The Mail-Journal, Volume 12, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 April 1975 — Page 19

Wise drivers will heed language of drive belt

By JODY CARR Among J the inner circle of the auto parts world, it is said that the unsung hero of all unsung heroes is the fan belt, or drive belt. It drives a lot more than just the fan. Ask any generator, water pump, power steering pump or fan. These components will vouch for the drive belt, without which they would be looking for another way to go. However, this is not why the drive belt has earned its reputation as the good guy. It is esteemed, because the last thing it wants to do is let its buddies down. This means it doesn't want to let you down, either. Still, the best of drive belts can't last forever. When one breaks, your car may overheat, your battery may die, your power steering may give out or your air conditioning may quit You may experience a couple of these traumatic situations simultaneously So your drive belt tries to help you anticipate trouble by providing a unique combination of audible and visual warnings of impending problems. First, look for visual signs of old age. Twist the belt Notice that it is Vshaped. fitting into a Vshaped pulley. The sides of the V on the belt are

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what do the driving. Are they cracked, frayed or glazed? This may be enough to tell you that Old Faithful wants to retire. Or the belt may signal you audibly, by screeching when you accelerate the engine in neutral This may be nothing more than looseness, which can be corrected in a Jiffy. But if excessive looseness is allowed to persist, slippage results, and that means rapid wear. Finally, when the belt point, it may emit a dick, dick sound, especially noticeable at idle. It will speed up as you accelerate the engine and sound almost like a noisy valve This sound is caused by a large crack, or separation, in the belt, which hits the pulley with each revolution. It is a symptom of advanced old age. the brink of failure. If old faithful drive belt does snap all the way. you’re in for trouble. So keep an eye and an ear open for signs of failure, and ask your automobile service man to check into it right away. AVOID HIGH SPEED Save gas by avoiding high speeds. Observing the recommended 50-55 mile limit on the open road makes for fuel economy.

The three types of tires prevalent today

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Here’s help for motorist in choosing right tires for his driving needs

If choosing the right tires for your car gives you as much anguish as the kid with a nickel in a candy store, then here are some basics to help you. With the profusion of design types and materials, confusion is understandable. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) there are three different tire constructions prevalent today. BIAS TIRES may have two, four or more body plies of rayon, nylon polyester or other materials. Basic fibers cross at an angle of about 35 degrees with the center line of the tire strengthening both sidewall and tread. Alternate plies extend in opposite directions. In normal, light duty driving, bias tires should be sufficient. BELTED BIAS TIRES i Heavy Duty Tires) have a body similar to that of bias tires, plus two more belts under the tread. This construction strengthens the sidewall and gives greater stability to the tread. Tread life is lengthened since the belts reduce

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tread motion on the road. Glass belting is often used in belted bias tires helping resist flex and running cooler. RADIAL TIRES have body cords extending from bead to bead. Cords run at an angle of about 90 degrees “radial” to the tire circumferential center line. Two or more layers of relatively rigid belts are found under the tread. This construction gives greater strength to the tread area and flexibility

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of the sidewall. The belts restrict tread motion during contact with the road. Tread life, traction and gasoline mileage are improved with radial tires, particularly the steel belted variety. If you are putting two new tires on your car. mount them on the rear wheels. This will provide better traction, handling and blowout protection. If you’re putting a single new tire on. pair it with the best remaining one on the rear axle.