Timing Lights

[steveplym]

Do timing lights work good on the 6V cars? I'm probably gonna get my engine running this weekend and was thinking about making a purchase. Found a 12V one at Autozone, but wondered if it would work on my car or if I would have to hook it up to a 12V battery.

[oldmopar]

That how I do it get the power for the 12V and make other connections on the car,

[Normspeed]

Same here, I hook mine to a 12 volt battery, and the pickup to the plug wire. Even a charged up motorcycle battery will do. I usually use the deep cycle battery for my boat's trolling motor.

[randroid]

Gents,

I use both a 12v timing light and 12v dach & dwell meter on my stock '48 P-15 and have never had a problem as long as I have the polarity correct.

-Randy

[Jim Saraceno]

I recently bought a timing light and it works just fine with my 6 volt system. It was a fairly inexpensive one from AutoZone and it's made by Actron.

[steveplym]

I recently bought a timing light and it works just fine with my 6 volt system. It was a fairly inexpensive one from AutoZone and it's made by Actron.

That is the one I am looking at buying Jim. Thanks for the responses. I thought you could hook it up to 6V, but may not be as bright. No problem. If I run into one I'll hook it up to a 12V battery.

[Normspeed]

Mine's an older Sears light with a plastic case. It does work off the 6 volt but it's pretty dim. I like a bright light so I hook it to 12 volt.

[Reg Evans]

I've been using this type for a while now and love it. Works on 2 D size batteries and simply clamps over #1 plug wire while the engine is running. No need to pull #1 plug wire.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Timing-Light-SBC-Chevy-350-Ford-IMCA-Chevelle-Mustang_W0QQitemZ300189740028QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300189740028

[Don Coatney]

I have said this many times before. If brightness is an issue try this. Connect the high voltage lead to the coil wire as opposed to the #1 spark plug wire. The light will then fire every time the coil fires but it will still strobe only the number one cylinder timing mark. Try it. It does work.

[Normspeed]

Don, I tried it but it was still dim using 6 volts as the power source.

[Don Coatney]

Normspeed;

Thank you for trying it

[Normspeed]

Heck Don, I've learned so many good tips and tricks from the forum, I can't count them all. Never got a bum steer from you!

[Norm's Coupe]

I have a cheap universal light that works on either or. However, it's very dim on my coupe with the 6 volts. I also bought another timing light off ebay a few years ago that was new in the box. It works on any voltage car. Gets it's power for the light from any 110V electrical outlet. Just plug it into the wall outlet or an extension cord and you're good to go. It works great and is nice and bright.

[bob_amos]

Most, but not al, will work on 6 volts. The intensity will suffer a bit but it'll probably work just fine. I have been doing itin my shop for years.

[steveplym]

So when hooking up the light to a 6V positive ground system red lead would go on ( - ) and black on ( + )?

With engine running this would be the correct polarity?

[Heavy Flat Head]

So when hooking up the light to a 6V positive ground system red lead would go on ( - ) and black on ( + )?

With engine running this would be the correct polarity?

No! The red goes to the postive post of the battery and the black goes to the negitive post. The timing light does not care about the car ground but, it does care about how it is hooked up to the battery.

Ed.

[steveplym]

No! The red goes to the postive post of the battery and the black goes to the negitive post. The timing light does not care about the car ground but, it does care about how it is hooked up to the battery.

Ed.

Thanks for the tip. Knowing me I probably would have hooked it up wrong.

[Don Jordan]

I went to a swap meet and found a 6v timing light - but I've never seen them in stores.

I got a 6v tach and dwell from Sears.