[FWDLK] Timing Trick and a little jumping info !!!!

[In Purgatory <number2@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello All.
Just thought i would post this little trick i learned on timing your
6 volt system cars if you don't have a 6 volt timing light. most parts
stores don't carry a 6 volt timing light these days. they all carry a 12
volt unit and don't know if they will work on your 6v system. ( lack of
knowledge behind a Patch on their shirt that makes them certified to know
this )  and trying to find an old one in working order is a hassle.
so here's what i found out from an old  gent at a generator repair
shop that's been open here more than 50 years .

Using a 12 volt timing light on a 6 volt neg. ground system.

No.1  your 6 volt system has to be negative ground. ( we changed our 55 Ply over from pos ground to neg. ground. )
this will not work if one car is 12 v Neg. ground and the other is 6 v Pos. ground, they both have to be Neg. ground!

No.2  pull a 12 volt car up beside your 6 volt car close enough to connect the 12 volt timing light to the 12 volt battery in it.  and also close enough to be able to use it to read the timing marks on your 6 volt car.

No.3  using a pair of jumper cables, make a common ground between the two cars, clamping one side of the cables to a good ground such as the engines.
DO NOT USE  THE  NEGATIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY FOR THIS!

To be sure of a good ground i connected the red side of the jumper cables to the frames on both cars and the black to the engines. Keeping the cables clear of any moving parts !

No.4  you do not need to run the 12 volt car, basically you are just using the 12 volts from this car to  power the timing light . it will not effect the timing in any way on the 6 volt car.

No.5 Time Away !!!!
This worked quite well in tuning up our 55 Ply flat 6.

NOTE: there is a battery powered timing light on the market that will work on all systems, 12 volt neg. ground, 6 volt positive and/ or negative  ground.
but they are expensive.
Also a 6 volt timing light will work on a  6 volt Positive or negative ground system but not on a 12 v system.

Jump starting:
It is possible to jump start a 6 volt system with a 12 volt system as long as both cars are Negative ground. but do not leave them connected for a long period of time as this could cause battery failure or worse, also do not leave the 12 v car running , just utilize the battery to do the work .

And one other thing while on the subject of jump starting , it is possible to fry the computer in a newer car while it is running by jump starting another car .
leaving the jumper car shut off is a much safer way to start another one.
this way you are only utilizing the battery to start the other car and not the charging system . you can charge the system on the dead car by running the jumper car, but do not try and start the dead car while doing this as it will cause a hard drain on the jumper car and possible damage the electrical system. this is a little insight for newer autos equipped with computer systems.
And as usual. Use safety precautions when doing any kind of work around the battery of your car, As we all know- they can blow up and cause personal injury  !

Just some info i learned from the old gent !
All Stay Well
Mark