Does this type of tool exist to accurately set Timing on Diesel??????

[Dionysius]

I would like to know if a Timing tool exists for diesels. It would consist of a transducer strapped on to the #1 hi pressure fuel line. The "pulsing" of this line would register an electrical signal via the transducer. This signal would then activate a Timing Light with which to derive timing from the harmonic balancer marks. The transducer could operate on the principle of a strain gauge, piezo effect, acoustic, etc.

[leathermang]

You must be psychic !!! I have heard one of those does exist !!!
Someone used theirs to calibrate to the drip method I think...

[Dionysius]

Originally Posted by leathermang

You must be psychic !!! I have heard one of those does exist !!!
Someone used theirs to calibrate to the drip method I think...

How does the drip method claim to work? Could it be of any accuracy. Would be very subjective.

The drip method is plenty accurate enough! There is a piezo electric sensor that can be used with a timing light if you enjoy unnecessarily spending money. You can do the drip method with a drip tube that costs $10 or $20. Or you can make your own drip tube and the whole project will cost nothing.

[leathermang]

Originally Posted by Dionysius

How does the drip method claim to work? Could it be of any accuracy. Would be very subjective.

I am sure the drip method has no importance in accuracy of setting the timing on these diesel engines.... the only reason anyone even tries it is because it is specified in the Mercedes Factory Shop manual as the correct procedure. What could people who made the car and spent millions on Research and Development know about setting the timing on these engines ? Nothing... do not use the drip method or your risk blowing up your engine... just like using ether ... one way or the other you are going to blow up your engine....
LOL

[sasquatchgeoff]

try here

here

and here

[tbomachines]

Wouldn't that method depend on the IP being timed 100% accurately? AFAIK it should be timed until you replace the chain.

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by leathermang

I am sure the drip method has no importance in accuracy of setting the timing on these diesel engines.... the only reason anyone even tries it is because it is specified in the Mercedes Factory Shop manual as the correct procedure. What could people who made the car and spent millions on Research and Development know about setting the timing on these engines ? Nothing... do not use the drip method or your risk blowing up your engine... just like using ether ... one way or the other you are going to blow up your engine....
LOL

LOL

[compu_85]

I guess I need to understand further how the drip method works... the idea of counting drips / time seems very inaccurate to me. I do want to get a timing light eventually so I can verify my timing advance is working correctly.

-Jason

[Diesel911]

They do have devices just as you have described and there is several threads and posts (they also come up for sale on eBay ounce in awhile). You still have to time you IP using one of the other methods. After that you hook up your device and see what degrees the timing light shows.
From then on you can use your device.
The reason you cannot just strap the device on to the IP and look in a book for the setting is that the Pulse has to be taken through the Steel Hard Line and not all hard Lines are a like in terms of transmitting the pulse.
Next the Drip Method is a static method and a Pulse Picup type of devic would be a dynamic method so they may not be able to be compared.

Originally Posted by compu_85

I guess I need to understand further how the drip method works... the idea of counting drips / time seems very inaccurate to me. I do want to get a timing light eventually so I can verify my timing advance is working correctly.

-Jason

The counting of the drips is not an issue. You don't have to worry about it being one drip a second or one drip every two seconds. The main thing to watch for is a drip. The position where it does not flow at all is only a degree or so from the position where it flows in a stream.

If it's dripping once every 30 seconds then you should move it a touch so that you see it drip ABOUT once a second. If it's dripping once every five seconds you're still VERY, VERY close.

Try it and you'll see what I mean. Once you have it dripping as opposed to no flow or a stream, lock it down and you will be right in there. Just don't get carried away trying to see exactly one drip per second. That would drive you crazy.

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by Diesel911

They do have devices just as you have described and there is several threads and posts (they also come up for sale on eBay ounce in awhile). You still have to time you IP using one of the other methods. After that you hook up your device and see what degrees the timing light shows.
From then on you can use your device.
The reason you cannot just strap the device on to the IP and look in a book for the setting is that the Pulse has to be taken through the Steel Hard Line and not all hard Lines are a like in terms of transmitting the pulse.

The relationship on the 617 is as follows:

When the engine is properly timed with the A-B lights (15° ATDC), the pulse timing will read 14° BTDC.