SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
—Read All Instructions Before Using The Analyzer—
Always wear eye protection when testing vehicles. Be extra careful near batteries and moving parts. Do not lay tools on a battery.
Battery gas is highly explosive.
If a battery explodes fl ush the acid away from skin with generous amounts of water. Follow up with a neutralizing solution of baking soda and then more water.
Never use a wrench on the ungrounded battery terminal until the grounded one has been disconnected. Contact between the vehicle body metal and the hot terminal can cause sparks to ignite gas or even weld tools into a battery short circuit.
Keep the space around a battery well ventilated.
Do not make sparks or allow fl ames near batteries.
Before working on a vehicle set the brakes and block the wheels.
Beware of automatic parking brake releases.
Keep your work area well ventilated and free of exhaust.
Avoid electrical shocks caused by getting close to live ignition wires or touching the coil TACH terminal. A personʼs reaction near a live engine can be more damaging than the shock.
Keep spark producing devices at least 0.5m (18”) above the fl oor to reduce the hazard of igniting gasoline vapor.
Do not let test leads wind up in a moving fan or pulley. Route leads away.
Remove fi nger rings and metal wrist bands. They can short terminals and become very hot from electric current.
Digital Tach-Advance Timing
Light
OPERATORʼS MANUAL
88
Mode
Button
Inductive Spark
Pickup
Advance
Buttons
© Copyright 2005, GxT, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Power
Leads
E088-01G
Introduction
The Ferret 88 is a Dual Display Tach-Advance Timing Light. Both RPM and advance can be read at the same time. The Ferret 88 also includes a Strobe function which will allow you to measure the RPM of any rotating device.
Operating Specifi cations
Scale
Advance (400-5,000 RPM)
Tachometer
Strobe RPM
Power Req.
Range Resolution/Accuracy to 90 degrees 0.5 degree ± 1 degree
400 to 9,990 rpm
400 to 5,000 rpm
10 to 16 Volts DC, 1.5 Amp
10 rpm ± 1 %
10 rpm ± 1 %
12 volt battery
Temperature
Operating
Storage
Weights & Dimensions
Leads
Weight
Size
0° to 122° F
-40° to 180° F
5 feet
1.7 pounds
12 inches tip to tip, 2.8 wide
-18° to 50° C
-40° to 80° C
1.5 meter
770 gram
30 x 7 cm
Timing-Advance Test Procedure
This light measures advance by delaying the fl ash so that it appears to align the crank shaft TDC mark to its pointer, and then displaying the degrees delayed.
Note that on engines with ignition contact points, dwell affects timing and must be in calibration before timing is adjusted.
2. Prepare the engine for timing tests, such as: warming-up, disabling electric and vacuum control lines, and cleaning the wheel timing marks. Then run the engine. The light should begin fl ashing.
3. Read RPM, and set the engine speed to the test specifi cation.
4. Point the light beam onto the degree marks at the engine damper wheel or fl ywheel, and move the apparent mark to the TDC position using the Timing
Advance Control Buttons. Then read the timing advance on the display.
NOTE: Align your eye squarely with the timing marks when viewing, to avoid parallax error.
5. Compare the measurement with the specifi cation. Adjustments are made by turning the distributor slightly or by moving the ignition timing sensor.
6. Restore all engine parts to their normal arrangement.
FERRET BRAND LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY
GxT, Inc. of Cheboygan Michigan, warrants to the original purchaser that
FERRET brand products are free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years from date of purchase. Our sole obligation for a product within the above warranties will be to repair or replace, at our option, any defective parts and return the product to the sender within the U.S.A., shipping prepaid, if it is sent to our Repair Department shipping prepaid and accompanied by proof of purchase.
This Warranty does not apply to products which have been altered outside the factory; or repaired by anyone other than the factory or its authorized service centers; or which have been damaged from accidents, negligence, or abuse; or have been used differently than described in the printed instructions. Please note that wear and tear on leads and replacement of consumable items such as: NOx Sensors, Oxygen Sensors, and paper, is not covered by warranty.
GxT Inc.ʼs sole liability and buyerʼs exclusive remedy is limited to repair or replacement of the product as stated in the Limited Product Warranty.
THERE ARE NO OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED
INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND GxT, INC. SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE
SALE OR USE OF THE PRODUCT.
