Timing issue
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
-
Topic author - Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 10:17 am
- First Name: Josh
- Last Name: Lenon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Morley Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2021
Timing issue
I’ve been having some issues with my T — you can check my last post for the full story if you’d like — but I feel like I may have finally pinned it down (at least I hope so).
I decided to check the timing, and when I brought cylinder #1 just past TDC, there was no spark there. Instead, cylinder #4 was sparking. So I took apart my new Day timer and saw that the brush is in the bottom right corner, making contact with #4, instead of being in the top left, making contact with #1.
I then checked the timing gear to make sure the timing marks were lined up — and they were.
So now I don’t know what to do, lol. I can’t change the brush position because of where the pin goes that holds the timer housing on. So I’m stumped for now.
Any help is really appreciated — thank you guys in advance!
I decided to check the timing, and when I brought cylinder #1 just past TDC, there was no spark there. Instead, cylinder #4 was sparking. So I took apart my new Day timer and saw that the brush is in the bottom right corner, making contact with #4, instead of being in the top left, making contact with #1.
I then checked the timing gear to make sure the timing marks were lined up — and they were.
So now I don’t know what to do, lol. I can’t change the brush position because of where the pin goes that holds the timer housing on. So I’m stumped for now.
Any help is really appreciated — thank you guys in advance!
-
- Posts: 4797
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: karvaly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
- Location: orange, ca
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Timing issue
You dont happen to have an early cam with the pin hole thru? That would put you out 180 degrees.
Are you really @ tdc #1?? Make sure both valves are closed as you reach TDC.
Intake just closed & exh is about to open.
Are you really @ tdc #1?? Make sure both valves are closed as you reach TDC.
Intake just closed & exh is about to open.
-
- Posts: 2261
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Timing issue
John has the answer I believe. I've seen this many times. My 1917's camshaft is that way. I put a small mark on the end of the camshaft showing the correct alignment to reduce the risk of installing it 180°
1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
-
- Posts: 477
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:56 pm
- First Name: Rick
- Last Name: Duquette
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Touring, 1914 Touring, 1925 Touring, 1927 PU, 1955 T Bird, 69 Shelby GT 350
- Location: Grand Forks, ND
- Board Member Since: 2015
Re: Timing issue
Repeating what these guys just told you in a different way. Make sure #1 piston is coming up on the compression stroke then check that your commutator roller or flapper is near the #1 post. Then set your timing.
-
- Posts: 4132
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:06 pm
- First Name: Jerry
- Last Name: Van
- Location: S.E. Michigan
-
Topic author - Posts: 13
- Joined: Wed Aug 18, 2021 10:17 am
- First Name: Josh
- Last Name: Lenon
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Morley Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Timing issue
My pinhole on the cam doesn’t go all the way through I swish it did that would make things a whole lot easier the brush is 180 no matter what I’m thinking I can maybe just put the wires on the timer or the coils backwards from what they should be for an easy fix
-
- Posts: 6543
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
- First Name: Scott
- Last Name: Conger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919
- Location: not near anywhere, WY
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Timing issue
You've convinced yourself that a car that previously ran, but with a miss on #1 has now suddenly completely flipped the firing from #1 to #4 when at TDC...hmmmmm.
I'll reiterate what a few astute people have already stated, but in different words: This is a 4 stroke engine, meaning that each piston reaches "TDC" twice during each complete cycle. You have obviously mistaken #1 TDC exhaust for TDC ignition...and as a result, you are finding #4 throwing a spark when you are absolutely convinced it shouldn't. If #1 is at TDC of exhaust stroke, #4 absolutely WILL be throwing a spark.
I'll submit that everything is very likely fine with respect to this "issue".
If your car went from "running" to OMG EVERYTHING"S SCREWED UP!!! then I think you're simply investigating a simple issue without fully understanding how things work. That's OK. We've all been there. Invest in the FORD Service Manual, study it, and figure out what the root cause of your trouble is. If it ran once, your trouble is certainly not going to lurk within the timing gears or any other mysteriously hidden corners of the car, so do yourself a favor and stop pulling random things off of the engine, especially when someone eventually says "take the head off and have a look around!"
FORD made 15 Million Model Ts and at the present time, there are at least twice that many experts, so if you're looking for opinions, you'll get them. Read the manual, think about your problem, and resist the urge to follow down every Rabbit Hole people will inevitably point you toward.
