My OB community timing meter idea!

[Rot Box]

I'll be honest I've been thinking about this a lot lately As we all know our motors need accurate timing (set with a meter) or they just DO NOT run to their full potential. Forking out the cash for a timing meter is just not in my budget right now and I have a very hard time justifying buying one only to use it just a handful of times. I paid the big bucks to have my timing "professionally" set and overall I'm guessing it was somewhere in the 4-6* btdc range I re-timed it by ear and it runs great, but I would really like to set it with a meter so I know for sure.

I'm just thinking out loud here--what if we all chipped in a few bucks (more people = less money) and bought an official OB timing meter? Not sure about you guy's but I'd be willing to risk $20 or so bucks if someone decided to steal it... Maybe we could track its location here that way we know where to throw eggs if it turns up missing Money wise I'm thinking the initial cost split between us then shipping any time one of us needs it. Any thoughts?

Andrew

 

[gonecrazyi]

I think gary ( icanfixall) is planning to start renting them out.

 

[Exekiel69]

Yep Hes got several and I think He already has loaned some of them and some other special tools. I do not need one right now but hey maybe I will if the ip dies on some of the IDI I drive, I would suggest if it is be a tool for OB members that anyone who gets it is responsible for the tool and it must be a regular and known member. I think it is a good idea.

 

[Ataylor]

Yes, I would be will to chip in some money or pay to rent a known good meter.

Archie

 

[icanfixall]

A new kent moore j33300-a meter costs around $850.00... Then you need the $275.00 magnetic probe. then you need the pluse clamp on probe... don't really know what that costs yet... Yes.... I will be renting out my kent moore meters. The fee is going to be $50.00 plus shipping both ways. Nobody out there will time these engines for less than that plus... Are you going to trust someone to do what they say they are doing... some members have posted here that they paid for timing and when asked about it the guy did it by ear.... Nope.... anyone can do that.... Mel would do it and he is the only person that I would trust to do it by ear because he has done the timing clinics so long. He has an ear and feel for it. He did time by ear and it was 2 degrees off... thats really close but not for him... So he uses a snapon mt1480 meter and its the pluse type method... I just need some time to get things going here. There is a list already started so if you want on the list pm me and your on. Ebay has some listings for meters and I watch those that I feel are worthy but... You can get burned. I know I have... I'm trying to get my money back for a broken meter right now. I have $128.00 invested in it... Around $150.00 to $250.00 is a ballpark number for a good meter.... Problem is finding a good one... Also the snapon mt480 meters on ebay usually don't have the needed lumi probes for them to work. So don't feel you can buy one of those and they will work for around $50.00 to $100.00... Snapon does not sell the lumi probes any longer either. I just happen to have 5 of them from all my ebay buys. Either three or 4 of them are sold to members here. They just need to pm me where to ship....

 

[93f250idi]

A new kent moore j33300-a meter costs around $850.00... Then you need the $275.00 magnetic probe. then you need the pluse clamp on probe... don't really know what that costs yet... Yes.... I will be renting out my kent moore meters. The fee is going to be $50.00 plus shipping both ways. Nobody out there will time these engines for less than that plus... Are you going to trust someone to do what they say they are doing... some members have posted here that they paid for timing and when asked about it the guy did it by ear.... Nope.... anyone can do that.... Mel would do it and he is the only person that I would trust to do it by ear because he has done the timing clinics so long. He has an ear and feel for it. He did time by ear and it was 2 degrees off... thats really close but not for him... So he uses a snapon mt1480 meter and its the pluse type method... I just need some time to get things going here. There is a list already started so if you want on the list pm me and your on. Ebay has some listings for meters and I watch those that I feel are worthy but... You can get burned. I know I have... I'm trying to get my money back for a broken meter right now. I have $128.00 invested in it... Around $150.00 to $250.00 is a ballpark number for a good meter.... Problem is finding a good one... Also the snapon mt480 meters on ebay usually don't have the needed lumi probes for them to work. So don't feel you can buy one of those and they will work for around $50.00 to $100.00... Snapon does not sell the lumi probes any longer either. I just happen to have 5 of them from all my ebay buys. Either three or 4 of them are sold to members here. They just need to pm me where to ship....

Sorry to hijack but if you have any left I would be interested in buying one. Pm me some details and price if you don't mind. Tha ks

 

[RacingSTude]

A new kent moore j33300-a meter costs around $850.00... Then you need the $275.00 magnetic probe. then you need the pluse clamp on probe... don't really know what that costs yet...

Well heck! It looks like I got a pretty good deal, IF the dang thing works, (although he does say he gives a 7 day, money back guarantee).

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Kent...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item2a0b8c5452

I didn't know what the thing was worth, but I was looking on ebay for something to time my '93 F-350. I was trying to decide between two SnapOn meters and the Kent-Moore there. I only bought the Kent because it had both the magnetic & pulse pickups... Hell, I guess every squirrel DOES find a nut every now and then...

