MTFCA Forum

Last year a good T-buddy of mine, Rich Bingham and myself started looking into the need to find a supplier for Tony Wiltshires timer that uses the round brush. Rich first tried one from this place but it wasn't quite a good fit. Fast forward to January and I picked up the hunt and lo and behold have found the place that actually made them! This is good news!!

So now I'm calling out to see how many guys may be needing or at least interested in one (or more) at least while the opportunity exists. If we round up at least 24 takers I can get em under $18 each plus tax and shipping of course. If only 12 quantity, price jumps to $26 each. The pic of them seems to look like the chamfer isn't there, but we all know how easy it is to make the angle.

I currently use the rect. model but do own a "spare" with the round brush and I may put that on my Torpedo in the near future. I will put in for at least 2 or 3 anyway to get the ball rolling.

Let me know in this thread or send me an email via my profile like we often do.

Thanks

Sign me up for one.
Art Mirtes

Tim

perhaps you have thought of this, but if you are not interested in distributing these things long term, there may be a supplier or two who would appreciate knowing what you now know

good job

Put me in for two. I think I heard that Lang's was working on this also.... you might want to check on this with them.
Thanks,
Keith

I’m in for two.
I tried a few from manufacturers and found they were too soft. Then gave up looking.

Scott_Conger wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 01, 2023 3:14 pm

Tim

perhaps you have thought of this, but if you are not interested in distributing these things long term, there may be a supplier or two who would appreciate knowing what you now know

good job

Yes I have and plan to!

Will contact you guys later.

Tim, that same source may also supply the earlier rectangular brushes. I have three TW timers running this version…

Chris Bamford wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 01, 2023 5:21 pm

Tim, that same source may also supply the earlier rectangular brushes. I have three TW timers running this version…

Chris, this source is the one Tony Wiltshire bought from, so it's very likely they can supply the square brush as well.

These brushes are not stock items for the manufacturer. They will gear up to make a minimum quantity, and a larger order will reflect some economy of scale, making the price per each a bit lower, but it represents a modest investment to make the order. They will need to be pre-sold to commit to ordering a "run" of them. Of course, if a supplier decides to front the cost, they would then be available to purchase at will.

I'm good for two of them.

A word of caution to owners of TW timers. The plastic inside the timer wears faster than the metal contact, causing a sharp edge. If you can feel this edge with your finger, then the inside of the timer needs to be machined smooth, if not a new brush will wear down very quickly.

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 01, 2023 6:53 pm

A word of caution to owners of TW timers. The plastic inside the timer wears faster than the metal contact, causing a sharp edge. If you can feel this edge with your finger, then the inside of the timer needs to be machined smooth, if not a new brush will wear down very quickly.

Jerry...yeh you're correct. So far after thousands of miles, mine has barely done that, I just run a little 120 grit around it and so far it seems to address the issue. Main thing is like you said, getting the joint between the plastic (or whatever it is) and the metal contact smooth, is not hard to do. Even if the plastic area in between two contacts isn't completely "arched" from overzealous sanding/machining, the fact that the spring holds the brush tight to everything still provides for a very smooth ignition. No bouncing like in other timers.

I’m glad that a source of replacement brushes has been found. I consider the new day and the TW timers that are in good condition to be the best mechanical timers. The roller timer, and especially the Anderson timer are both probably the most inaccurate timers you can use on a model T. They work, but you will notice a vast improvement if you go with one of the brush timers.

Tom, I could use use a couple.
Thanks

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 01, 2023 11:06 pm

I’m glad that a source of replacement brushes has been found. I consider the new day and the TW timers that are in good condition to be the best mechanical timers. The roller timer, and especially the Anderson timer are both probably the most inaccurate timers you can use on a model T. They work, but you will notice a vast improvement if you go with one of the brush timers.

Hey Jerry!
I agree with ya, except just a "personal story" here re the "new" New Day...I put one on my Fordor and literally every 250-ish miles I had to remove it and "machine" the inside face, the stupid floppy brush/rotor thing was so poor it just ground the crap out of it and the engine ran horrible. So after two times of that nonsense, off it went when I fortunately was able to find "the last" of Tony's (RIP) timer, still had the rectangular brush. Seemed no round one's to be found, which is ok. I've had no troubles with the rectangular brushes. Shortly after I heard the rumor he got out of the timer business, so I scarfed up several spare rect. brushes to be sure I could run 'em pretty much til I die! Then sadly about a year later, was Tony's tragic accident. What a loss. He was a great guy. I did find two TW's via the forum, both turned up round brush, yet no vendors had them nor acted like they ever would. So here I am!
As for the Anderson, there are those who swear by 'em, and some who swear AT 'em. I'm the latter! I tried one on my former '25 Firetruck, and geez, it would only hit on 3 cylinders no matter what I would do. Tried everything. So off it went, and back on with the what appeared to be original Ford roller timer! Go figure.

