Timers?

[Jim Byrne]

What is the best timer? Snyders lists roller timers, New Day timers & Anderson timers.
I am interested in best performance & dependability. I am a new owner of a 1917 touring car.
Thanks

[speedytinc]

IMO New day.
I prefer to make a soft carbon brush.
I tried them all. Best firing accuracy, minimal maintenance & long life.
You do need to seal the cam. (must be dry) & cam front thrusting (in & out movement) can cause problems.

[Humblej]

I have used all of those options and prefer the Anderson timer. It will last for years and require little to no maintenance.

[Norman Kling]

I like the New Day or the Anderson. Much less maintenance. You need to set the timing for each type. The guage is only correct for the original roller timer.
Norm

[Steve Jelf]

I prefer a good New Day. I'm specifying good because some of the bad repops still turn up occasionally. A Google search should bring up previous discussions (with pictures) of good and bad New Day timers. No special tools are needed to set timing:
https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG97.html

[A Whiteman]

I have had an Anderson in my TT for years - works marvelously without any problems.

I ditched the Anderson from my roadster as it was impossible to get to run right.

I replaced it with a good 'old' roller - runs well at low speed but 'bounces' at high engine rpm causing misses.

After asking the same question you have I have ordered a New Day based on the overall great results fellow club members have had.

[A Whiteman]

(welcome back Steve, good to see your posts again )

[greenacres36]

I-Timer or E-Timer. It’s little pricey, but install it and forget it forever. No maintenance required. I carry a standard timer with me in case my timer ever burns out, but I don’t know if I’ll ever need it.

[love2T's]

I-Timer or E-Timer. It’s little pricey, but install it and forget it forever. No maintenance required. I carry a standard timer with me in case my timer ever burns out, but I don’t know if I’ll ever need it.

I prefer the TW timer.

Unfortunately the TW timer is no longer in production but I've been able to get brushes made when a bunch enough are needed to do a run. Will likely try late this year. Timer preference has gone the route of oil, water pumps, you name it. Everyone has their preference and that's fine. I too have tried em all, and my TW's still out shine em all. Well, haven't tried Mike K's of course. I did have a couple of Tru-Fire's that came with the car and they worked well too. I'm currently still using the TW timer I put on the '13 at around 500 miles, the car now has 20,120+ on it and the timer is still like new. I usually do a brush replacement every 4,000 miles. Got 3224 miles on the current brush and it's not quite half wore out. Proper coil operation and timing is everything.

[love2T's]

I-Timer or E-Timer. It’s little pricey, but install it and forget it forever. No maintenance required. I carry a standard timer with me in case my timer ever burns out, but I don’t know if I’ll ever need it.

At the risk of having a new ahem...ripped open....I beg to differ about anything electronic. They will fail. On a tour two years ago one of those did just that for a fella, the spare New Day he kept saved his tour. Just saying. Yes, the E-Timer and I-Timer are great. No quarrels there. But just keep spare parts, I even do despite my huge confidence in my TW timers.

[TXGOAT2]

An I-Timer that is operating Ford coils with the vibrators active would likely be most reliable with a good set of properly adjusted coils.

[Dodge]

New Day, be careful though there were some made a few years ago that were not good.

[Will]

I had a TW carbon brush timer for a while but my cam seal seeped a little and made my car run rough. I switched it out for a Anderson and have never looked back. As I mentioned in a different post I had my Anderson for over 15 years. It does require a little maintenance which I might be going a little overboard on that some as I clean and relube before every trip but it has never let me down.