South Bend News-Times, Volume 35, Number 118, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 28 April 1918 — Page 26

IHK SOUTH BtINU NfcAVS-TIMES OMOBILE NEWS

aVS DAY, Al'JCIL 1V18

MOTORIST PROBLEM SOLVED FOR NEWS-TIMES READERS

By WM R STEWART, JR. Jhrrfl&mx Ctwt AutotnobC School of New

Motorln I)rt. The News-Times: My Fori car durint? the past month has loat its rower to climb hills as well as when it was new. I have tneI to remedy this by adjusting the carburetor anl cleaning the park plugs and commutator, bur it Joes not improve the running. C. V. Los of rower nny be due to lf-akage of the gas from the co ! -ustlon chamber of the cylinders. L'nles the gasss drawn Into the. t-ngine are compressed, and the full amount limited there will develop a loss of power. To trace the fault it is w:Il to rlrs-t examine the ignition apparatus for defective conrcctlons or wires with worn insulation. P. est the -park plugs on the top of the cylinders and with switch turn on. crank the engine to determine whether all the spark plugs pre in working condition. The air gap between the points "hould be wide enough to insert a small hack aw blade. If th Ignition is in proper working order the compression of the engine should next be tried, to locate any points of leakpge. Special attention should be given to the valve clearance, which fhould be evident when the engine is cold, for unless this clearance is allowed the valves may not seat properly when the engine is hot. If there is no clearance between the alve stm and tv, 5 push rod when The valve is clc oj '.t may he necessary to file down the valve stem to

nlve the clearance, as the Ford motor is made without any adjustment screws. If cylinders and valves are carbonized It is important that the carbon be removed. After the ignition and compression are in proper condition, the carburetor should be adjusted. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: 1 have a light truck, chain drive, and would like to know how to car for the chains, especially a. means of lubricating them, fo that they will last longer. R. K. Pe sure that rear axle is parallel with counter shaft and that the chains are not adjusted too loose or too slack. Chains should receive frequent applications of graphite : nd occasional cleaning. To clean the chains properly they should be removed and placed In boiling water to loosen the grit. Scrub with a stiff brush, tising1 soap containing: lye and Plenty of hot water. When apparently clean place the chains In gasoline, that it may work between the link, cutting away any caked oil or grease. The chains then thoroughly cleaned may be boiled In mutton tallow to penetrate all the bearing and afterwards grarhlted. Motoring Dept. Th News-Times:

I have a new 191? Studebaker and would like for yoi to give me some information in regard to what kind of oil or grease should be used In the transmission and differential. Would a light oil vork through the rear axle? I now have them filled with cup grease. Is this O. K.?

Thanking you very much for this Information, I am C. S. To lubricate the gears of the gearset and the differential it is usually well to use a lubricant that will work into the bearings as well as form a cushioning force between the teeth of the gears. While cup greasewill become channeled by the action ' f the revolving gears, oil will reach all the points of friction. Light oil may he used if the axle housing is oil tight, but as it does not offer the same cushioning effect that a heavy oil does it may cause more noise. A fluid lubricant is always recommended for units of this kind. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: In refilling my storage battery I accidentally filled It up with very dirty water. Kindly let me know what I should do with it? Will it affect the battery in any way or not. Thanking you in advance, I am, M. K. The sediment which will collect at the bottom of the jars may reach the plates and cause a possible short circuit between the plates. The battery should be taken to a battery

service station for their attention, as it will require a thorough cleaning. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: I own a Chevrolet, Baby Grand

model automobile, and am having trouble with the clutch. It does not engage smoothly and causes the car to start off with a jump. Your advice will be greatly appreciated. C. S. The Chevrolet Baby Grand model is equipped with a leather faced cone clutch having small helical springs placed so that they exert a pressure under the leather facing to facilitate easy engagement, and unless these springs are kept at the right tension they will not afford the cushion action necessary. It may be advisable to adjust these springs to the correct tension. If the leather facing of the clutch is dried out, it may be made pliable by the application of neat's foot oil. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: My motor seems to be in good working condition when I start out, but after running a while and the motor Is hot, there Is a marked falling off in the power, f hould not the motor give more power when hot than at cooler temperature? L. T. Motors of the gasoline type devel-

vibrator points by a defective induction coll. the coil is not

Bill

ISfiS ii iliPS

Trucking and Long Distance Moving done by careful men at reasonable prices North Side Coal 8c Transfer Co. H. Phoae 2526 528 Ii. Scott St. Bell 477

op gTeater power when the cylinders are hot than when cold, but only when the dependent working parts are in proper condition, or correctly adjusted. The fact that the motor loses power when hot indicates mechanical rather than thermal deficiency, and probably Is caused by the expansion of the engine parts. If the loss of power is when the motor becomes overheated it may be that the pistons expanding stick In the cylinders, adding to the friction and therefore causing a loss of power. Losa of compression caused by valves no seating properly may be the trouble. Unless there is a clearance between the valve stems and the push rods there will be no space for the expansion of the valve stems when the motor heats up. with the result that the valves will not close tightly and there will be a loss of compression. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: The vibrator points of one of the coils on my Ford constantly sparks and the spark plug In line with It gives a very weak spark at the points. Do you think the coil is short-circuited, and can I repair it? Thanking you in advance, I am, J. S.

