Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
DaHBC YOUR OWN CAR
nSings Worth While to Know and Put
to Practical Use.
POINTS ON WEAR AND TEAR
Safeguards for slippery Driving
0prInE for the Capitalization
TO "Details WIN reven
Accidents.

NiN hNANAiHu adiG VI hA AhAUhAVbANf W. -
which msy be discovered in a book Of in
structions or otherwise furnished %gratuit-
ously BY dealers. but rather to take up the
odds and ends of information that one is
apt to gather more from experience than
3Ie% the ordinary literature upon the sub
Cranking seems one Of the first points. in
the natural order of things, to consider.
and IL should be unnecessary to lay en-
phasis upon the fact that careless %cranking
breaks wrists and cracks heads; use the
utmost caution. A good rule is to set the
spark as IL should be and grasp the crank
preparatory to twirling it, but, instead,
release 1t, and take one more look at the
spark before finally c~ranking, at the same
time observing whether or not the front
wheels of the car point directly ahead. for,
II turned to one side, the steering wheel
Will be revolved, so that what may seem
at first glance to be a retarded spark will
prove TO be full speed ahead.
Wear and Tear.
Drive with a downward grip upon the
wheel, hut this is the custom of but COM
bparatively few. The upward grip is the
natural one, but less secure in case of
sudden jolts or the explosion OF a front
shoe, which might throw the steering gear
entirely out of hand.
4 Those who wish to operate a car econ
fmically would do we'll to observe how
others, who care not for the cost of main
tenance. nor the comfort Of the passengers,
stop and start their cars. Notice how, as
the low speed is engaged, the car starts
with a jump. Examine the exact spot on
tho road or pavement where this occurred,
and then draw your conclusion what the
wear must have been upon the rear shoes.
This NAV he very laroelv avogdad nv hav-
ing the spark we'll retarded when the power
first takes hold and then gradually adj
vanced.
II is all this that counts in the wear and
tear. Sudden stops work Just the same
way. BY careful use the mileage can be
brought up to 5000 or 10000 miles. and II a
driver using a shoe enjoying a good reputa-
ton is not getting more than the guar
anteedl mileage. he should first Investigate
his own possible misdoing before starting
up trouble elsewhere.
While we are on the subject OF shoes It
is kNmportant to understand this mileage
QUESTION. They almost all carry what may
be termed a "gentleman's guarantee for
5000 miles or more, according to the
maker. Consequently, It is a paying prop
osition to have some device for registering
the distance covered and whenever a new
shoe is put on the mileage should be care
fully kept track OF. If IL falls short Of the
allotted measure. and there seems reason
to believe that the maker of the shoe is
responsible, present your case. II the
proof of weakness in the shoe is we'll es-
tablished, and the maker accepts your
statement of the mileage run-as is the
usual custom-you will be given credit
toward a new shoe. based on what the
proportional mileage had out of the old
shoe bears to the guaranteed distance
which it should have run.
The Brakes.
1t Is the shoe that will exceed the guar
affieed limit that should be sought. 1t is
this excess mileage, so called, obtained
either through good shoes or careful driv-
ing, or both, upon which one must rely for
economy. To this end 1t is wise for one
not we'll posted upon the quality OF the
different makes to test out two kinds. Be
sure that the two of a kind are not either
both front or beth rear shoes, because Of
the heavier traction which comes upon tn,
latter,
Brakes deserve serious consideration
They are relied upon entirely too much
This keeping up a twenty or thirty-mil'
clip TO within a few feet of an obstacl,
and then jamming down the brakes so a
to bring everyone up standing" would
wear the surface off a piledriver, On
whose name is a household word to al
automobilists has said: IF / expect t
make a stop L throw off my power lon,
enough before to gradually coast dow
to the objective point and with a Sigh
touch of the brake bring my car to rest
Ignorant and foolhardy drivers are tn,
ones who wear out their brakes"
The cautious driver does not rely upol
either the foot or emergency brake, onl,
as in the way Of an auxiliary or reserv
Suse, in going down steep or long grades
A common way is to go down through
the engine" which means that the clutc
is left in and the speed lever set at low,
intermediate" or whatever the steepnes
of the grade maysdemand, and the powe
shut off. Gravity win work the engIn,
and this is the most effective brake In tn
world. A mere touch now and then wit
she foot brake will keep everything in cor
BOl, so the emergency" may be left 70
what its name signifies. If the hill
dangerously steep. brakes are unsafe. an
using the engine in the way described
the better plan.
When approaching the end of the grad,
It takes but little experience to maxi
gravity crank the car without any loss {
speed. Be very careful, however. that tn
spark Is Iully retarded DeIofe SWltcnln
on the battery or magnetic.
The engine is also the best possibl
brake 20 hold the car in an emergenc
on a steep ascent. Any real danger ma
be avoided by making 1t a rule never 3,
attempt to take a sharp upgrade excel
upon the lowest speed. Thus there wi
be no need to change gears while goin
up, which is usually difficult to new drlN
ers. II the power is lost while going u
On the lowest speed. 1t would be a r,
markably steep hill upon which the gear
would not hold the cars II the driver do,
not so forget himself as to throw out II
clutch. Not only can the car be held. wit
a reasonable use of the foot brake. witho,
any possible danger, but il can be guide
backward to a place OF safety. where
may again be eranked. IL the gears hol
the car so firmly that It will not run bac
at an with the clutch in, play IL in ar
out gently. with the brakes in helpful col
troll. This viii permit backing by ca:
fits aud starts, and prevent any rap
gathering OF headway.
Safeguards fOF slipper Driving.
Skidding and Slowing are two entirely al