Omaha daily bee., 1910-11-20
The MAN WHO MENDS HIS CAR
Tools and Mechanical Ability the
First Requisites.
IF YOU HAVE BOTH, GET BUSY
some OverhnulinE that the owner
Can Do-Pointrrs an the Way
90 DO It-ThinEs 60
Avoid.

90 DO It-ThinEs 60
Avoid.
AS "a general proposition, overhauHng a
car in a small private garage h. perhaps,
best attempted only when the equipment
for the purpose is ample. Nevertheless, the
owner who possesses mechanical discretion,
and who has access 90 the aid OF an out
side shop for special jobs can often do
wonders with very meager facilities The
accompanying photographs, taken by the
writer during the process OF overhauling
his car last spring, viii suggest some Of
the numerous possibilities; and the sub
Joined notes indicate roughly the limitations
within which good results may be expected
Aside from tho usual too-kQ. the fol-
lowing shop outfit Is necessary. Bench and
iron wise. soldering iron and torch, anvil
or substitute props for axles. hack-saw.
bench or breast drill preferably BOTH
brace and bits, and small tools as needed.
Certain work, such as pulling off and
pressing on gears, grinding journals, true,
and the making OF special parts, which
cannot be furnished by the manufacturer,
must necessarily be done in a good machine
shop. Usually the parts requiring machine
treatment, can be boxed separately and
sent to the shop. Certain other work.
conspcuously the refltting OF the main and
crank-pin bearings. is quite beyond the
skill Of the amateur and should not be
attempted II the engine bearings need to
be oyerhauled the car must be taken bodily
20 the shop.
To overhaul the transmission properly
the body must be removed. II there is
not room TO set It aside it may be drawn
back on the chassis frame and blocked up
Nd 10 LII, In, ~ 40
Photographs The same procedure is useful
when the car is to be painted at home.
Tho first step in overhauling after wash
ing the car is TO strip It OF lamps, tenders,
generators, ure-rous. bonnet and radiator,
etc. in order to give easy access to the
parts. In some cases II IL desirable TO take
OFF the rear wheels also, and this is the
only way to get at certain types Of rear
brakes.
Begin with Simple Parts.
1t is we'll for the amateur TO begin with
the simplest parts, which is usually the
brakes. II the latter are so worn that
there Is little adjustment left the shoes
or Innings must be replaced In any case
they must be adjusted so that they will
work without dragging and without need
less play. II they rattle, owing to wear
this is a good time to cure the noise
The universal Joints OF shaft-driven cal
should be examined fer wear, and TO de
termine whether there Is any liability Of
the pivot pins in the Joints working loose
It Is frequently possible to improve the uni
versal joints Of the old cars by supplying
better means Of fabrication; for instance
by drilling and tapping the cross for
small grease cup OF for inserting the nozzle
of a grease gun.
N amateur hfa lsnoyvg how IN haudI
tools and has due regard for mechanical
fits, clearences and alignments, can TAX
the transmission gears from the gear cas-
and replace worn gears with new when
ever bolts are sufficient to hold them
Press fits, as above mentioned, are shol
Job. Unless the gear shafts run in high
grade ball or roller bearings, it is quit
probable that after 5000 or 10000 mile
something will have to be done to tn
bearings. II the latter are OF the plail
pushed type the owner can refit them him
self, should he know how. The principa
points are as follows: See first that tn
shafts are not sprung and that their jour
nails arc true and smooth (having been re
ground II necessary; replace worn soil
bushings with new ones these must b
bored specially to fit the journals IL tn
latter have been reduced by grindlng)i re
place worn thrust washers as needed ref
split bearings by lining up the worn ha
with shellacked paper and scraping it Il
the shaft is "A true tit and just touches tl
mworn half when the bearing cap
bolted ON. The object OF shellaoklug III
paper lining under the bushing is to caus
II to adhere to the bushng. The latte
also must be riveted soldly TO the cas-
with brass rivets, otherwise Il will loose
up and hammer the paper under il int
fragments. When the job Is finished II
edges Of the cap must bear on shims
suitable thickness to give the shaft a ruI
ming ut without shake. The pressure
the nuts comes on the shims, not on Il
shaft.
Special Tools for scrapInE.
Scraping is done with special tools fC
that purpose, kept sharp by frequent al
plicaton to an oilstone The Journal is FIR
smeared with red lead mixed with oil. tn
bushiug and bearing cap are bolted dow
and the shaft is turned in the bearing .
that the red lead will indicate the spot
OF contact with the bushing The high spo
are scraped and the process Is repeute
until "a uniform bearing is secured. Pract
cally there will be a slight wearing dow
OF high spots in the first fifty miles
running, and 10 allow for this the beatir
Is made very slightly tight gust enough
that on turning the shaft ono can dete
that IL is not perfectly frecl, ana oil
fed literally at first II the bearing is s.
up more than just porcepubly snug il vi
probably cut II Is a good plan to RUB Il
surface ur reflued bushings lightly wi
graphite before assembling In additloa
smcarlng OIL ON the Journals.
II the car has side chains the level gea
IN the transmission case must De restor
90 their original alignment. II, on refittIn
ono shaft slnuts little too high or 4
low at one end, even the matter Of a fe
hundredths Of an inch, the teeth OF q
bevol gears win not make true contact ov
their entire width, one may test with
strip OF paper inserted first at the lar
aad then at the small end OF the teet
whether or not perfect contact is ma
when the gears arc rotated in their worki
direction.
by lacking up one rear wheel setting L
gears On mesh and rotating the free whe
FrrHa D. l.