Sparking at the probably is caused condenser in the

When the core of

quickly demagnetized by the discharge of the condenser through the primary a magnetic lag results and is responsible for the weak induced high tension current at the air gap of the spark plug. It Is advisable to replace the entire unit.

Motoring Dept. The News-Times: Will you kindly advise me how to drive over wet pavement without slipping and skidding? M. K. Skidding is probably the greatest danger the driver meets. In wet weather the wheels should always be equipped with non-skid chains, which will assist greatly in preventing this danger. When a car skids, turn the tront wheels In the direction of skidding. When using the brakes exercise great care not to lock the wheels, and if possible gauge the distance when about to stop, so that the brake will be used less. It is good practice to use the brake with the clutch engaged, as the breaking is more equalized and the possibility of skidding reduced somewhat. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: Tiease give information on the following in your Motorist column:

What can be used to reblacken leather upholstering that is showing wear? When a car is to be put up

for the winter months, should such J

preparation be used now or wait until car is taken out in the spring? R. T. There are several good preparations on the market which may be used satisfactorily to refinish and blacken the leather upholstery. This may b? obtained at almost any responsible auto supply store. It would seem best to treat the leather when the car is taken out of storage. We do not recommend any particular brand. Motoring Dept. The News-Times: The carburetor of my automobile constantly drips, with the result that it is constantly wasting gasoline. What will cause this constant drip? H. W. When there is constant drip from the carburetor it indicates either a f,as logged float or a defective float valve which fails to stop the supply of gasoline entering the float chamber at the proper time. A cork float which has become gas logged may be dried and covered with a coating of shellac. It is be-t. however, to install a new one. Also be sure that the gasoline level is not too h'gh in the carburetor.

Get Your

re m

attery m

Starting

Shape

Now is the season of preparation for Spring and Summer automobilin. You want every part ot your car in the pink of condition. Do not neglect your starting battery. If your car lias been laid up during the winter the battery Should be thoroughly gone over. If you have been using your car the battery has worked hard and surely needs careful inspection. ' Drive to our "EXIDE" service station at your first opportunity and let us carefully inspect your battery. We will till ihe cells if necessary, take a hydrometer reading and tell you exactly the condition of your battery. We make no charge for this service. A little attention now may save you future trouble and expense. The homely old saying, "A stitch in time saves nine," applies right here. Exide Battery Service 124 EAST JEFFERSON BLVD.

i i I I i

i i

lll'UMTL MINTS. The service of pneumatic tires depends upon a number of considerations quite apart from

any question of merit as a manufactured article. Hven though a tire is constructed wi'.h the best material and workmanship It must be carefully used to insure its durability. Underiniation is the most frequent fau't responsible for tire damage. Underinflation will place an vndue strain upon the walls of the shoe, weakening the fabric and cracking the rubber. 1'nless the tube is well rounded by sufficient air pressure it may creep, with the result that the tube is injured by the fricticn between itself and the fabric of the shoe.

Rim cutting is a mishap arising from running on a flat shoe, underinflation. or the accumulation of sand or sharp particles beccning lodged between the bead of the shoe and the rim of the wheel. Overloading so that the tire must oairy a greater weight than it is built to sustain will alsq brlng about the tearing away of thty teas.

Driving over sharp obstructions such as car tracry. without slowing down the speed, will bruise the shoe, and the fabric will become weakened and separate from the rubber tread. A bruised shoe may not withstand the full inflation, and therefore is likely to blow out.

Wheels if not properly aligned will quickly destroy the shoe on the wheel out of alignment. When the shoe of one wheel shows considerable more wear than the other It Is very often caused by the wheel not running true, with the result that the tread of the shoe is destrovd.

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Maxwel

Motor Cars

5-Paii. Cr . . . I 115 Roadster 125 5-Past. Car with AllWeather Top . . 935 5- Paaa. Sedan . . 1275 6- Paii. Town Car 1275 All dc f. V. Detroit Wir stall rtroltr aw!jaat vit 4a aac Tawa Cu

Official Figure of the Teat

Dally Av. Mile Prr Mileage Gal. Gaaoliae Nor. 23 511.9 22.2 34 551.4 32.83 " as 537.4 31.49 2 505.9 32.47 27 5165 21.70 2g 589 6 J3.02 39 515.5 36 40 M 30 480.1 21.80 D'. 1 498 8 33 99 2 484 6 31.77 " 3 508 6 30.71 M 4 Rain 438 9 19.51 - 5 502 7 19.44 " 6 517.0 32 1$ 7 505.0 22.33 t 493 3 22 03 9 4T2 6 31.33 " 18 477.7 23.43 - 11 495 2 23 82 - 13 540 t 33S6 13 539 3 23.18 - 14 Kala 46S 9 33 85 " IS 523 1 22 9$ " 1 339 1 21.99 " 17 492 8 32.09 " 18 512 0 21.72 - 19 525 9 28.33 M 20 527.5 23.44 31 496 8 24 50 " 22 490.8 22.30 23 487.1 33.13 - 34 480.5 31.7$ - 25 477.5 32 83 - 26 493 6 33 30 - 27 487.1 19.79 28 477 4 18 91 " 39 523 9 18 20 30 466 9 20.24 - 31 504 9 21 08 Jan. 1 501.4 19 82 2 Rain 451 8 20 07 " 3 Rain 479 1 21 56 " 4 Raio 455 6 19 82 " 5 Rain 562.5 19.10

