MTFCA Forum

Gentlemen, I have 2 used original new day timers...both have arc lines , is there some way to repair these or are they junk? thanks

Well, crap, I just spent five minutes typing this and it wouldn't post and it disappeared.

I run New Day and my method is so simple I'm almost embarrassed to post it.

Cut a circle out of 3/4 plywood that will just fit in the timer.

Drill a hole as close to center and as straight as you can.

Insert a 1/4 inch carriage bolt and smack it with a hammer to counter sink it.

Cover the face with self sticking sandpaper, 150- 180 -220.

Put a nut on the back side and tighten it up.

Chuck it up in your cordless drill and clean up the inside of that New Day.

Nice thing doing it this way is that you don't even have to take it off the car. Just pop it off, clean it up, put it back on.

I've been doing this for 50 years or more. Works for me.

I'm sure there are far more sophisticated ways but like I said, this works for me.

Stan, thanks I will do that...I have 2 to clean up....good info...thanks rl

Here is Stan's method. I think I may have learned it from him.

Keep an eye on how deep you go, the contact is only as thick as the tab where the wire is attached.

Thanks ...I will try this for sure.. What is the accepted lube for these?

No lube in brush type timers.

No lube at all in new day timers. If any oil gets in there your engine will not be happy.

Stephen

Stan and Jeff, thank you for the tips. I really appreciated it. No matter is trivial, I loved it when is simple.

All the best,

Ok, I made the tool (use a drill press to make mandrel hole) I did the deed and discovered something hope someone has an answer...one of the timers has pat. pending other has an S which to use? next two of the brushes are same one appears to be aluminum and is a bit taller you can see where is was grinding on my brass plate also looks to have a funny angle for brush...which to use? thanks randy

The silver colored one with the funny angle is junk. The brush caught on a step in the timer cap and got bent. You could just straighten it, but the brush itself is worn too far anyway, evidenced by the funky angle worn into it. Once that's trued up it'll be too short. Plus, at was a cheaply made repro to begin with.

Before you install the brush, file a slight chamfer on the leading edge. It will help a lot with wear.

When you make the tool to sand with, make it about 1/8 th of an inch smaller than the timer diameter and when you are using it, move the timer around so you don't sand grooves in it.

As far as sanding through the contacts, I dunno, I've sanded a couple of them a bunch of times. One, on a Montana 500 years ago I think I cleaned at every stop and then ran it for years afterwards, it might have been down .030 after all of that. I never measured it.

Years ago I scored 5 originals at a garage/estate sale. I still have one new old stock one of those that will probably go on my coupe someday.

Somebody is making new ones again, I haven't seen them but every repro I've seen in recent** years has been crap.

** recent is relative. My kids think it is something in the last two or three months, when you are my age it is anything in the last 30 or so years.

the one on left has the S on it....

Tip Top timers makes the best New Day reproduction in my opinion. They also make brushes. Call Mark Hutchinson [(509) 220-0892]

One thing to be really careful about is to insure the spring on your brush is good. It should push the brush all the way out of the holder, indicated by the pin being at the top of the slot. If it isn't, even a new brush will make intermittent contact and the car will run poorly. The one on the right is the good one. The one on the left needs a new spring.

Hi, mines come from Tom Carnegie and they are very good, never have any issue at all. And top of it, Tom is a real gentlemen.

What is his contact info ?? thanks

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Tom Carnegie is also associated with Tip Top Timers along with Mark Hutchinson. [(509) 220-0892]

Tim you right is Tip Top Timer either. Mark Hutchinson is awesome person too. He was very helpful with me last year I did something very stupid with my timer and too ashamed to say what I did... But Mark was really nice with me and fixe the issue which I was 100% responsable. A lot nice people in MTFCA forum.