Checking timing with a timing light...

I was trying to get the timing set on my bike today using a timing light. The cheap piece of junk died on me today in the middle of the process, that's another story though.

Anyhow, it seems like when I move the inductive pickup to the #3 plug wire and shine the strobe at the timing marks it still illuminates the 1/4 marks more than the 2/3 marks. Is this normal, should I be using the 1/4 F mark all the time no matter which plug wire I'm hooked to?

I bought a new timing light today so maybe the cheap light was part of my problem. Won't know until I get some more time to tinker.

Post edited by: savedrider, at: 2006/06/28 22:05

It must be your timing light. On mine it works great, put the inductive pickup on 1-4 and shine the marks and they are just rock steady on the 1-4 marks, switch to 2-3 and same thing. Works great. I never see the wrong marks illuminated.

Good info, thanks for the reply! This will help as I should get some wrench time in tomorrow. Cheers!

My timing lite's an old PoS, and I was having trouble with it when I was clipping to the #3 or #4 wires. Since I was sitting on the right side of the bike, it's convenient to clip to the right side wires. But the light kept cutting out when I rev'ed the engine.

I clipped the lite to the #1 and #2 wires, and, presto. Works perfect. Don't know why.... I know I'm getting good spark on 3 & 4.

If the 3&4 wires are laying one on the other, you could be getting BOTH firing pulses being picked up by your induction clip... That is why they have cable holding brackets on the valve cover... to keep the wires from laying atop each other.