The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-18

Haw the Machine May Be Kept
Proper Condition.

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The necessary care % bicycle may De
divided into TWO sact.cns-ths care when in
use and that necessary when the machine
Is laid BY. When in use il is highly mad
vsSahle 10 permit any part OF the cycle 70
remain loose. apart altogether from the
danger Of accident necessarily involved.
Thus, should the pedal become loose in the
crank end. or the pedal nut come loose,
where these are used II IS most unwise 70
neglect Il while riding even a short dis
tance and for this reason-that there is a
big leverage on ire pedal end. and the
threads OF the screw. which hold firmly
when the nut Is screwed up or the pedal
end is well gripped by the lock-nut, will
very soon be broken and rubbed when
those points are loose in the crank end, the
consequence being great difficulty In screw
Ing the pedal up satisfactorily. ard in duo
season the thread will Strip and cause
much trouble before II is recut. Il may.
indeed, be laid down as al axiom that all
nuts should be kept Eight, and should any
particular nut be found 10 be constantly
coming loose X will be weil 10 have II look
ed 10 by the nearest cycle repairer. lest II
should give great deal more trouble later
on.
The same thing applies very erlphati-
eaily to the bail bearings OF the machine
wherever they are fitted. These bearings
are delicate pieces OF mechanism IN which
as will subsequently be explained, the
hardened steel balls run on cons3 surfaces.
which admit of the adjustment Of or the
taking up OF wear by closer approxima tton.
whether as a part OF a threaded nut or &C
tuated by IL. and n IL very necessary 20
keep ball bearing adjusted within a reason
able range. OF course the bearing must not
be too tight. or broken balls are sure TO be
the result. but very loose bearing per-
mits Of Irregular running. which OF course
means Irregular wear: and, in due sea-
son, when the bearing IS properly adjusted.
the regularly worn cones cause II 10 be
tight az one poiat and loose at another.
with the result that the balls are broken
the internal faces OF the cones scratched
and worn, and these roughenesi faces again
react upon the new balls put in 70 replace
the old ores. Every rider OF a cycle should
make himself conversant with the con-
struction OF the bearings and the methods
Of adjustment used in the machine he
rides. as In nothing is the wise saw about
"a stitch in time so fully justified AZ In
the care Of the bearings OF the modern
cycle.
The bearings sometimes get cioggei up
with oil ard dust. and IL the machine IS
only occasionally used. they NAV get abso-
lately stuck. This state OF things can be
rene3ie3 by injecting a little parafsin,
which llqueTas the thickened oil and causes
rotated for short time. When after re-
peated doses. the bearings appear TO be
clean. they should be carefully reoilaa with
some suitable oil. and will OF course be
found much the better for the operation.
Some care % the chain will also be found
Of service, though the almost universal fit
ting ~ the gear case has much simpiifei
the task or the chain user Of late wears
In earlier days the dust -eiogged chain 20
auire6 frequent cleaning II oiled Il
caught and held the rust: II not oiled Ii
was a terrible thing in wet weather.
rnsting up into a rigid bar holding the
mud, getting gritty. jumping and 50 on
The cures adopted we're various: black
leading was a favorite method as II is to-
day Ia America among the fine weather
riders over the boulevards OF the big cities
the riders who never require a gear case
or mud guards: the chain was soaked in oil.
In lard and 50 on. and many other devices
were tried. but nowadays the real work Of
taking care Of the chain falls on the gear
case. and those cases which contain an oil
bath are much 70 he preferred Careful
adjustment Is. OF course. very necessary. A
too loose or too tight chain Is bound 10
cause trouble anyhow. aaf.of course. when
the chain mounts the coEs, or through be-
Ing too tight throws too great strain on
the frame and bearings, the results are Ger
tain TO - more or less disastrous The
chain. then. should b. kept properly ss-
fusted, which. IN effect. means Just short
Of tight
These few hlnts Will indicate what -
needed fer the care 81 the cycle when IN
use, bur II is wei also 70 bear In mind that
the best cycle vii rapidly aeterforate IN
appearance and in value when lying BY
U - NOT properly locked after and this. Re-