Just my rant for the day I guess! Have a good one!

So what is wrong with a New Day?

Kept tearing up the inside face.
I tried to post a pic of the rotor/brush but lately when I size them to post then they're all screwed up with this diagonal black area and the dang pic won't show. Happens 90% of the time and don't know why. So much for the ease of posting pics here! Ufff.

Tim, I think I heard there was a batch of new Daytimers that weren’t any good. Maybe you got one of those

Don't go down a rabbit hole guys ! TW users who want round brushes need to chime in before Sunday ! Could mean a substantial savings per each if enough of you subscribe !!

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 11:29 am

Tim, I think I heard there was a batch of new Daytimers that weren’t any good. Maybe you got one of those

Oh no doubt Jerry!

I will take 4.
Charlie Little
So. Paris Me

The TW ran nice but unfortunately a bit of a failure on RHD T's.

Kerry...sorry to hear that.

Can you specify why?

I was the agent for Tony to supply in Australia so this is not a one off case, the problem was, with the timer fitted 180 degrees to LHD T's put the rivets that hold the lever for the rod at the bottom, the brush dust would build up on them and carbon arc to and through the insulating ring and burn it away.

Thanks for the explanation, Kerry ! Never having seen a LHD T, I'm intrigued by the way the mechanicals were arranged. Too bad the arrangement didn't allow for the TW timer to operate well.

Meanwhile, LHD owners who love their TW timer will want to contact Tim by this Sunday, Feb. 5. The order will be sent to the manufacturer on Monday. Many thanks to those who have responded, it makes this venture "do-able".

I want to reiterate that Tim is heading this up strictly at cost. Thanks, Tim !

Tim , I sent you a email with my contact and my order information . I will buy 3 to 6 of the round TW brushes depending on the final price. Thanks for all your work on getting these brushes made. KM

Not meaning to be overbearing, but I want to bump this post once again to give owners of the TW timer every chance to avail themselves of replacement brushes. After this order is made, it's an open question whether suppliers will pick up the connection to the manufacturer. Any road it will be some time before they are available again.

Dean Kiefer is in for 2

Kerry wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 02, 2023 3:56 pm

The TW ran nice but unfortunately a bit of a failure on RHD T's.

Interesting. Maybe it was because we didn't use them long enough before switching to E and I Timers, but myself and two friends who were using the TW timers never had that problem with them.

One of the lucky ones John, Tony would supply the parts to fix them but still had to pay for the postage from USA and the owners back and forth etc, I sold them for cost in the first place so really not sorry to see the end of them as I was running at a loss with them. I use what I have left on one of my T's, Brushes I bought from China, about 1/8" shorter and drill a hole up higher in the brush holder for the wire to sit on top of the brush when fitting.

Concerning specifically the New Day timer, problems with coil adjustment, coil points, or the coil to timer wiring can damage or destroy a New Day timer in very short order.

Thanks for doing the work on this, Tim.
Email sent for 4 of the brushes.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:13 am

Concerning specifically the New Day timer, problems with coil adjustment, coil points, or the coil to timer wiring can damage or destroy a New Day timer in very short order.

In my case, "brand new" coils by Brent Mize. Doubt that was the problem. In my book, shoddy material, the brush in it's holder was floppity floppity, thereby no doubt causing the issue. And it wasn't even the dreaded "S" version, it was the "new and improved" New Day. Junk.

My car came with a New Day timer. The engine started and ran very well under all conditions, and did so for several weeks. At that point it began to run ragged, especially at higher speeds. I inspected the timer and found it trashed and full of metal dust. I replaced it with a new one, and the car ran better for a few days, then began to run as bad as before. I inspected the timer again and found it trashed as before. I cleaned up the timer and got the same results. About that time, I noticed that one set of coil points had lost one of the tungsten contact buttons. (The engine still hit on all 4 cylinders at idle) I replaced that coil with a spare and cleaned up the timer, and the car ran much better, but not right. The coils all sounded different, so I tried adjusting them by ear. Bad idea. I then adjusted the coils with the engine running, and got fair results, and the timer quit self-destructing, but still generated metal dust and showed burning after 200 miles or so. I bought an ECCT, filed all the coil points, and adjusted the coils, and cleaned up the timer, again. The car has run very well ever since, and I have not done anything to the timer in about 5,000 miles of driving. It has become clear to me that, in my case, timer issues BEGAN with the coil point failure, and CONTINUED with the shade tree coil adjustments, and ENDED with correct adjustment of the coils.

Hey Pat...
Sound advice for sure, hence I'll keep a close eye on the coils!

Last call out to users of the TW timer !
The order goes in tomorrow, don't be left out if you need brushes !

Thanks to all who responded, you've made it possible to have them made.