Much of the cold weather timer trouble of the Ford is due to the gumming of the congealed oil. This can be largely avoided by the use of a super quality lubricant.

Usually, the Ford timer is oiled with ordinary engine oil, because a liberal supply of this kind of oil is always at hand. However, these mineral, cylinder oils have a tendency to partially dissolve the fiber insulation, in which the timer segments are embedded.

Then this putty-like paste gets on the roller path, and prevents good contact, thus causing hard starting and misfiring.

As a vegetable oil, such as castor oil, does not tend to disintegrate the fiber so readily. It is good plan to use a little of this good, but expensive, lubricant in the timer.

January 1920
The Ford Owner