Timer factory setting

Sunny the Model A

Sunny the Model A

Senior Member
Howdy Y'all, Cody here from the A side of things, got a question about the T that has driven me up a wall for the longest time trying to figure it out. On the timer on a T, what was the factory setting for the base time? on the A for example with spark advance fully retarded it fires at 4 degrees atdc, which makes starting easy and keeps it from kicking back. Most t's I hear from sound alone sound like they are running a lot of advance, even at idle. I wonder if running too much advance is the main cause of crank failure for the T. That's my working theory anyway. I'm eyeing a 25 coupe for myself and I want to know all I can about these little cars. thanks for your time.
 
I have owned 4 model Ts and just set things by the book so I can't give an answer, but I will watch this thread out of curiosity on what might be shared. The only settings I know is by bending the timer rod.
 
Interesting, on an A we often bend the distributer rod because often the repros are sometimes too long. On a Model A the distributer has a range of 40 degrees advance total, if tdc is set on top dead center on one click down on the quadrant it gives 34-36 degrees advance. the notches on an A quadrant are 4 degrees each.
 
There are multiple different rod bending tools for the two different timer rods that are available. There is a timing distance tool available but they are made for OEM Ford type timers and may not work for other makes of timers.

Ford eventually settled on around 15 degrees atdc for full retard just for safety sake. The problem is figuring out what crankshaft position is 15 degrees atdc. The piston distance from TDC to 15 degrees atdc is not known either.

What the correct advance is can be a whole other barrel of worms but it had to advance before top dead center somewhere. Most procedures are to adjust for best running. Full advance would be used for full speed running.
 
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From Dykes automotive encyclopedia—-
By piston position, retarded, 1\8”down after tdc
Advanced— 3\8” before tdc
 
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