I have a snap-on diesel pulse adapter and nice stroboscopic timing light. Looking at threads in the search, I see folks commenting on a pulse light and setting for 14° BTDC. The pulse light being described, is that a special mercedes tool or similar to what I've got going on? Is 14° BTDC the correct timing for me?

Andrew

Oh come on, no one has used a pulse adapter and stroboscopic timing light???

Andrew

Do you mean what it referred to here as 'RIV' or 'A-B' timing light?

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Peter and I did some stroboscopic confirmations on the SD. When the SD is perfectly timed at 15 ATDC with the RIV lights, the pulse adaptor on #1 shows 14 BTDC.

So, I'd feel confident that you can time it to 14 BTDC and be within one degree of specification.

I don't know what either of those are. How do they connect? What do they read?

Mine is a standard diesel pulse adapter. It has a piezo sensor that clamps onto the injection line. When the pulse of fuel occurs, the line expands slightly and then is released when the beginning of injection occurs. That slight expansion compresses the piezo crystal slightly and then releases it. That generates a slight current. The pulse adapter translates that slight current into a signal that corresponds to a typical spark signal. A standard gasser inductive timing light then reads the signal and does the typical gasser strobe thing.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?store=snapon-store&item_ID=78287&group_ID=1389

It is an easier and more accurate method of timing than mechanical methods, as it measures the actual start of injection automatically "compensating" for pump wear or injector pop pressure.

Andrew

I understand exactly what you have.

Set the timing to 14° BTDC with that unit.

Brian, I wrote my last post prior to reading your first post but apparently hit send after you did. It was a response to Mr. Watts. Anyway, your information is exactly what I was looking for. Much easier than making my own comparison. Many thanks.

Andrew

Also, with regard to "it sometimes takes 24 hours for a response", I was happily patient, but have found that if one waits 24 hours before "bumping" the thread, it's on page 4 and not read by anyone. Thanks all for the responses.

Andrew

No sweat. I'm sure it can work for you at 14°.

If it falls off page one..........waiting 24 hours is usually fruitless. Feel free to bump it.

I a curious; did some sort of timng guide from Snap-On come with the unit?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

There are instructions on how to hook up the pulse adapter, but no specific guide on timing any specific engines. It's value lies in very accurately determining the start of injection on almost any diesel engine. To time a specific engine whose manufacturer does not "support" this method, you need to get a baseline reading (such as what Brian Carlton presented) by timing using the recommended method and then installing the pulse adapter and getting a baseline reading. Then that baseline reading can be used the next time.

Brian Carlton, I assume you set the idle speed accurately prior to the readings you took and that the reading was taken at idle? Just checking.

Andrew

That there looks and sounds like one cool tool. Wouldn't that be more accurate and easier to use than the RIV A/B tool? Care to loan it out?

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1998 E300D, 287k, barely broken in.

It is a very nice method. You don't need to disrupt the fuel system at all to check timing. It will even show the dynamic advance and so if you know a proper curve for a specific engine you can confirm that function as well. The timing light I have also has a tach feature which works great for tachometer calibration as well. I wouldn't want to loan it out, but they do occasionally come up on eBay.

Andrew

I have access to a MAC tool pulse adapter... should work on a 81' 240 I assume?

Is the RIV better or the Pulse setup..

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81' 240d 4 spd 140k on the clock

For you the RIV is not too good........because it won't connect to the 616.