CHAPTER XLVII

MISCELLANEOUS RULES

Below are given a number of rules for doing things about an automobile, which may help the novice remember the instructions heretofore given by the agent from whom he bought the car, or obtained at the service station, in the manufacturer’s book of instructions, or elsewhere.

FOUR THINGS TO DO BEFORE LEAVING THE GARAGE

Be sure there is plenty of water.

Be sure there is plenty of gasoline.

Be sure there is plenty of oil.

Be sure there is plenty of air in the tires.

FIVE THINGS TO DO BEFORE CRANKING THE ENGINE

Be sure the emergency brake is set.

Be sure the gear-shift lever is in neutral position.

Retard the spark fully.

Open the gas hand throttle about one-third.

Throw switch to battery position.

THREE THINGS TO DO AFTER CRANKING

Close the throttle until the engine idles.

Advance the spark about two-thirds.

Switch from battery to magneto.

TO ADJUST A CARBURETOR

Adjust the needle valve at low speed—engine idling.

For high speeds adjust the auxiliary air valve.

(Owners should learn the make-up of their carburetor before attempting to adjust it, and should first watch someone who knows how to do it.)

TO ADJUST CAM SHAFTS WHICH TIME VALVE OPENING AND CLOSING

Make sure that push-rod adjustment is right—that a thin card will pass between push rod and valve stem when valve is closed.

Determine direction of rotation of cam shafts.

Set fly wheel so that the mark 1 T. C. (top center) registers with pointer.

Turn fly wheel until mark 10° P. T. C. (past top center) registers with pointer.

Rotate exhaust cam shaft in proper direction until the exhaust valve of No. 1 cylinder has just closed.

Rotate inlet cam shaft until inlet valve of No. 1 cylinder is just about to open.

Mesh the gears and lock them in place.

If No. 1 cylinder is right the others must be.

RULE FOR TIMING THE MAGNETO

Find the firing order of the engine.

Turn crank shaft of engine and note directions in which armature and distributor of magneto should revolve.

Set No. 1 cylinder on beginning of power stroke by watching exhaust valve just close and then turning crank one complete revolution.

Set fly wheel so that mark No. 1. T. C. registers with pointer.

Retard spark fully—by moving breaker box in same direction as arrow points or armature rotates, as far as it will go.

Rotate armature in proper direction until interrupter points are just about to open.

In this position mesh gears and lock magneto to base.

At this point prove your work by advancing spark. If points are right they will open.

Notice what point in distributor the rotor is touching. This goes to No. 1 cylinder.

Wire distributor in firing order of the engine.

(The distributor always rotates in opposite direction to the armature.)

RULES FOR CARE OF CLUTCH

To remedy a harsh gripping leather-faced cone clutch, apply neatsfoot oil or castor oil to leather face.

To remedy a slipping leather-faced cone clutch, apply fuller’s earth or French talc to leather facing. In rare cases a little gasoline may be used.

To remedy a harsh gripping multiple disc clutch that runs in oil, add engine oil to the mixture.

To remedy a slipping multiple disk clutch running in oil, add kerosene to the mixture.

Too little spring tension will cause slipping.

Once every 100 miles turn down all grease cups on the clutch.

Once every 500 miles apply neatsfoot oil to a leather-faced clutch.

Once every 1000 miles drain a multiple disc clutch and clean thoroughly with kerosene and renew the oil.

RULES FOR CARE OF TRANSMISSION AND DIFFERENTIAL

It must be kept half filled with very heavy oil. (Consult manufacturer’s instructions.)

Once every 500 miles inspect and replenish lubricant if need be.

Once every 5000 miles drain case, clean thoroughly with kerosene, and renew lubricant.

RULES FOR CARE OF OTHER PARTS

Once every 1000 miles pack universal joint with very heavy grease.

Once every 250 miles use oil can freely and turn down all grease cups on torsion and radius rods.

Pack the wheel hubs with grease every 1000 miles.

Pack the steering worm housing with medium grease every 500 miles.

Oil the steering mechanism every 100 miles and turn down all grease cups.

LUBRICATION TIME-TABLE

Lubricate as often as is necessary. The safest rule always is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Every 100 miles: Use oil can freely; turn all grease cups down two or three turns.

Be sure that these parts are well lubricated: Steering apparatus, clutch, spring-shackle bolts, crank handle, fan, valve-rocker arms, wheel hubs.

Every 250 miles: Give same care to braking apparatus, emergency brake, and gear-shift levers, and rocker shafts, water pump, torsion and radius rods. Clean force-feed oil system.

Every 500 miles: Inspect transmission and differential cases and refill if necessary; pack steering worm housing; apply neatsfoot oil to cone clutch facing; clean gravity and circulating splash systems.

