Hi Bill,

If you're gonna use a timing light, I'd say a dwell meter is pretty
much indispensable. Switch it to the RPM setting and then you can be
sure that the timing is set to the proper advance at the recommended
RPMs. (950 +/-50 is what I aim for in my aircooled bus).

Idle speed and timing have to be set up together. You NEED a dwell
meter to do that, unless you already have a tach in the engine
compartment.

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com

On 14-Jun-07, at 9:16 PM, oowonbs@netscape.net wrote:

> I have read that some use static timing only. While I will use it
> to get in the
> ballpark, I have always found I can do a couple degrees better with
> far lee
> effort if I have a light. And as parts wear, a dwell meter is
> better than a
> gap measurement. I have a reputation for being good with ands and
> eyes and mechanical sense, and can almost use a vernier caliper for
> a mic.
>
> I am mostly familiar with Hondas, and I cannot see how anyone can do
> as well as a timing light except for a small percentage of folks
> who are
> experienced on certain bikes. Just as gears have slop and lash, timing
> cams and lobes must be turned just in the proper direction to be
> accurate.
> ..which being so near TDC where just by hand turning, pressures build
> up and suddenly release, unless plugs are pulled to relieve
> compression,
> well, it's tough. A timing light makes it a breeze to be DNO, dead
> nuts on.
> Even then, some poor guys have a few tries to get it Right On.
>
> I wish we had a poll just to see t percentages. It's not worth 100
> posts.
> I personally would advise that an inexpensive timing light works
> well for
> most folks. Cheap ones are just poor in the daylight, being less
> bright.
> That said, still, a dumb bulb and alligator clips is nice for a
> rough setting,
> or emergencies. Static, just ain't very dynamic. These ain't
> sitting ducks.
> You use 'em flying, so to shoot them on the fly, better, IMHO, for
> most
> folks. Novices should learn the bulb, then buy/borrow a timing
> light. And
> a dwell meter is really spiffy.
>
> Thanks for the soapbox.
> BillSF9c