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TR2/3/3A Advanced Timing Light for TR3?

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G

GerryL

Jedi Hopeful
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I have seen several previous posts stating the total advance on their engines. Have you found it useful in having the total advance timing light? Did you have any trouble in focusing the timming light on TDC on pulley using triangle pointer?
 
Others may not see the need, but I do like the timing light I picked up that lets me read advance at higher rpms. I bought an Equus brand light a couple of years ago. Very easy to adjust it to line up timing marks at higher rpms and see the advance. My way of thinking, for right or wrong, is I'm typically driving around the 3000 rpm range, and doing shifts at higher rpms when I feel like it so measuring what the distributor is doing in that range is helpful.
 
This is not a TR3 specific comment but I do like advance timing lights. After years of having "regular" timing lights I did some research, read reviews, and purchased an Actron advance timing light with built in inductive tachometer. I found the best price on Amazon. I love the tach function being on the timing light. Having the advance function has proven very helpful when setting the max advance on an engine that only has a few timing marks near TDC.
 
I started using the Equus Innova light when I owned air-cooled cars and obsessed about total advance. Lot's of Porsche 912 people were using that type.
Shooting the light at the marker on a TR3 is a little frustrating because you are not looking straight down. I figure my eyes are seeing the spot + or - a few degrees.
I would not use it for getting the initial timing, static is fine, but for looking at the advance action and total advance the light is good.
The inductive pick-up doesn't seem work very well with solid copper spark plug wires.
John
1960 TR3A
 
Keep in mind that inductive pickups are often "direction sensitive" and have arrows on them that need to point towards the spark plug. If so marked and you orient the pickup correctly (and locate the pickup away from other wires) they generally work well regardless of the type of ignition wire.
 
I like the advance timing, mine is the Sears unit (the sort with the knob on the back). I paint the pointer on the engine with flat white paint to make it easier to see.

A friend has one of those newer digital timing devices and has mentioned some problems possibly due to copper ignition wires and/or non-resistor plugs.
 
Hi Geo!
Paint on the pointer - good idea. I have a spot of white on TDC and a spot of red at 180 degrees. I'll get some white on the pointer next.
John
 
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