Does anyone know what the gap should be between the finger and the housing?
That spacing is arbitrary. It is adjusted in and out in order to get accurate timing every 90*. That adjustment also determines the amount of dwell the flapper has on the fingers. Contact Hutch @ www.tiptoptimers.com or call him 1-509-220-0892
George it looks like your rotor has been rubbing the timer case. I believe it is caused by the depth of the housing not being the correct spec. You might think about getting a new timer.
I had one that rubbed like that and it still ran well surprisingly. I had shimmed the flapper out to far with the little washers after changing large time gears. Second the motion to send to tiptop and have it adjusted to optimum and checked out.
What does it cost to get a timer recalibrated? Is this a process we can do ourselves?
Apparently there are long and short wipers (sleeves). There is a shorter wiper that will not do this. When I got my first Anderson, I had this problem and Frank sent me the shorter wiper. Now all is good in brew city. I also sent an older timer to Hutch for a rebuild and he charged me the cost of a new one. Later to find out he returned a brand new timer instead of my old one. Hutch is an good guy to deal with and easy to talk to, give him a call.
Doug, There is no way to check and adjust this type timer as well as they do at tiptop as they check and adjust it on a very accurate testing machine to assure electroperfection. I would be afraid to try "optimizing" on my own as you would be only guessing. The process also matches the rotor to the timer so the set is as good as it can get.
No interest in the company, just a satisfied customer.
There is one thing that you can do, and that is to be sure that the front cover is centered on the camshaft center. There is a tool that can be slipped over the camshaft end and the bell of the tool fits into the timer ring. Loosen the front cover bolts and insert the tool once the tool is in place tighten the bolts. If you are interested there is an old Farnestock article about how a uncentered cam can cause ignition timing errors. This all assumes that the cam bearings and the rest of the engine is in relatively good shape.
My timer has rub marks just like the one pictured. I installed a shim, made out of gasket material, to move the timer out farther. I think most of us don't use the Timer Shield (number T-3222, pg. T-35, Snyders).
For a quick fix, you may grind off a bit of that corner of the flapper.
There are a few tools for centering the timing cover but only one of them is going to do it right.
Garnet
I should add, the above idea about grinding off the offending corner is a temporary fix, not the long term way to go. The flapper and the contacts should line up correctly if all is well.
"There are a few tools for centering the timing cover but only one of them is going to do it right. "
Garnet - Could you elaborate more on this?
BTW, I did find this past thread; http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/80257/107025.html?1253633692
Thanks
Rich
Hello Rich.
Ron Patterson has mentioned here in the past that one type of tool (incorrectly) aligns the timing cover plate by referencing the HOLE in the cover plate which is in no way defined or precision bored.
The proper tool (a KRW reproduction) correctly aligns the cover to the camshaft itself by way of the timer ring which is cast in the timing cover.
Ron's second posting in that thread you mention explains it all perfectly.
Garnet
Thanks Garnet - There are a few of those timer centering tools sold and it is good to know the KRW repro is the correct one. The thread I posted has some really good information in it.
Cheers
Rich