Lots of good stuff in the forums on setting ignition timing using an inductive strobe light BUT I don’t understand why I can’t just use my old light simply wired in series with the no.1 plug. It will surely flash every time the plug sparks so job done, I’d have thought.
Grateful if anyone could explain please. Thanks
Colin
The old lamps that were powered by the sparkplug leads will work but tended to need a dark garage as they were not that powerful.
The inductive coupled lights were more expensive and had a brighter light.
So both work but the more expensive ones are easier to use.
Mine still works after 40 years although I totally agree about the dark garage.
R-b
Thanks Guys. Yeah, my strobe’s 40 years old too!
I guess I still have to bridge the TEN & GND terminals in the data link? Do you know why that is pls?
To stop the ECU dynamically changing the ignition timing due to signals from the engine sensors.
With the bridge in place you are getting raw ignition advance.
Yes indeed. You set the base idle timing, and the ECU adds advance to that as required by engine conditions like throttle setting, revs and airflow. Basically you’re doing exactly the same as you used to, it’s just that a computer is now attached where the vacuum advance used to be so you have to disconnect that first.