Some states do not allow limitations on the length of implied warranties nor exclusion or limitations of incidental or consequential damages, so that the above limitations and/or exclusion may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specifi c legal rights and you may also have other rights which may vary from state to state.
Inductive Pickup around Spark Wire
Black
Red
12 Volt
Battery
Timing Advance
Control Buttons
Initial Timing Measurement
Follow the engine service manual procedure or the emission control label in the engine compartment. Not all engines can be adjusted. For engines with fi xed timing, you can determine the operational status of the timing system.
Vacuum Advance or Retard Measurement
Vacuum actuators connected to the distributor or intake manifold sensors vary the timing according to engine vacuum. To measure, disconnect and plug the input hoses and then couple the input to a hand pump with gauge. Run the engine at idle to see the timing change with and without applied vacuum.
Centrifugal Advance Measurement
Mechanical ignition controls usually have a set of spinning weights in the distributor which advance the spark timing a certain number of degrees as RPM goes from idle to driving range. To see the centrifugal advance alone, vacuum actuators must be disabled. Besides the amount of change, it is important to see that the advance changes smoothly with slowly increasing RPM. Sticky weight pivots, rust, and bad retracting springs are the usual problems.
Total Advance Measurement
This is the advance at a specifi ed RPM with the engine timing controls intact.
Coil Wire Timing
Use only when required by engine specifi cations. Be sure to set advance to zero, because the location of the mark will otherwise be affected by the number of cylinders.
Strobe Light Measurements
The Strobe function on the Ferret 88 does not require the use of the inductive spark pickup. You can use the strobe function to determine the RPM of any rotating device.
1. Connect the power leads: RED - positive, BLACK - negative. Push the
Mode Select button to select strobe operation.
2. Point the light beam at a rotating device.
3. Use the trigger button to increase or decrease the rate of the strobe fl ash
4. Begin increasing the fl ash rate of the strobe until you see a stopped motion view of the rotating device.
5. Read the RPM of the rotating device on the back of the timing light.
Start at the lowest RPM available in the strobe function and increase the rate until you see a single image that has been “stopped” by the light.
For example, if you are fl ashing the strobe light at a device that has 3 distinct fan blades, you will see multiple blades stopped by the strobe. Continue increasing the rate of the strobe until you see just 3 blades. This will be your correct RPM.
Maintenance & Service
When cleaning the timing light, use a cloth dampened with waterless hand cleaner. DO NOT use solvents such as acetone and benzene which can be absorbed by and damage plastics. Promptly remove penetrating oils, gasoline, and battery acid.
The Inductive Spark Pickup is a plug-in replaceable lead. It can be repaired or replaced if damaged. Leave the Pickup latch Open when not in use. The magnetic cores are made of ferrite ceramic and, when kept apart, they are less likely to break if the pickup is dropped.
There are no user serviceable parts inside the timing light. Contact your tool dealer or consult other materials packed with the light for repair information.
Electrical Interference
In the event that the unit is subjected to extreme electromagnetic conditions the display may appear to lock up. Simply disconnect the power lead and reconnect to reset the unit.
Technical Support
Questions or inquiries about service can be answered by contacting GxT, Inc., at: Toll Free (800) 627-5655. Fax: (231) 627-2727, Toll Free (231) 782-0616, or [email protected]. When sending an item to the factory address it to:
GxT, Inc., 520 MM Riggs Drive., Cheboygan, MI 49721-1061
Include a note describing the problem.
Replacement Parts
X008-01
X006-81
E088-01
Inductive Spark Pickup
Storage Case
Instruction Manual
Optional Ferret 765 Diesel Pulse Adapter
PIEZO CLAMP
Clamps around a 1/4” (6.35mm) fuel line, senses the pulse of fuel to #1 Cylinder, and triggers the timing light or engine analyzer.
DIRECT CONNECTION
Eliminates confusion and increases accuracy by directly connecting to the test instrument in place of the Spark Pickup
INDICATOR LIGHT
Flashes when a signal is detected from the Piezo
Clamp.
9V BATTERY POWERED
Internal 9 volt battery eliminates the need for power leads.
ENGINE COMPATIBILITY
Works on most Diesel engines with 1/4” external fuel lines.
