Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by lukester - March 28th 2024 12:26 pm
Crazy mods
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 9:38 am
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
#277021 March 30th 2009 1:27 am
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 12
pooh-bah
OP Offline
pooh-bah
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 12
Hi,

I'd like to ask if anyone has ever seen or knows where I could find the type of timing light with the probe-type inductive pickup that slides into the little tubes next to the harmonic balancer on my 1981 Dodge 318 LA engine?

Really what I'm looking for would be a picture of the inductive pickup...

I've been looking for several hours to no avail... I know such probes existed; they're described in my Chrysler service manuals, and in the manual for my Sunn Sleuth ignition analyzer, but I've never seen one from "in the day".

I have several timing lights, including one which my Son wrecked by allowing the clamp-on pickup to slip over into his Cutlass's headers. I could easily splice a modern in-line inductive pickup in place of the ruined clamp, and maybe use O-rings to hold it in place in the tubes, but I'd like to replicate the original shape if possible.

I believe the original probes had some form of rotary locking mechanism from a reference I read on their use. The article also indicated that using the harmonic balancer as the trigger source was more precise than using the #1 ignition wire, and that all engines leaving the factory were set up using the harmonic balancer and inductive probe technique... Sounds like it would be well worth replicating.

Clear skies!


-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van


[Linked Image]

It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts...

Are you living to work, or working to live?

[Linked Image]

Learning from my own mistakes is good, learning from yours would be much better! [Linked Image]
Re: Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
Ram4ever #277040 March 30th 2009 6:49 am
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
N
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
I've seen it mentioned as well but never seen one in person.


Nate Breece
Re: Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
NateB #286349 April 27th 2009 11:05 pm
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 12
pooh-bah
OP Offline
pooh-bah
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 12
Hey, great news; I actually managed to locate one of these magnetic timing trigger probes, and at the very survivable price of $20 + shipping!

[Linked Image]

My Dodge 318 engine has two separate provisions for mounting this, and from what I've read, these were actually how the engines were timed when they left the factory.

These probes are ideal for checking timing, as they detect the grooves on the harmonic balancer, which is firmly attached to the crankshaft, so the pulse timing won't vary. This eliminates all the nonsense from the slop in the distributor and vacuum advance systems, as well as the potential for erratic trigger signals due to bad spark plug wires, etc.

BTW, in case it might be of use to anyone as a worksheet, here's a copy of the test report sheet that a garage would fill out when your engine was tested with a Sun Sleuth engine analyzer.

[Linked Image]

Clear skies!


-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van


[Linked Image]

It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts...

Are you living to work, or working to live?

[Linked Image]

Learning from my own mistakes is good, learning from yours would be much better! [Linked Image]
Re: Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
Ram4ever #286352 April 27th 2009 11:16 pm
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 211
S
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
S
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 211
Neat! Good thing I never worked on your engine, or that tube for slipping that thing into would be in the garbage. LOL. Seriously though, I've never actually run into one of those, only heard about them in myth from the old guys.


[Linked Image]
Re: Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
streetvan1 #286422 April 28th 2009 7:26 am
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 28,125
Madman!
Offline
Madman!
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 28,125
yeah I've never seen one before either. Great find!


Ken Schwarz
Tricky Truckers, N.J.
Van Clan Plus One, Canada
Manse Vans, Finland
Rebel Vanners, N.J. "USA"
Toopa Sinner Tribe, N.C.

www.showvans.com

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/360991

[Linked Image]

"Coolness ALWAYS trumps comfort"
Re: Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
Superbeast #289464 May 07th 2009 4:22 pm
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 12
pooh-bah
OP Offline
pooh-bah
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 12
It's rainy, so I just took a picture of the tip of the Sun engine analyzer's magnetic timing probe for the heck of it. I haven't made up my mind if it's a Hall effect sensor or an inductive pickup, but since it uses 3-wires, it's probably a Hall effect sensor.

[Linked Image]

Clear skies!


-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van


[Linked Image]

It's what you learn after you know it all, that counts...

Are you living to work, or working to live?

[Linked Image]

Learning from my own mistakes is good, learning from yours would be much better! [Linked Image]
Re: Inductive pickup (not clamp-type) timing lights?
Ram4ever #289476 May 07th 2009 4:42 pm
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
N
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
Looks like a colonoscopy probe! Ahahahahah!


Nate Breece

Moderated by  Astro, nautic1, Ram4ever 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 17 guests, and 8 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 129
CatFish 25
frscke1 25
Wedgy 21
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,746
Posts537,916
Members12,724
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4