Dumb Newbie Mistake

[Karl]

This will make you laugh !

I was convinced that my recently purchased 1913 Model T was not timed correctly. I think the previous owner had set it up to advanced as it seems to knock with spark advancement . Unfortunately as we are Right Hand drive the dinky little guage to postion the timer rod I don't think works for us. I purchased one of those neat screw in the plug hole find TDC devices which didn't seem to work either I just seemed to bend up the brass wire that is surposed to go into the bore . As part of this process you take number one commutator wire off at the coilbox and connect it up to an LED light.

Eventually after looking at my friends T I worked out roughly where the commutator should be and bent the rod (was way to advanced ) Putting every thing back together I could not get it to start Would fire but then stop. Spend the best part of an hour trying to get it to go.

Finally sorted it . Screwing Number 1 commutator wire onto the back of one of the coil box mounting bolts does not work !! You have to connect it onto the correct post for the car to run!!! Felt so dang stupid !

Car runs well I suspect timing is pretty close might be a fraction retarded No knock at all . Anyone know of an easy way to time a RHD car ?? Karl

 

[Doug Money]

Basically, to check timing,Ignition off, remove #1 spark plug, hand crank till # 1 piston comes up on compression. Use long metal rod thru spark plug hole to see piston movement come to top dead center as you very slowly hand crank, and just as the piston starts to move down, stop.

Attach spark plug wire to plug & lay on cylinder head. Put timing lever at steering wheel all the way up. Disconnect timing pull rod at commutator. Turn ignition to battery position & turn commutator to where the plug just starts to spark. Turn ignition off, and shorten or lengthen rod at commutator to fit the new commutator position. Re-cotter pull rod at commutator, replace plug in head & enjoy your ride.
This method will work with any commutator brand.

 

[Doug Money]

Remember different timers require different adjustments. The one I posted fits all timers.

 

[Karl]

Thanks Doug Thats basically what the screw in timer was surposed to do-I guess it is just a fancy long metal rod However doesn't seem to work that well for me. You method should work well and I will check my timing using it -Karl

 

[tmodelman]

A simple method is to crank over to have #1 piston on compression, easy to feel with your thumb over the exposed spark plug hole. When the crank pin pulley is horizontal, that's TDC. Then turn a it more so that the pulley pin is near 9:20 as on a clock face. Rotate the timer shell so that #1 plug just fires at this spot. Fix the timer there.

That will be approx 15 degrees past TDC, set your spark lever at the steering column all the way up (retard) and then bend/shape and connect the timer rod to the timer shell at that spot and the spark lever arm.