MTFCA Forum

As it says...who out there uses Tony Wiltshire's (RIP) rectangular timer brush? I personally have two of those timers. I have enough brushes in stock for myself to get me to my grave. Gotta be others out there that use it still. I now have a source. As always, the more I can order the cheaper the price. No profit involved. Just wanna make sure this excellent timer keeps on rolling! Also am working on the interior "contact ring" just in case anyone wears one out but so far seems they will outlast the car. I love these timers and will do anything to keep em going. My cars never run better on any other. PM me for details and inquiries.

Tim, I could use a couple. I could pick them up at the OC F, or at Hershey at the MTFCA tent. I also would recommend that the timer housing be reconditioned before you put a new brush in.

Jerry, Randall S. and others...perhaps I wasn't quite clear in my first post, at this point all I'm doing is "feeling out the crowd" to see how many use that version and may eventually need them. They have not been produced as of yet, much like I handled my previous run of the round brushes. At this point now, I do have 4 brushes "in queue", the mfg. company needs at least 12, cost each is $20 and some change plus tax and the ride of course. Naturally the price drops quite a bit if it "jumps" to 24, however my gut feeling is I'll have a hard time getting up to 12, seems most use the round brush. Personally, I like the rectangular brush better! So if I misled anyone at this point please accept my sincere apology. I've got your names on file, and as this (probably slowly) progresses I will keep in touch. Gonna run a post on the parts section also.

Thank you for your interest, and certainly your patience and understanding. It may be til fall before I can send in an order. I'll keep ya posted.

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 04, 2023 5:45 pm

Tim, I could use a couple. I could pick them up at the OC F, or at Hershey at the MTFCA tent. I also would recommend that the timer housing be reconditioned before you put a new brush in.

Thanks Jerry, and of course I assume now you've read my post above clarifying this procedure. However, I wanted to mention here on your post, if you mean what I call the "contact ring" inside the timer housing, I also have a run of I believe it's 9 of them in the hopper now. My machine shop as yet has not finished them, however he did give me a price of approx. $45 each, not cheap, but hey, better than not being able to use what I will always claim is the best darned timer on the market, hands down. My cars run so well with these it's not funny! So far my "rings" are still in great shape, one car has over 13,000 miles on the first TW timer I put in it, I'm maybe on my 4th. replacement brush. (rectangular at that). Thanks Jerr.

‘Morning Tim, and thank you for undertaking this project… very much appreciated!

I run the TW timer in my ‘26 Touring and ‘24 Speedster. You could put me down for minimum two square brushes. I have a couple spares now.

In my experience, the brushes are good for about 2,500 miles. Apparently I was one of the early ‘higher mileage’ users, and Tony and I kept in touch re my results.

FYI, after considerable use, there developed some pitting at the contact/insulator interface on the four segments. Tony wanted a closer look, and I ultimately sent him both housings, which he remachined to a smooth inner diameter.

When I bought my current Lizzie eight years ago, it was fitted with a round brush TW timer. I don't know when the previous owner installed it, but he had put 10,000 miles on tours, reportedly the fellow he bought her from had put on similar mileage. As Chris noted, the timer "race" was eroded at the leading edge of the contacts. I believe this is the result of arcing when the brush makes contact. A light cut on the lathe cleaned it up nicely, it's still in good shape. I have no idea how many miles since, a fair guess would be around 3,500.

Tim, many thanks for keeping the brushes available for the folks who use the TW. Most agree it is an excellent, trouble-free timer.

Chris Bamford wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 9:14 am

‘Morning Tim, and thank you for undertaking this project… very much appreciated!

I run the TW timer in my ‘26 Touring and ‘24 Speedster. You could put me down for minimum two square brushes. I have a couple spares now.

In my experience, the brushes are good for about 2,500 miles. Apparently I was one of the early ‘higher mileage’ users, and Tony and I kept in touch re my results.

FYI, after considerable use, there developed some pitting at the contact/insulator interface on the four segments. Tony wanted a closer look, and I ultimately sent him both housings, which he remachined to a smooth inner diameter.

