Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Timing Light

[BLeinart]

I'm looking for a timing light that I can use to check the timing on my 12v. Any suggestions on a good brand and model.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Never heard of a timing light that works on a diesel

The only way to definitively check it is with a timing kit and a couple hour's labor.

 

[JHansen]

MT257B, Adaptor, Diesel Pulse is an adapter from Snap-On that converts the injection line pulses into an impulse to fire a standard inductive timing light. You would have to have the balancer marked for TDC and then degreed to use a light. I have heard rumors about a magnetic timing tape from Cummins that sticks to the balancer-but have not actually seen one yet.

I have this tool in my assortment of diesel stuff that I might use someday... . :-laf . I plan to use it to monitor timing slippage but have yet to even try it out!

HTH
Jason

PS Hello Vaughn-been a long time since Scotty's dyno day at Calgary-hope all is going well for you.

 

[Doctorman]

When i was trying to set the timing on my truck i called scheid for some questions i had about the dial indicator and they told me they only used a light. You could give them a call talk to Brad (217) 536-5200 im sure they would tell you what they use.

 

[Garlic]

MATCO used to carry a pick up adapter that clamped on the injector line. I own on and a Ferret timing light with advance. I have double checked the light with actual mechanical timing and found it was only off less than 1 degree. I have used this set up on Cummins, early 6. 9's and 7. 3 and Chevy's 6. 2's and 6. 5's.

 

[JHansen]

Never thought about using an advance timing light-that would make things a whole lot easier! Learn something on here all the time... .



Jason

 

[JFaughn]

Where you place the the pick up is going to affect timing lite flash , same as different pop it pressures .
I have not done it yet but , if you get a very good measure of the dampener , divide the lenth by 360 , get a very accurate spot for TDC , put the 0 on that mark , but then pinning the dampener is a good thing to do .

 

[Garlic]

There is 0* indicated on the dampner and with an advance type of light the timing is read on the light itself. As far as where you place the pick up, I am not sure that you will see that much of a difference. Crack pressure, agin still not much of a differencee. I have tried it many locations with most all of the motors and only issue I had was at high idle the pick up will not see all of the pulses. The real adjustable timing is done internally any way, so static or idle timing will be as close as you will get. I have set up pumps using dial indicators and the timing pins when I would get them back from the shop and the light reflected what the markers/and dials said.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Timing light for a diesel, who'd a thunk it?? :-laf Would be cool to spec one out.

PS Hello Vaughn-been a long time since Scotty's dyno day at Calgary-hope all is going well for you.

Hey Jason, was just thinkin' about ya not too long ago, Willyslover and I were doing a little reminiscing and talking about the Stampede event in 2002, my how time flies. Poor Scotty bombed his VP44 remember? That dyno was brutal too. I was looking at my video from that trip and have a good clip of you torque-braking it at low speed past the camera laying down two black stripes Still have the silver Sport??

Vaughn

 

[JFaughn]

A mark on dampener , what dampeners are you talking about ?
I have not worked on every / model of Cummins , but on mine the dampener can be put on in 4 different positions , no key way , so no marks .

 

[WDimig]

you need to find tdc first, and then mark it on the damper, then you can use the magnetic tape to see the timing advance.



wes

 

[JHansen]

Yes, I still have the Silver Cloud. 415000 kilometres on it and still plugging along-I have had to dump some money into it the last couple of years-but it's still a good truck. I have a big project ahead of me now that the weather is getting warm-the gearcase-to-block gasket is leaking so a cam swap is in my future I guess-if I could find a rebuildable ISB for cheap I'd just build something sweet for the old girl and swap it in, then sell the old one... but I suspect it'll be a cam swap. Jason Hoffman and I were reminiscing about that weekend over on DTR last week actually. Tell Gary I said hi if you're talking to him.....



And to keep the thread on-track, Wes, you wouldn't happen to have a part # for that magnetic timing tape would you? I would like to add one to my collection of diesel tools that I use once and file away but the local Cummins dealer doesn't care so much to deal with CTD guys... more geared to the big ones I suppose. I use QuickServe to look up the parts I need and show up with a list-tools are a little different story though.



Thanks

Jason

 

[Huff N Puff]

Thought of a possible problem,with a timing light

On an ignition fired engine,the spark is the source of the timing light tigger. On a diesel fired engine the pulse of pressure that triggers the lamp has a slightly drawn out proccess the pressure has to build then blow the injector open. When does the tigger of the timing light trigger the light,at the beginning of the pressure build up, or the end.

 

[JHansen]

Broke this out yesterday to confirm the timing on my brother's '98-went to time it over the weekend the conventional way and found that either the replacement pump that the dealership put on under warranty way back was a 160 or that the "mechanic" that installed it timed it as such as the lift shown was way off the chart for the engine CPL (6. 05 mm!). I have an Equus advance timing light that I used with the TDC pointer that we made over the weekend (TDC was confirmed by pulling #1 injector and using a dial indicator and extension off the top of the piston through the injector hole). How much delay is generated by the pulse adapter, I cannot tell you-as the chart I have won't read that much lift into degrees. I can tell you that my second hypothesis appears to be correct as the adapter-light combo says 21 degrees BTDC. Think that explains a few things about the truck's performance... .



Jason