Timing Jig back in production

[Bruce (VA)]

Setting the points and timing on a front distributor is a challenge for one simple reason: its a mechanical process dependent on the skill of the user.

The first step is the most critical: setting the correct point gap. There are many N tractor owners today ( and I suspect a majority) who have never set points on a vehicle until they bought an N. With no experience whatsoever, the concept of sliding the blade through the gap until the slightest drag is felt is totally foreign. And consequently, the timing adjustment will likely be off as well. Next, setting the timing just as the points begin to open is also mechanical. Especially when you tighten everything down and it throws off the adjustments.

I was one of the regulars around here that field tested this timing jig made by Tim Ponn in 2010 and have used it ever since when setting the points/timing on my 3 front mount 8Ns.

Attach the jig, turn the adjusting marker. If the light comes on at 35* BTDC and goes off at 0*, your points and timing are dead on.

Any other readings will require you to readjust the point gap and/or reset the timing by moving the plate. Most importantly, when youre done and tighten everything down, you can recheck your work.

Tim made some modifications to the jig over the years and is back in production. Call Tim (440)437-5572) to order the jig. Regular price, $90, limited time $5 discount gets you the jig for $85 if you mention the promo code of FBJIG.

NOTE: the jig is only for the FRONT distributor.

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[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 09:04:10 10/07/23) Setting the points and timing on a front distributor is a challenge for one simple reason: its a mechanical process dependent on the skill of the user.

The first step is the most critical: setting the correct point gap. There are many N tractor owners today ( and I suspect a majority) who have never set points on a vehicle until they bought an N. With no experience whatsoever, the concept of sliding the blade through the gap until the slightest drag is felt is totally foreign. And consequently, the timing adjustment will likely be off as well. Next, setting the timing just as the points begin to open is also mechanical. Especially when you tighten everything down and it throws off the adjustments.

I was one of the regulars around here that field tested this timing jig made by Tim Ponn in 2010 and have used it ever since when setting the points/timing on my 3 front mount 8Ns.

Attach the jig, turn the adjusting marker. If the light comes on at 35* BTDC and goes off at 0*, your points and timing are dead on.

Any other readings will require you to readjust the point gap and/or reset the timing by moving the plate. Most importantly, when youre done and tighten everything down, you can recheck your work.

Tim made some modifications to the jig over the years and is back in production. Call Tim (440)437-5572) to order the jig. Regular price, $90, limited time $5 discount gets you the jig for $85 if you mention the promo code of FBJIG.

NOTE: the jig is only for the FRONT distributor.

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his?

 

[Leroy]

I am 80 years old and untill just a very few years ago I did not know timing could be changed. I have a 44 2N that came new to live with me when I was 9 months old and as far as I know the timing has not been touched since it came from the factory. I am sure Dad did not know anything about changing timming and he passed away 32 years ago so if anything was ever done to the timing it was before I was old enough to know anything about engines. I do have all the factory manuals. Points have been changed many a time but timing was never touched. Its first job when delievered was the moldboard plow and did all tillage, planting and harvesting for years so it was not babyed. Pulled combine on PTO and corn picker for years. It has been retired now for several years. I also have a 41 9N that has been apart for overhaul since 2004, hope to get it running this next year. I dought the timing on it has ever been changed either. And I grew up when every engine had points And I had to constantly reset timing on the 76 Rambler because distrinutor kept slipping. Had to set timing on the Farmall and Deere tractors when going to distribuator from mag.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 09:04:10 10/07/23) Setting the points and timing on a front distributor is a challenge for one simple reason: its a mechanical process dependent on the skill of the user.

The first step is the most critical: setting the correct point gap. There are many N tractor owners today ( and I suspect a majority) who have never set points on a vehicle until they bought an N. With no experience whatsoever, the concept of sliding the blade through the gap until the slightest drag is felt is totally foreign. And consequently, the timing adjustment will likely be off as well. Next, setting the timing just as the points begin to open is also mechanical. Especially when you tighten everything down and it throws off the adjustments.

I was one of the regulars around here that field tested this timing jig made by Tim Ponn in 2010 and have used it ever since when setting the points/timing on my 3 front mount 8Ns.

