How to adjust timing on a bike without a battery?

[Mr_Dunev]

I have a '74 XL350 flat track bike, that doesn't have a battery anymore. I want to check the timing, but not sure how to do it if i don't have a battery to use a timing light with.

Appreciate the help,
Lucas

 

[barnett468]

All you can do is check static timing then . . you need a piston depth gauge and you need yo know how far before tdc your ignition should fire . . its also easiest if your spark plug goes straight down.

 

[jpmobius]

Easy! Simply power up the timing light with any other battery - or if one is not handy, just connect it to a nearby car or bike 12 v. battery. The inductive pickup goes on your plug wire like it normally does. The timing light does not care where it gets its power - any 12v dc source will do. I have numerous bikes that do not use batteries, and do this all the time.

 

[hillsy]

Easy! Simply power up the timing light with any other battery - or if one is not handy, just connect it to a nearby car or bike 12 v. battery. The inductive pickup goes on your plug wire like it normally does. The timing light does not care where it gets its power - any 12v dc source will do. I have numerous bikes that do not use batteries, and do this all the time.

+1. Timing lights don't care where their power comes from (they are whores).

 

[Mr_Dunev]

Easy! Simply power up the timing light with any other battery - or if one is not handy, just connect it to a nearby car or bike 12 v. battery. The inductive pickup goes on your plug wire like it normally does. The timing light does not care where it gets its power - any 12v dc source will do. I have numerous bikes that do not use batteries, and do this all the time.

Thanks I'll give this a go tonight.

+1 for whores

 

[Tim]

Yup - I always use a spare battery to power my strobe. Easier than accessing the battery on my bike.

 

[barnett468]

I made the incorrect assumption that you would have known that any 12 volt DC source would power the lite.