Klapaed time ... Total mileaie . . . Average aped per hour Average dar' run Longer: day'a rua Average mile per gal. Smallest day'a mileage per gallon Greateat average mllea per ga low . . Averat Ire life

44 daye 22.022 3 35 miles 5CO 6 562.5 22 milea 18.20 milea 28 33 milea 0.873 milea

Mote that !oagt day'a rua wai cade on latt day of the test.

SMITH-RAUSCH MOTOR SALES CO. Maxwell Dtributors 100-110 Lincoln Way KM South Bend, Ind. Bell Phone 2282 Home Phono 2113

mow tin

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22,000

Test?

You know, of course, that the Maxwell Motor Car is the long distance champion of the world. You have read that a "stock" Maxwell 5-passenger car ran for 44 days and nights without stopping the motor. And that, in the 44 days non-stop ttst, the Maxwell covered 22,022 miles, at an average speed of 25 miles per hour. But have you, up to now, realized the full significance of that performance? Do you know that no other motor car in the world has ever equalled or even approached that performance? In a word, did you take this test seriously when you heard of it? Or did you set it down as a "selling stunt" to give the publicity man something to talk about? It's worth your while to read and to study the conditions under which that test was made. You know that the American Automobile Association (familiarly known as the "A.A.A.") is the official arbiter of every automobile test and contest. But perhaps you didn't know that when a maker places his product under A. A. A. supervision he must do absolutely as told and abide by the decisions of the Board. That's why there are so few A. A. A. Official Records! This 22,000-mile Maxwell non-stop test was official from start to finish. Therein lies its value to you. It proves absolutely the quality of the car of the very Maxwell you buy. For verily this was a "stock" Maxwell. Listen: First : the inspectors disassembled the motor to sec that no special pistons, valves, bearing-metal or other parts had been used. Every other unit was as critically inspected. Then the car was re-assembled under their own supervision. As we had much at stake and the test was made in winter (November 23 to January ä) we asked permission to take certain little precautions against accidental stoppage. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? But they refused permission to do any such thing. For example: They would not permit a rubber cover over the magneto it wasn't "stock." They refused to let us tape the ignition wire terminals they are not taped on the Maxwells we sell so of course it wasn't "stock." Neither would they let us use a spiral coiled pipe in place of the usual straight one frorn tank to carburetor to guard against a breakage from the constant, unremitting vibration it isn't "stock." Nor to use a special high priced foreign make of spark plug the run was made on the same spark plugs with which all Maxwells are equipped. So rigid were the rules, we were unable to carry a spare tire on the rear it wasn't "stock." A telegram to headquarters in New York finally brought a special permit to carry a spare tire. "It isn't stock!" "It isn't stock!" That was the laconic reply of those A. A. A. inspectors to every last suggestion that called for anything but the precise condition of the standard, stock model Maxwell that any customer can buy from any one of 3000 dealers anywhere. We are glad now mighty glad that the rules were so strict and so rigidly enforced. Any other car that ever attempts to equal that record must do it under official supervision and comply with the same terms. And it will have to go some. For Maxwell set the standard when it performed this wonderful feat. Maxwell complied with those rules and made good. Every drop of gasoline and oil and water was measured out and poured in by the inspectors themselves. They would not even let our man pour it in ! Every four hours the car had to report at the official station for checking. And it had to be there on the minute. And every minute there was an inspector beside the driver on the front seat two more men in the rear. One got out only to let another in day and night for 44 days and nights! There was one technical stop. It is interesting to know the circumstances. Dead of night a driving storm a cloudburst suddenly another car appeared in the road ahead. In his effort to avoid a collision the Maxwell driver stalled his motor. At least the observers thought it stopped and so reported. The car did not stop, however, so its momentum again started the motor (if it had indeed stalled) when the clutch was let in. The contest board exonerated our driver on grounds that his action was necessary to save life. That shows you how rigid were the rules how conscientiously applied by the observers. You who have owned and driven motor cars you who know how small a thing may clog a carburetor or a feed pipe; "short" a spark or stall a motor will realize what a wonderfully well made car this must be to go through that test under those conditions 44 days 22,022 miles without stopping. The exact amount of gasoline, of oil, of water used; the tire mileage, tire troubles, tire changes; the distance and the routes are matters of official record, attested under oath and guaranteed by the A. A. A. (By the way, the average was nearly 10,000 miles per tire.) Any Maxwell owner or anyone interested may see those records. And here's the most wonderful part though no attempt was or could be made for economy; the Maxwell averaged 22 miles per gallon of gasoline. Some other car may, some time, equal some one of those performances. But to equal them all in the same test that car must b a Maxwell.