Timer Question???

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: Timer Question???
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Patrick McFadden on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 11:22 am:

I am new to this forum and somewhat new to Model T ownership. My Grandfather owned three Model T's and I have been around them all of my 45 years, learning many many things from him; of course never enough. After his recent death I was lucky enough to acquire his 27 Roadster Pickup; that I helped him restore in the late 70's. I apologize ahead of time if I am not using the proper "T" lingo to explain myself but I will try my best.

The wife and I took our pickup out for a drive last night. We were about three miles from home when the engine seemed to have lost power, what I thought was a coil. Although we were under powered I nursed it back to the shop. I removed the New Day timer and discovered the copper brush had came out of the holder. It had wedged itself between the rotor and timer cap, of course scaring the cap with grooves. I replaced the timer cap and installed a new brush (both old parts I have cleaned) but now it will not start....what else could have happened to cause my non-starting issue? It has been starting and running great. Maybe the "new" timer I installed is bad?

Thanks for a great forum,
Pat


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 11:28 am:

Make sure that when the brush came out it didn't bend or break the pin that times the brush holder if that pin was broken or bent your timing will be way off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 11:48 am:

You could have one of the cam shafts that has the hole drilled all the way through and may have put the rotor on 180 deg's off. Look and see if that is the case, if so, put the rotor back on using the other hole and see if that works.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hal Davis-SE Georgia on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 12:24 pm:

Are you sure you got the 4 wires put back in their proper location?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Will Copeland - Trenton, New Jersey on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 12:30 pm:

I would install a new Anderson or a TW timer so you have a test base. If it still will not fire up then check all the connections with an ohm meter. Im helping a guy that an original New Day and the car ran like crap. I replaced it with a roller timer and now it runs like new.

I replaced the Anderson that I had on my 1919 with a TW and love it. At about 100 miles I took it apart and cleaned the dust out and haven't touched it since. The car runs great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By R.V. Anderson on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 12:46 pm:

Almost the same thing happened to me last month with a repop New Day. The tiny roll pin that limits the brush travel in the holder had come out and fallen to the bottom of the case.

I have since refurbished and installed an original aluminum timer.

One thing about that particular repop: the brush holder is considerably wider than the brush, which allows for a lot of slop and so the brush gets "cocked" in use, wearing at an angle.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joseph W. Rudzik on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 01:21 pm:

To check and see if the timer is indeed 180 degrees out, remove the no. 1 spark plug and, with the ignition OFF, hand crank the engine over and place your thumb over the plug hole until you feel and hear the compression stroke.
If you have one of those little bright led flashlights you can then watch the no. 1 piston come up to Top Dead Center {TDC}. Then check to see if the brush on the timer is at the No.1 contact on the timer and all wires are correct. It's easy to get them crossed even with wire memory. The Model T Fordowner by Murray Fahnestock or previous posts on the forum can tell you which wire color goes to timer terminal and connections on the coil box.
Hope this helps ya.

Joe R.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Patrick McFadden on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 01:59 pm:

Thank you for all of the suggestions; I will tinker with it tonight after work and let you all know the outcome.

Pat


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Gregush Portland Oregon on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 - 11:02 pm:

Re the pin holding the brush in, it is just there to keep the brush from falling out and has nothing to do with the function when the timer is installed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Patrick McFadden on Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 07:27 am:

Well I took the timer off again, checked the wiring (it is correct), removed the brush and holder and cleaned everything again. I re-installed the holder (only one hole in my cam shaft) and she fired up. Not sure why but she did. There seems to be A LOT of wobble in the timer cover, is that normal?

I think it is time for a new timer and wiring.....

Pat


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By G.R.Cheshire on Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 07:31 am:

Pat; she just wanted extra attention :-)glad she is working again!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ron Patterson-Nicholasville, Kentucky on Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 08:07 am:

Patrick
The timer case wobble is caused by another set of problems. I am sure someone will provide the detailed description.
Your right, now is the time to get another timer. I strongly recommend the TW timer; www.twcomponents.com .
Tony Wiltshire has done a great job with the design, trails and roll-out of this product. Many people are using it with great results.
Ron the Coilman


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