Attach the jig, turn the adjusting marker. If the light comes on at 35* BTDC and goes off at 0*, your points and timing are dead on.

Any other readings will require you to readjust the point gap and/or reset the timing by moving the plate. Most importantly, when youre done and tighten everything down, you can recheck your work.

Tim made some modifications to the jig over the years and is back in production. Call Tim (440)437-5572) to order the jig. Regular price, $90, limited time $5 discount gets you the jig for $85 if you mention the promo code of FBJIG.

NOTE: the jig is only for the FRONT distributor.

75 Tips

Damn - that's fancy. Does i work any better than these?

TOH

 

[JMOR]

It is a lot "prettier"!

But this and a light is all inclusive, end to end, thus ultimately more accurate. But accurate isn't as important on this engine as some think. Very limited range of adjustment that is probably swamped by the centrifugal advance, even you your setting is off a few degrees. Just opinion.

This post was edited by JMOR on 10/07/2023 at 09:16 am.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

This jig tells you if you set the points correctly then it will find TDC like your jig.

Are you still making your jig?
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[Bruce (VA)]

That's the first one we field tested. I'll email you a picture of the new one as I can't get it to post.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 12:11:57 10/07/23) This jig tells you if you set the points correctly then it will find TDC like your jig.

Are you still making your jig?
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Probably got 50+ or so on hand.

TOH

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 12:13:24 10/07/23) That's the first one we field tested. I'll email you a picture of the new one as I can't get it to post.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Thanks Jesse!

This is the new one.
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[Tim PloughNman Daley]

I've set front mount timing by the recommended instructions in the manual so many times I do it without a second thought. Our late gunny buddy, Farmer Dan Howe made a hand help device similar to and before TOH did his. Bruce (VA)'s instructions for setting timing using a 21'63 drill in one of the bolt holes as a marker guide is faster and his testing unit via VOM set to Continuity on the bench prior to mounting on tractor is crucial. Tim's ho-made gage is cool but have never had any issues with setting the front mount so no need to build one. Using many new aftermarket point suppliers are another issue nowadays. Don't see how the one fella never knew how to set points and timing on his 9N. Must've had some special luck on his side. The front mount unit is the #2 most mis-understood feature on old Fords. #1 is the 6V/POS GRN electrical system. The biggest issue with the front mount distributor is when it gets mounted to the engine. Cam & Weights have a male offset tang and the engine Cam face has an offset female slot and both must mate exactly when fastened to engine. If it gets forced down wrong 180 degrees off, at first power up it will try to orientate itself and bust the aluminum base. At assembly, try using the rotor as a guide turning a bit with fingers to get a feel and using a hand held telescoping inspection mirror with a good pen light to see what you are doing. If unit is not being held flush to engine face, it ain't right. Be certain before bolting down. Distributor is made with two different bolt holes, one a tad larger than the other. It was supposed to assist making assembly easier. Unit is fastened with two 5/16-18 x 7/8 Hex bolts and two 5/16 lockwashers. Be sure to clean old gasket material off unit face and engine mounting surface and apply new paper gasket on unit B4 mounting. Using a minimal dab of blue Permatex will help hold the gasket in place.

FRONT MOUNT DISTRIBUTOR, SETTING TIMING MANUAL:

Vintage text from Bruce (VA) on front mount timing and testing:

Tim Daley (MI)

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Tim's ho-made gage is cool but have never had any issues with setting the front mount so no need to build one.

Us 70+ year old guys around here have been setting points now for 50+ years. Tim's jig is a nice but not essential tool for us. But for the rest of the world ( the youngsters!) his jig can easily mean the difference between an easy starting and well running tractor or yard art!

I recently asked a guy on FB about setting the timing on his front mount and he told me he had set it at 1-2-4-3. Seriously.
75 Tips

 

[Mad Farmer]

(quoted from post at 06:33:19 10/08/23) Tim's ho-made gage is cool but have never had any issues with setting the front mount so no need to build one.

Us 70+ year old guys around here have been setting points now for 50+ years. Tim's jig is a nice but not essential tool for us. But for the rest of the world ( the youngsters!) his jig can easily mean the difference between an easy starting and well running tractor or yard art!