Okay Chris! Got ya down for two. Now we're halfway to production! We'll get there! Thanks for the comments too. Always glad to help keep things running smoothly in this hobby.

Rich P. Bingham wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:04 am

When I bought my current Lizzie eight years ago, it was fitted with a round brush TW timer. I don't know when the previous owner installed it, but he had put 10,000 miles on tours, reportedly the fellow he bought her from had put on similar mileage. As Chris noted, the timer "race" was eroded at the leading edge of the contacts. I believe this is the result of arcing when the brush makes contact. A light cut on the lathe cleaned it up nicely, it's still in good shape. I have no idea how many miles since, a fair guess would be around 3,500.

Tim, many thanks for keeping the brushes available for the folks who use the TW. Most agree it is an excellent, trouble-free timer.

Thanks also for your kind comment and ur welcome also!

Tim

Hope I am not too late.
I am interested in 2 Rectangular TW brushes.
Thank you
Wrecks40

I'd be in for 2 of the rectangular TW timer brushes.

Thank you, Tim.

Rich C.

Wrecks40 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:06 am

Hope I am not too late.
I am interested in 2 Rectangular TW brushes.
Thank you
Wrecks40

Nope, not too late! Sorry it took me so long to reply to your post. I'll also PM you for more details. Been busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger!

richc wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 18, 2023 11:38 am

I'd be in for 2 of the rectangular TW timer brushes.

Thank you, Tim.

Rich C.

Ditto to you too Rich!

Tim,
Put me down for 4.

Ron Bolser
Indy 500 Chapter MTFCA

OK Ron, and thanks! Takes us "over the top" of the minimum of 12 now! I'll PM you with contact details once I get them made up!

Please include me in the batch of carbon brushes that you are about to make. I will take 4 of them.

Kind regards
William CUDDY
Ireland

Tim, FYI the timer housing that Tony used was made exactly the same as a roller timer on the inside. Both timers eventually need to be re-machined due to wear and arcing. I charge $10 each to do this. Shipping charges are extra.

WHCC wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 11, 2023 1:53 pm

Please include me in the batch of carbon brushes that you are about to make. I will take 4 of them.

Kind regards
William CUDDY
Ireland

William I will do my best to include you. The "cutoff" was actually last weekend but I'm sure I can get the machine shop to add to it. I'll call the dude first thing in the morning tomorrow. Meanwhile PM me your email address and mailing address and such and I'll update you as things progress.

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 11, 2023 5:01 pm

Tim, FYI the timer housing that Tony used was made exactly the same as a roller timer on the inside. Both timers eventually need to be re-machined due to wear and arcing. I charge $10 each to do this. Shipping charges are extra.

Jerry I'll give ya a call regarding this sometime tomorrow. Probably late morning or early afternoon. Thanks

TWrenn wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 11, 2023 7:41 pm

Farmer J wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 11, 2023 5:01 pm

Tim, FYI the timer housing that Tony used was made exactly the same as a roller timer on the inside. Both timers eventually need to be re-machined due to wear and arcing. I charge $10 each to do this. Shipping charges are extra.

Jerry I'll give ya a call regarding this sometime tomorrow. Probably late morning or early afternoon. Thanks

FWIW I have a local machine shop lined up to make 9 of these inner rings altho it'll be a while before they're available. The shop is swamped and I'm in no real hurry at the moment as I will have quite a bit invested. But the idea is anyone can get the "ordinary" roller timer and replace its less than sturdy ring with one of these that'll last a whole lot longer. I still have 3 or 4 round brush holders so think of it as building your own TW timer.

Hi Tim, I have one each of the round and rectangular TW Timers, and have enough of both kinds of the brushes now. It's interesting that Jerry Kramer will clean up the interior contacts of the outer timer shell since when there is wear and rough spots on those surfaces, they can eat up the carbon brush pretty quick.
Thanks for all you're doing on this worthy project.

Keith