I'll reiterate what a few astute people have already stated, but in different words: This is a 4 stroke engine, meaning that each piston reaches "TDC" twice during each complete cycle. You have obviously mistaken #1 TDC exhaust for TDC ignition...and as a result, you are finding #4 throwing a spark when you are absolutely convinced it shouldn't. If #1 is at TDC of exhaust stroke, #4 absolutely WILL be throwing a spark.
I'll submit that everything is very likely fine with respect to this "issue".
If your car went from "running" to OMG EVERYTHING"S SCREWED UP!!! then I think you're simply investigating a simple issue without fully understanding how things work. That's OK. We've all been there. Invest in the FORD Service Manual, study it, and figure out what the root cause of your trouble is. If it ran once, your trouble is certainly not going to lurk within the timing gears or any other mysteriously hidden corners of the car, so do yourself a favor and stop pulling random things off of the engine, especially when someone eventually says "take the head off and have a look around!"
FORD made 15 Million Model Ts and at the present time, there are at least twice that many experts, so if you're looking for opinions, you'll get them. Read the manual, think about your problem, and resist the urge to follow down every Rabbit Hole people will inevitably point you toward.
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves™
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
-
- Posts: 513
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:57 pm
- First Name: Jeffrey
- Last Name: Hausey
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Early 23 Touring
- Location: Anaheim, Ca.
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Timing issue
THIS ^^^^^Scott_Conger wrote: ↑Sat Jul 26, 2025 3:19 pm.....and resist the urge to follow down every Rabbit Hole people will inevitably point you toward.
I cannot tell you how many times a thread on Corvette Forum starts with a bad plug wire, and by the end everyone says pull the engine.
It's just something stupid simple as Scott said.
-
- Posts: 6703
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:21 pm
- First Name: Allan
- Last Name: Bennett
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 van, 1917 shooting brake, 1929 roadster buckboard, 1924 tourer, 1925 barn find buckboard, 1925 D &F wide body roadster, 1927LHD Tudor sedan.
- Location: Gawler, Australia
Re: Timing issue
Jeffrey, what else would you expect from Chev owners?
Allan from down under.
Allan from down under.
-
- Posts: 224
- Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:01 pm
- First Name: Michael
- Last Name: Bunner
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1912 Torpedo Roadster 1917 Smith Form-a-Truck
- Location: Cary, NC
- Board Member Since: 2007
Re: Timing issue
@allan
You asked for it, you got it, “T”. That’s all i got! 


-
- Posts: 1553
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:57 am
- First Name: Adam
- Last Name: Doleshal
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘13 Touring, ‘24 Touring, ‘25 TT dump truck, ‘26 Tudor, ‘20 Theiman harvester T powerplant, ‘20 T Staude tractor
- Location: Wisconsin
- Board Member Since: 2000
Re: Timing issue
Did you re-wire your car or change your plug wires or rebuild your coil box and put things back together incorrectly perhaps? As you are sitting in the drivers seat, coil # 1 is on the right and coil # 4 is on the left…
-
- Posts: 4797
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: karvaly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
- Location: orange, ca
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Timing issue
Your previous post claimed you were running a roller timer. Now you have a new day. Changing to the newday requires a reset of the timing. brush/roller/contact timing is very different between the 2. Thats done by a rebending of the timer rod.
That & I believe you are not actually looking & tdc on compression stroke may be the issue.
That & I believe you are not actually looking & tdc on compression stroke may be the issue.
-
- Posts: 1141
- Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2019 8:16 am
- First Name: Richard
- Last Name: Gould
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1910 touring, 1912 roadster , 1927 roadster
- Location: Folsom, CA
Re: Timing issue
"FORD made 15 Million Model Ts and at the present time, there are at least twice that many experts,"
That was a good one!!
That was a good one!!
-
- Posts: 1248
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:39 pm
- First Name: James
- Last Name: Golden
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Model T Roadster
- Location: Bowie, MD
Re: Timing issue
Some New Day Timers have a number by each terminal and the numbers are just going around like clock numbers and they will cause you to put the wires in the wrong order.
1 and 2 might be right or 3 and 4 might be wrong.
1 and 2 might be right or 3 and 4 might be wrong.
-
- Posts: 5213
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Timing issue
FYI - firing order is 1,2,4,3 going c.c.w. on the timer but as John mentioned, standing at the radiator, #1 is on your left & #4 is on your right.
-
- Posts: 4132
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:06 pm
- First Name: Jerry
- Last Name: Van
- Location: S.E. Michigan
Re: Timing issue
Have we scared off the OP?