I recently asked a guy on FB about setting the timing on his front mount and he told me he had set it at 1-2-4-3. Seriously.
75 Tips

I'd done all sorts of stuff with points before I got my N. Early motorcycles with 2 or 3 sets, cars and cars with dual points, all sorts of small engines 2 and 4 stoke..........

But never saw anything like N. I read here, manuals, and stuff on few websites about points/timing...........I understood how the dist worked

What I did was found a 5/16 " plastic bushing 1/4" thick. I fit that to the distributor with a bolt, washer, and nut. That makes a perfect 1/4" reference for the straight edge. And frees up one hand you need.

I used an ohm meter to set timing/ open closed.

I"d set timing with a rolling paper on other stuff. When the paper just slips out of the points, is when they opened. Done that on cars on the side of the road, and old dirt bikes in the woods....

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 11:54:06 10/08/23)

(quoted from post at 06:33:19 10/08/23) Tim's ho-made gage is cool but have never had any issues with setting the front mount so no need to build one.

Us 70+ year old guys around here have been setting points now for 50+ years. Tim's jig is a nice but not essential tool for us. But for the rest of the world ( the youngsters!) his jig can easily mean the difference between an easy starting and well running tractor or yard art!

I recently asked a guy on FB about setting the timing on his front mount and he told me he had set it at 1-2-4-3. Seriously.
75 Tips

I'd done all sorts of stuff with points before I got my N. Early motorcycles with 2 or 3 sets, cars and cars with dual points, all sorts of small engines 2 and 4 stoke..........

But never saw anything like N. I read here, manuals, and stuff on few websites about points/timing...........I understood how the dist worked

What I did was found a 5/16 " plastic bushing 1/4" thick. I fit that to the distributor with a bolt, washer, and nut. That makes a perfect 1/4" reference for the straight edge. And frees up one hand you need.

I used an ohm meter to set timing/ open closed.

I"d set timing with a rolling paper on other stuff. When the paper just slips out of the points, is when they opened. Done that on cars on the side of the road, and old dirt bikes in the woods....

eah, a lot of us can do tech stuff while asleep with our hands tied behind our back, but.....many more can sure use some of these "helper' devices, so don't beat them up too bad.

 

[TheOldHokie]

(quoted from post at 11:18:42 10/09/23)

(quoted from post at 11:54:06 10/08/23)

(quoted from post at 06:33:19 10/08/23) Tim's ho-made gage is cool but have never had any issues with setting the front mount so no need to build one.

Us 70+ year old guys around here have been setting points now for 50+ years. Tim's jig is a nice but not essential tool for us. But for the rest of the world ( the youngsters!) his jig can easily mean the difference between an easy starting and well running tractor or yard art!

I recently asked a guy on FB about setting the timing on his front mount and he told me he had set it at 1-2-4-3. Seriously.
75 Tips

I'd done all sorts of stuff with points before I got my N. Early motorcycles with 2 or 3 sets, cars and cars with dual points, all sorts of small engines 2 and 4 stoke..........

But never saw anything like N. I read here, manuals, and stuff on few websites about points/timing...........I understood how the dist worked

What I did was found a 5/16 " plastic bushing 1/4" thick. I fit that to the distributor with a bolt, washer, and nut. That makes a perfect 1/4" reference for the straight edge. And frees up one hand you need.

I used an ohm meter to set timing/ open closed.

I"d set timing with a rolling paper on other stuff. When the paper just slips out of the points, is when they opened. Done that on cars on the side of the road, and old dirt bikes in the woods....

eah, a lot of us can do tech stuff while asleep with our hands tied behind our back, but.....many more can sure use some of these "helper' devices, so don't beat them up too bad.

Not to toot my own horn but the locking bar frees both hands up and makes it a lot easier to use them E-Z Widers

TOH

 

[John Deere D]

Thanks for the INFO Sir.
Bob...Owner of a 2-N.....

 

[Gene in Mi]

Bruce, I try to go onto FB and help with tractors, but WOW.Lots of guessers, not many helpers.
This forum is still the best resource.

 

[Kevin in MN]

how is http://www.Banned for Excessive and Unauthorized Advertising/ involved. they haven't updated their site in many years

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I gather that's because they only take phone orders.
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