Every 1000 miles: Pack universal joints, ball and socket boots, hub caps; oil magneto, electric motor, electric generator; clean disc clutch; clean splash system; lubricate spring leaves by jacking up frame of car, spreading leaves apart, and putting graphite mixed with gasoline between leaves.

Every 5000 miles: Drain transmission and differential cases and clean with kerosene and renew lubricant; clean wheel bearings and repack hubs with grease.

Give all bearings a careful inspection and take up all play.

CARE OF STORAGE BATTERY

Keep electrolite over top of plates by adding distilled water.

Keep top of battery clean and metal parts covered with vaseline to prevent corrosion.

Keep holes in vent plugs open.

Never leave battery standing in a discharged condition.

Make sure it is tightly fastened on car.

Examine battery once a week in summer; every two weeks in winter.

Take hydrometer readings at these times; never take hydrometer reading immediately after adding water; wait fifteen minutes for water to mix with electrolite.

If one cell always needs water examine for leaky container.

INDICATIONS OF A DISCHARGED BATTERY

Starting motor cranks engine slowly or not at all.

Lamps burn dimly or not at all.

Lamps burn brightly when first turned on but soon dim.

Electric horn weak.

Low specific gravity of electrolite.

CAUSES OF DISCHARGED BATTERY

Generator not charging battery.

Generator belt slipping.

Wires short-circuited or grounded.

Plates not covered with electrolite.

Defective or leaky cell.

Excessive lamp load.

Excessive use of lamps when engine is stopped.

Car not being run fast enough to charge at sufficient rate.

Using starter too much.

Cut-out not working properly.

Broken or loose connection between generator and battery.

(Storage battery efficiency in winter is half that of summer.)

LOCATING TROUBLES IN LIGHTING AND IGNITION SYSTEM

If no charge shows on dash meter when engine is running at speed equal to 15 m. p. h., connect good ammeter in series with dash meter; if this meter shows proper charging rate, trouble is with dash meter; if it also shows no charge, connect voltmeter with generator terminals. If it indicates a very high voltage, generator is O. K. and trouble is between generator and battery.

Test cut-out and examine all connections and wires.

If lights light when engine is stopped, trouble is between generator and ammeter. If lights do not light, trouble is between ammeter and battery.

If no, or low, voltage is indicated, trouble is with the generator, regulator, or wire between generator and regulator.

If starting motor will not crank engine, make sure battery is O. K., connections bright and clean, commutator and brushes in good condition, and that starting switch makes good contact. Crank engine by hand to make sure some mechanical defect is not preventing engine from turning.

If starting motor spins but does not crank engine, pinion or drive gear may be loose, chain broken, or overrunning clutch slipping. If a Bendix drive, pinion may stick in worm due to dirt in threads.

If none of the bulbs light, examine connection at battery, ammeter, lighting switch, and wires between those units for breaks; also all the bulbs may be burned out.

If a grounded system, examine ground connection at frame.

If only one bulb fails to light, trouble must be in its own circuit. Take trouble lamp or voltmeter and test at contacts of connector at lamp. If you get current at this point, trouble is with bulb or contact pins sticking, or not long enough. If you do not get current at this point, examine fuses, connections at lighting switch and connectors; also wire for breaks.

As a short circuit on the car generally shows its presence by its effect on battery, preventing it from holding a charge, if meter shows discharge all the time, remove wire from meter or battery. If needle remains on discharge, needle is stuck; if it drops to zero, there is a short circuit or cut-out does not open.

A short circuit beyond the lighting switch will not show on the meter until switch is turned to circuit in which short circuit is located. This will cause lights to dim and show a heavy discharge on meter.

As there are other circuits whose current does not pass through meter, a short circuit in them would not be indicated on meter, but would be indicated by running down of battery. To locate, remove all bulbs, also all wires from one of the battery terminals. Connect one side of the trouble lamp to battery terminal and the other side of lamp to wires removed. Any current leaving the battery must now pass through the trouble lamp causing it to light.

1—If trouble lamp lights when lighting switch is turned off, short circuit is either in starting motor-circuit, generator circuit (or cut-out does not open), horn circuit, or in wires between lighting switch and battery, or in ignition circuit. Eliminate one circuit after another until trouble lamp goes out. Then examine circuit on which it goes out for short.

2—If trouble lamp lights only when lighting switch is on, short circuit is in circuit beyond lighting switch. Examine circuit indicated on face of switch when in position that trouble lamp lights, as switch can be divided into sections. Eliminate one section after another until trouble lamp goes out; then examine this circuit for short.