i have a timing light that belongs to my friend and he never explained how to use it. i know i have to connect 2 terminals to the battery but what about this other one. its a clamp, i know it clamps somewhere, but where?

 

Around the #1 plug wire

 

on top of the plug wire on the distributor? or do i take the plug wire off and replace it with the thing?

 

just clamp it around any part of the #1 wire without disconnecting anything. just make sure it's not near anything that's hot or turning.

 

I usually clamp it around the number 1 plug wire where it's farthest from any other wire and heat source. I already melted an inductor when it got to close to the exman.

 

So how exactly does the timing light work and what benefits will you see from adjusting timing?

 

When you say "clamp" is it a metal, spring-loaded clamp...i/e like on a small batery charger? If so, this is not an inductive light...you have to actually pull the #1 plug wire, uses a spring/adapter between the wire and onto the plug, then clamp to the spring/adaptor.

If the "clamp" is a large looking thing with a squarish hole in the middle, then it's an inductive light, which you can just fit around the plug wire.

 

the benefits from adjusting timing are seen only when the timing is advacned to much or retarded to much.

The timing advanced will make the spark plug fire quicker that will burn the fuel, resulting in the piston being jammed back down causing faster speeds, but in effect more wear n tear on the engine cause its working harder.

I suggest if your not familar with timing on cars, to do a search on here n read up on it cause you could blow your engine up quickly if your don't know what your doing.