coils won't fire 1922

[Woodie1]

I am trying to help a guy get his 1922 T running again. The last time it ran was 4 or 5 years ago. He changed the timer & rod & put a new wire harness on to the timer. When he tries to start the car the coils don't buzz. He remembers they used to when he would start the car. We heard a coil buzz once & then we think it was because the control rod was shorting on the timer post. We started by pulling the No. 1 spark plug & checking for both valves closed & the piston at top. From there I believe you have to move the control rod on the timer until the coil buzzes. Then the rod must be bent to have the timing retarded. What are we missing?