Confused by digital timing

[ncbugeye]

Being an old-fashioned guy I find these new-fangled digital timing lights rather initimidating. The instructions do not seem to make sense, perhaps they were written by someone for whom English is not the native language.

I have the Actron Digital CP7529 which I purchased from PepBoys, OK, OK, OK, everywhere else was totally out of stock just before Christmas. It has a whole array of buttons on the back and a little display.

Can anyone please, in the context of a Bugeye with a 1275:
<ul>[*]remind me how to set the base timing initially, it has been well over 30 years since I last did it
[*]provide me with a simple set of instructions on how to set the centrifugal advance with this Actron gun thing, and possibly check out the vacuum advance to see if it is working OK. Do I need a vacuum pump?[/list]For a start I have noticed it is d**n near impossible to get to see the timing marks on the crankshaft pulley.

I would be ever grateful.

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Chris,
I tried to use one of the very same lights, for the same reason. They are a complete joke. It's got more junk on it than anyone needs & it doesn't even work reliably. In the instructions they warn you (small print) to use a resistor core wire on the #1 plug. Even when following directions it jumps from one mode to another & is wildly inaccurate. It's now in the junk pile.

Went back to my very old but reliable Sears model 213400 (1963) & have had no trouble since. I suggest you beg or borrow a known good timing light before going any further. There is a lot to go wrong with the "dial back" timing lights & it's important to get it right.
D

 

[dklawson]

Thanks for the information. I'd considered buying one of these a while back.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I bought a cheap Innova 3568+ at a swap meet. It was "dead on" according to my dad's "tried and true old blue" timing light. I've only used it about a dozen times, but it seems to work well and only four buttons on/off, strobe on/off, +adv, -adv.

It shows the rpm and adv simultaneously on large LCD.

 

[jlaird]

Sears model 213400 (1963)I have one of those as well, works great. could not have been expensive or I would not have it from back then.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

I also got a new Timing Light for Christmas. Need to come up with some sort of pointer and reference that is 180 degrees off maybe mark the reference pointer with white nail polish or something like that.

As I understand using the dial back timing lights.

Adjust dial scale to zero.
Connect and fire up engine
Set timing at idle speed, whatever that is in a Spridget.
Speed up engine speed to X RPM
Readjust dial scale so that timing marks show as zero.
Scale will indicate what type of advance you are actually getting at X RPM.

Haven't taken the Timing Light out of the box yet. Getting too old to crawl under engine to use. Have timed strictly by ear so far.