The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
PRIMER FOR LUTOTNG NOVICES
WORKING OF GASOLINE MOTORS
EXPLAINED SIMPLY.
Expert Gives Details Of Power Plants In
S~elf.PrOpelIed Vehicles and Advises
inexperienced Operators How 70 LO-
cate Minor Troubles and Remedy Them.

~ N"S OtC ihB AOS Nibo VAiC "AnAA ~
their own cars, some from motives Of econ
omy and others because they do not like TO
be entirely dependent On a hired chauffeur.
In the majority of cases IL is g difficult mat
terforthese men to sparethetime necessary
for them to be thoroughly instructed re-
garding the mechanism OF their cars, and
the result In that there are hundreds Of men
driving their own cars to-day that have no
trouble so long as everything works all
right, but who are compelled to send for aid
the inst ant any slight disarrangement oc-
ours in the mechanism Of their machines. To
helpthis class of motoring novices to
stand their cars F.. W. Leavitt, president OF
the Automobile Dealers Association Of San
Francisco, has issued a letter Of instruction
to motoring novioes reading as follows:
"The reason why the engine runs is that
gasolene vapor is drawn into the cylinder Of
the engine, compressed by the stroke Of the
piston. and at the proper time exploded by
the action Of an electric spark, generated at
the battery and intensified by passing
through the coil. The force Of the explosion
drives the piston on its working stroke.
The momentum Of the fly wheel carries the
piston back int cylinder. forcing out the
burnt gases. 1t also carriesthe piston along
on it's suction stroke, drawing in a fresh
charge Of gas, and returns the piston into
he cylinder on it's compression stroke, when
the electric spark again occurs and drives
the piston on its working stroke.
This is called the four cycle type Of gas
engine and is the type most generally en-
ployed. 1t must be evident that the machine
must nave gasolene, that the g~asolene must
reach the carbureter, that there must be
batteries, and the batteries must be properly
wired to the coil and the vibrator Of the coil
must be properly adjusted, 30 that a spark
is delivered at the spark plug, The valves
must be working properly to admit the
fresh gas from the carbureter and to let
out the burnt gases after the explosion.
Assuming that the valves have been
properly set, they will probably remain so,
but a valve stem might become clogged or
gummy, where it works in its guide, the
result being that the valve would not seat
al the proper time. There would then be
no compression and consequently no eI-
plosion. If a little kerosene is occasionally
injected into the cylinders above the piston
there is little danger Of this occurring. The
causes hat might result in an engine not
starting or working, properly and the order
in which they should be expected are:
"First-Troubles with the ignition sys-
TEN; a wire may become broken or loose,
the batteries may be run down, the vi
orator on the coil may not be properly
adjusted or the points OF the spark plug
may be fouled with burnt oil.
"Second-Trouble with the gasolene
system; there may not be gasolene In the
tank, the pipe TO the spray nozzle in the
oarbureter may be clogged in the pipe or
nozzle. The g~asolene may have water in it,
which is not uncommon, or the carbureter
~ NOT ha nrOnarly aHlIlEfnd fF, UiVR the
right explosive mixture OF gasolene and air.
charlottesville with the compression
due TO a sticky valve. This can be located
by %cranking the engine over and II any
cylinder shows a lack of compression it
would be reasonable to expect chat the inlet
or exhaust valve might be sticking.
SHOULD a machine stop on the road
or refuse to start, proceed as follows to
locate the cause OF stoppage: LOOK for
trouble in the ignition system or a broken
wire, by turning the engine over with the
starting crank slowly and listen for a buzz
from the vibrator of the coil. In a one
cylinder machine there should be a buzz
every two revolutions of the crankshaft
In a two cylinder machine there should be a
buzz every revolution. II the coil buzzes
it is a sure thing that there are no broken
wires. Then look to see if g~asolene reaches
your carbureter by depressing the printing
pin in the carbureter. III gasolene hows
out OF the carbureter it shows that you are
all right at that point.
Having asoertained that you have cleo
trio current as shown by the coil buzzing.
and that you nave gasolene at the carbure-
ter, it is only natural then to suppose that
the spark is not occurring In the cylinder
10 explode the gasolene vapor. assuming,
of course. that the carbureter is properly
adjusted to mix the gasolene with air TO
give the proper explosive mixture. 1t is
understood, Of course, that too much
gasolene in the mixture will not explode
properly, and the same result il the mixture
II tee thin. II is then reasonable to sup
pose that the points Of the spark. plug are
fouled by burned or carboned oil. Screw
the spark plug out of the cylinder and wash
the spark plug out and cleanse 1t with
gSsolene; and sSrapss b the noi points ~ tb OF 1.-THE the
should be q little less than on%e-sirteenth
Of an inch apart.
you might test the spark plug by laying
1t on the cylinder head, and with the switch
on crank the engine over slowly and at
the time the coil buzzes a spark should
show at the spark plug points. II the
spark plug is not placed on the cylinder
or the spark plug wire is not grounded
against some part Of the engine, the engine
should not be turned over and the coil
made TO buzz, because this might work
an injury to the coil. The spark plug wire
may, however, be held at a distance not
to exceed o%ne-fourth OF an inch from the
cylinder and the engine turned over to test
the SPARK, al Jno IlInc lnt COl DuILte VIC
spark will jump from the end of the spark
plug wire to the cylinder or part Of the en-
CINE nearest it. If this distance between
the wire and the engine lie much greater
than one-fourth inch, as stated, an injury
NAV be worked to the coil.
During this testing Of the spark plug
wire il Is advisable not to hold the wire
in the hand. II had better be propped up
against some part of the machine, as the
current may pass through the hand and
result in adviolent electric shock. Having
ascertained that there is gssolene in the
cabureter and spark at the spark plug and
the carbureter adjustment has not been
changed since the engine was properly run
ming, il you will throw onthe electric switch
and crank the engine over in the usual
manner there are very few reasons why the
engine should not run One OF them might
be a sticky valve, and thereby loss Of CON-
preston. This. however, is not at all
common, but would be detected in crank
ing over the engine. A single cylinder
engine should have a compression every two
revolutions. a two cylinder engine q COM
preston every revolution.
1T might be reasonable TO suspect water
in the gasolene, which nay be removed
by opening the draining plug or cock in the
bottom OF the csrbureter, which should
take the water with IL. II there is R~asolene
i. -. ...I. .,l IL Anoa not AAuu out ~ tho