After screwing around for 20 minutes trying to bend an old control rod into the right shape for setting the timer I found a new rod I had ordered from Snyders which comes "pre-bent". Its almost a perfect fit! For $3.95 its a good investment instead of attempting to use the old rods which, at least on my Ts, are usually a hassle to try to refit.Hope this helps...Paul

The best bender I've ever found is a small crescent wrench with the jaws tightly against the rod. The wrench is at a 90 deg. angle to the rod and a screwdriver through the hole in the wrench end for leverage. Let's twist again.

This set of bending tools makes the job of shaping control rods a breeze. You can find them for sale from a number of Model T vendors for under $20.

Paul, Before you put on the new one use it as a pattern to reshape the old one. I'll only charge you $3.95 for this advice. Won't see you Friday as I'm going to Florida to scare some quail, The kind with feathers. John

Ok, John-----how about only $2? have a great trip! paul

If you start with a new rod and it is made correctly then only bend the rod in the "upper arc" portion above the timer. Just open or close that arc to retard or advance the timing. If the other end is hitting the radiator hose then the hose is too long since that rod is supposed to pass under the metal tube only and not the end of the hose and its clamp. That lower hose is supplied too long and if the timer rod passes under the end of that hose it will hit and limit the travel of the rod. Many people unfortunately start bending down there a that end to gain clearance around the hose rather than shortening the hose and moving the clamp. The upper hose is plenty long enough to make up the difference in overall length needed for the radiator connection.