naw jeff,if ya just set total at 2000 or 3000 rpm ya still dont know when total is coming in. first you need to know what exactly you have to start. Lets use 36 degrees total by 1200 rpm as an example. set the light to 36 degrees and basic time the engine,now have a friend sit in the seat and watch the tach while you keep the light on the damper. slowly increase the rpms until the balancer appears to have stopped moving,take it over 5000 rpm just to be sure you dont have a slow curve. Now note the rpm that the damper appears to have stopped moving ,this is TOTAL timing.you want to shoot for 36 degrees by 1200 to 2000 rpm depending on the application. once ya do it a few times its really simple and this assumes your not running a vacuum line from distributor to carb. hope this helps because its free hp,take care