Older MSD timing light

Woodfin · 07-28-2024, 08:55 AM

Question: Is it possible that, over time, those MSD lights become weak? Or do they either flash or not? At age 77, I expect my eyes are as good as ever?well, maybe not. When using the light outside, I can barely see the marks if they are well defined.

Any comments? Is a brighter light on the market?

1320racer · 07-28-2024, 09:01 AM

Larry, I can't say about the older MSD timing light but my nearly 40 year old Snap On Digital timing light works just as good as my MSD Self Powered Timing Light.

Woodfin · 07-28-2024, 09:11 AM

Ed, It is at least 30 and maybe closer to 40. One of the mechanics who worked for me had the Snap-On light, so I will see if it is available to compare.

340Cuda · 07-28-2024, 11:38 AM

Ed, we are the same age and I know my eyes are not as sensitive to light as they once were.

If it is a self powered timing light those never seemed very bright to me in the first place.

Woodfin · 07-28-2024, 12:29 PM

The car battery powers the light. My question remains: Does age affect the bulb's brightness? It thinks it was brighter years ago, but so were my eyes.

Terry Cain · 07-29-2024, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 340Cuda

Ed, we are the same age and I know my eyes are not as sensitive to light as they once were.

If it is a self powered timing light those never seemed very bright to me in the first place.

Caterac surgery helps.

CMcAllister · 07-29-2024, 10:39 PM

I have one of the older chrome MSD lights, same as the old Sears Penskes, and it still works great. Has to be 40 years old. Very bright. But it's not used everyday.

I would think the amount of use would be more relevant than age. Plenty of those old lights on ebay all the time. Even an NOS MSD light on there recently. Even the old Ferrets on there sometimes,

To answer the question, I've never seen a 12V timing light get dim as it ages. If they fail, they just wont work.

1320racer · 07-30-2024, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 340Cuda

Ed, we are the same age and I know my eyes are not as sensitive to light as they once were.

If it is a self powered timing light those never seemed very bright to me in the first place.

63 today and my MSD self powered light is bright and has been in use since 2008 without issue.

Adger Smith · 07-30-2024, 11:07 AM

Is there anyone that repairs the older lights. I have one of the older Chrome Sears lights that a customer dropped in our dyno cell and it han't worked since. I've had it in the too box for quite a while..I keep thinking someone is around that is a Fixer upper like me..

CMcAllister · 07-30-2024, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

Is there anyone that repairs the older lights. I have one of the older Chrome Sears lights that a customer dropped in our dyno cell and it han't worked since. I've had it in the too box for quite a while..I keep thinking someone is around that is a Fixer upper like me..

For what they sell for on ebay, buy an old mint condition one and a couple of spares. As they dry up, the prices are creeping up.

Maybe one that's not mint and rob parts to fix what you have.

07-28-2024, 08:55 AM	#1
Woodfin Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 468 Likes: 5 Liked 127 Times in 56 Posts	Older MSD timing light Question: Is it possible that, over time, those MSD lights become weak? Or do they either flash or not? At age 77, I expect my eyes are as good as ever?well, maybe not. When using the light outside, I can barely see the marks if they are well defined. Any comments? Is a brighter light on the market?

07-28-2024, 09:01 AM	#2
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,141 Likes: 105 Liked 576 Times in 283 Posts	Re: Older MSD timing light Larry, I can't say about the older MSD timing light but my nearly 40 year old Snap On Digital timing light works just as good as my MSD Self Powered Timing Light.

07-28-2024, 09:11 AM	#3
Woodfin Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 468 Likes: 5 Liked 127 Times in 56 Posts	Re: Older MSD timing light Ed, It is at least 30 and maybe closer to 40. One of the mechanics who worked for me had the Snap-On light, so I will see if it is available to compare.

07-28-2024, 11:38 AM	#4
340Cuda VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 1,619 Likes: 3,543 Liked 717 Times in 309 Posts	Re: Older MSD timing light Ed, we are the same age and I know my eyes are not as sensitive to light as they once were. If it is a self powered timing light those never seemed very bright to me in the first place.

07-28-2024, 12:29 PM	#5
Woodfin Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kilgore TX Posts: 468 Likes: 5 Liked 127 Times in 56 Posts	Re: Older MSD timing light The car battery powers the light. My question remains: Does age affect the bulb's brightness? It thinks it was brighter years ago, but so were my eyes.

07-29-2024, 10:39 PM	#7
CMcAllister Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Fulton County, PA Posts: 569 Likes: 12 Liked 797 Times in 225 Posts	Re: Older MSD timing light I have one of the older chrome MSD lights, same as the old Sears Penskes, and it still works great. Has to be 40 years old. Very bright. But it's not used everyday. I would think the amount of use would be more relevant than age. Plenty of those old lights on ebay all the time. Even an NOS MSD light on there recently. Even the old Ferrets on there sometimes, To answer the question, I've never seen a 12V timing light get dim as it ages. If they fail, they just wont work. Last edited by CMcAllister; 07-30-2024 at 01:29 AM.

07-30-2024, 11:07 AM	#9
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,418 Likes: 518 Liked 778 Times in 293 Posts	Re: Older MSD timing light Is there anyone that repairs the older lights. I have one of the older Chrome Sears lights that a customer dropped in our dyno cell and it han't worked since. I've had it in the too box for quite a while..I keep thinking someone is around that is a Fixer upper like me.. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)