timer oil

[halftracknut]

How much and what type oil should in the timer...I put a couple of squirts of singer sewing machine oil and my truck started missing and quitting so I removed the timer and wiped it out and ran 45 minutes no problems....what's going on?

[Mark Gregush]

Roller timer? Brush types no lube and flapper types maybe some vaseline.

[halftracknut]

Sorry...roller timer new from snyders

[jiminbartow]

A lot of today’s oils, greases and lubricants have additives that are electrically conductive so cannot be used in many parts of the Model T such as the crank case (because of the magneto) and timer lubrication. I made my own mixture of non-conductive timer lubricant made from 3 in 1 oil and Vaseline, mixed to the consistency of medium viscosity gravy. It is thin enough to lubricate the roller and thick enough to cling to the interior of the timer housing which keeps the timer lubricated for much longer than liquid oils which flow to the bottom of the timer housing and, unlike lithium grease, Vaseline and 3 in 1 oil is not electrically conductive so there are no shorts between contacts. Jim Patrick

[Mark Gregush]

Singer sewing machine oil would not be conductive and should not have any additives. Something else must be going on.

[halftracknut]

After the 45 minutes it did not quit i shut it off....running fine...I will run it again ....does't get hot...full fuel...coils buzz good...ran fine before I oil it?

[Steve Jelf]

Some say Mobilgrease 28 is best for a roller timer. I can't vouch for anything, as I use New Day timers.