Ignition Timing With A Light

[miamichris 9]

Would anyone care to explain the process of setting my ignition timing using a timing light? Its on my Xs btw.

 

My brother gave me a timing light he found in his work and I'd like to know how to use the thing It seems quite old but works alright, I had a go the other day and here's what I did.

 

1. Took ht lead off spark plug in no.1 cylinder (clutch end) and plugged one end of the timing light onto the spark plug and the other into the ht lead.

2. Set my engine to tdc so that the timing pins would go in, took off the timing plate at the gearbox and I could see a line scribed on the flywheel so I highlighted that with a tipp-ex pen.

3. Gave the timing plate a clean up and noticed a notch at 0 and one at 8 (does that mean 8degrees btdc and 0 is tdc? ) then bolted the timing plate back on, started it up and turned the garage lights off and pointed the timing light in there.

 

I could see two white looking lines beside each other and as I rotated the dizzy the RH line got longer or shorter than the LH one, so I moved the dizzy until both lines were the same length and tightened the dizzy back up.

 

Was what I did ok? I got most of the info from my haynes book, but it doesnt go into too much detail about it. I gather my ignition timing should be set to 8 degrees btdc, is that right? I think i'm on the right track but just wanted to check i'm not missing anything

 

I put a new vacuum advance unit on it about a month ago and changed the vacuum pipe from the carb as it was restricting the vacuum getting to the unit, so that should be working fine now I think! Cheers.

[jackherer 543]

The problem with setting ignition timing on an older car with a strobe is that the book figures are for 80's four star fuel. So even if you get it spot on it isn't going to be optimum for the unleaded fuel you use now, which could be one of several different octane ratings.

 

IMO the best method is to fill up with your usual fuel (95 or super/97/98 whatever) and drive at low to medium revs in a high gear up an incline to load the engine and listen for pinking. Advance the timing bit by bit until you do hear pinking and then retard it a little and this will be pretty much peak power for that fuel.

[Anthony 1,003]

Also, as the dizzy wears and advance springs stretch, the book figure timing at idle may well result in incorrect timing further up the rev range where it's far more critical.

[miamichris 9]

Thanks for your replies fellas, so basicaly the timing light is of no use to me then!

 

What does pinking sound like?? It just happens I have such an incline in my back yard!