for lots of things. Several different sites have them.

 

That's old old school

Those old Sears timing lights are some of the best, I still use an 80's era Sears/Craftsman timing light (inductive) works like a charm.

::: DRO ::: Tech Section - In Tune with the Times - 10/7/05

 

The one I pictured used to be my dad's when I was a kid. I don't use it anymore. For day to day use I use one like you have except mine is 90's not 80's.

 

Agreed!
Those new fangled dial-a-degree lights have too many moving parts for me...
Just use your "real" (read old school) light, read the degrees at the pointer at your desired RPMs....adjust advance accordingly, and, POOF! You're done!

 

i do have MSD so that means the dial back part wont work for me?

that sounds pretty easy but will it work with my MSD? ill find out tomorrow but if anyone knows tonite let me know

 

That's correct, you should be able to set base timing when the light is set to zero and/or the dial back **** is turned off.

But once you set the dial back **** to 32-38 degrees to check/set total timing and rev the motor to 2500-3000 rpm the multiple spark discharge i.e. MSD will "confuse" the light and you'll never get an accurate reading.

 

montana you were right. when i tried to check total timing all the light did was jump all over the place. didnt matter where i set the dial back i couldnt read it. look like it jumped from 25 to 45 but was hard to tell it was so fast. anyone want to buy a timing gun haha

 

No harm no foul, hopefully you didn't spend too much on it.

 

hmmm. Never had a problem with the MSD box and timing lights on the race trucks. Intersting.

 

With a conventional timing light there are no problems, the problems arise when a dial back light is used, MSD's own website says not to use them.