I found the luminosity probe harness for the Kent on the 'Net for just $99.65. I'm thinkin' that the luminosity probe is probably much better than the pulse clamp pickup, correct?

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OH! They still have a couple of pretty nice looking SnapOn meters on ebay now!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Snap...t=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item3362b56aa6

SnapOn sells, brand new, pulse-type, self-contained adapter for a "normal" timing light, so you can time a diesel. It's model #MT257B, costs $308.00.

It looks like another company has the same SnapOn type adapter, MUCH cheaper!

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=FERV765-01

 

[Compu Doc]

If anyone wants their truck timed I think Mel Agne will be doing it at the IDI rally in 2011 in PA. I'm sure he is only doing F series trucks and not E series though.

 

[Agnem]

I'll do any 6.9/7.3 IDI that shows up! Vans included.

The main issue with renting out the meters (and this has been discussed before) is the liability to the community in the event of a mishap. For instance, lets say I lent out or rented my meter, and somebody gets the probe wire hung up in the fan blade. Well, there are no replacement parts. Any damage to the meter will be the end of the road for that meter. And all those people who will be lined up to get there timing done next July will most likely be out of luck, and of course I can't help myself then either. If Gary has found a meter that is serviceable and replacement parts can be obtained, then that changes things considerably. I don't squander my meter to be selfish. I squander it to preserve the ability to do it for free to as many people as will have me do it. As much as mine gets used, I probably stand the greatest chance of loosing my meter just from wear and tear.

 

[icanfixall]

Well I'm thinking the lumi method is much more difficult to do because the "connection" to our engines is much more involved than the pluse method.. The lumi method requires you to remove the number one glow plug and intall the luminosity probe..... If you have the lumi probe... the pluse type method is just clamp it and do the timing... really simple timing that way. all you really need to do is make sure the line is cleaned off down to the metal and the crank probe is cleaned too. There are lots of snapon meters for sale on ebay but.... If you don't actually see the lumi probe offered then your sol for sure... I have never seen the probes for sale on ebay... Ever.... One must ask the seller if they are offered and just not pictured in the sellers pictures.

 

[WilltheThrill]

Renting a tool is a good Idea however there is a big risk, How long does adjusting the timing take? how about we list guys who are willing to meet up to simply help eachother. I'm in AZ and would be willing to travel some and pay a guy "rent" for his help timing my truck, I also go to So. Cal about 5-6 times a year. Just an idea, I refuse to pay a shop, (it costs to much and I dont learn anything) but I would pay a guy (help him pay for his tool) to time my truck...

 

[OLDBULL8]

icanfixall said:

If you have the lumi probe... the pluse type method is just clamp it and do the timing... really simple timing that way. all you really need to do is make sure the line is cleaned off down to the metal and the crank probe is cleaned too

Gary, I have the Ferret timing for the pulse timing method. Am I missing something when you say the crank probe is cleaned too? What is the crank probe?

I use the Ferret along with an Actron digital timing light.

 

[icanfixall]

Oldbull... The easy way to time these motors is the pulse method. Both snapon mt1480 meters and the kent moore j33300 meters work the same. You clean the hard line at number one or four. Then clean out the magnetic probe hole at the crank. That uses a 5/16 drill bit. Do that by hand to get the dirt out so the probe makes a good connection. I clean off the dampner too so the pickup line is a good clean cut. These meters can then be connected and all you do is rev up to 2000 rpm and see what the timing readout is on the meter. The meters also show you the rpm. Its that easy. No timing lites are used. Now both of these meters can use a timing lite or the luminosity probe type timing method... Not all the meters offered on ebay have all the needed parts to time our engines. You need to know whats necessary before you go and buy anything. I watch ebay "timing meters" several times a day for new listings. What I see mostly is meters that are incomplete but the selers states thats all you need to time a diesel. The current listings for snapon mt480 meters will not time our engines. Parts are missing from them. Very seldom do you find a complete meter on ebay. Usually they are missing the luminosity probe and those are no longer availablr from snapon. You can buy them for the kent moore meters but they are very expensive. Last I saw a listing was around $300.00 for the probe by itself. If the kent moore meter is missing the magnetic pickup probe thats another $275.00.

 

[WrickM]

ok just throwing in my obligatory. .. I think pulse method is innacurate and provides false sense of security. pulse can't and doesn't allow one to adjust for different fuels, different compression levels for our old engines, or for any factor other than when the IP sends fuel to the injector during the crak cycle. ok wheeew got it out.

I'd be willing to lend out my meter for a fee like icanfixalls if folks are interested in doing luminosity and/or icanfixall doesn't have an available meter. Though since it is my only meter i owuld probably require a larger hold deposit and lesser actual fee since it's an old trusty mt480

 

[FORDF250HDXLT]

ok just throwing in my obligatory. .. I think pulse method is innacurate and provides false sense of security. pulse can't and doesn't allow one to adjust for different fuels, different compression levels for our old engines, or for any factor other than when the IP sends fuel to the injector during the crak cycle. ok wheeew got it out.