The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-10-02
Automobile News
Good. Advice.


saves nine.'' might be revised for the
benefit of automobile, owners to read,
t"Time1y attention saves large exI'en-
ses." It is exaggerating but little,
if any, to say that fully seventy-fve
per cent. Of mechanical troubles that
develop in automobiles are direct
result Of in-attention on the part of
the car owners
In some cases this negligence may
be excusable on the plea OF fnexper-
fence and lack of knowledge, of what
was required in the way of ADJUST
nents, but in most cases any lack of
attention can be readily traced to an
attitude of procrastination on the part
of the car owner.
knocks, pounds or other foreign
noises ennanating from the motor and
plainly indicating distress within. are
for the time tolerated, and the owner
quiets his conscience by assuring hi.n-
self that he will have the matter in
vestigated at the first time it is con-
venient for him! to be without the use
of his car for a, day or SO. However,
it usually happens that this conven-
lent time is not forthcoming. Mr..
Car-owner continues to drive his car;
the indications of distress become
more pronounced then finally the in
evitabIe happens-the motor is dis
ab1ed and the car has to be towed to-
the repair shop. The motor is ia
ken apart for inspection and the me-
chanic reports a scored cylinder; a
broken connecting rod bearing cap
and damage to other parts that inVar-
iab1y accompany this, or, other trou-
Bile that will make necessary the in
stalling of new parts and consider
able labor to correct. When asked
what caused the trouble, the mechan-
ic will probably say, a loose wrist pin
screw; a worn connecting rod bear
ing OF the bolts in the bearing cap
loose; or name some other conditions
that could easily have been eIirninat-
ed if given attention at the proper
time. By lack of timely attention, a
large repair bill has been incurred
and a delay of several days must be
| tolerated before the repairs can be
completed, and the car ready for the
road.
| No matter in what part of the car
| trouble develops, whether in the mo-
| tor, transmission gear set, rear axle or
| in one of the lesser units, the car
owner is invariably given ample no.
| tice of the presence of the trouble by
sounds of distress or other noticeable
! symptoms and if he is wise, this
in the matter of investigation and ad-
justments
The Vulcan Electric Gear Shift.
The Vulcan Electric gear shift, op-
Grated in connection with the Haynes
/ electric lighting and starting system,
makes the Haynes completely con-
! trolled by electricity.
No hand gear lever is used in the
new models. In the place of the
hand shifter, is a small dial of push
| buttons on the steering wheel There
are seven of these buttons, whose
| functions are as follows:
Buttons No. L, 2 and 8 control the
thu ee speeds forward; low, interme-
date and high The reverse button
is marked R, neutral N, while start
er and horn are marked S and H res
pecuvely.
The switch of push buttons is ar
ranged with mechanical interlock so
that one button only may remain in
position at a time. These buttons
control the operation of a set of cleo
tro magnets, or soIenoids as they are
more commonly called in this connec-
ton. There is one solenoid for each
speed forward and reverse. To the
clutch pedal is connected mechan-
fcaI neutral device and a, small me-
chanical switch which completes the
circuit to the battery for energizing
the soIenoids or electro magnets.
When the driver has seIected the
desired speed through his push but
ton switch on the steering wheel the
clutch pedal is pushed all the way
down, fully releasing the clutch,
drawing the gears from their previous
position to neutral, enga ging the me-
circuit to the storage battery, energiz-
ing. the soIenoids selected by the push
button and drawing the gear to po-
stt1on instantly with a pull of $50, a
far more powerful pull than is pos
sfble to driver, throwing the gears by
hand. The clutch is then engaged iIf
the ordinary manner by the pedal.
When another speed is desired, the
shift is made instantly and the clutch
is re-engaged as in customary prac-
tice.
After setting the spark and throttle
levers in the proper position for start
ing, move the ignition switch to the
button on the battery side, push the
starter button marked So imme-,
diate1y push forward on the clutch
pedal and hold down both the clutch
pedal and starter button until the mo-
tor starts When the motor is start
ed, remove the pressure from the
starter button and clutch pedal and
the electric starter will be autonfati-
Eea1Iy disconn ected. Then throw the
Ignition switch onto the magnetic but
lton-- To move the car forward push
+ the low speed button marked No
down until it$]ocks; then pusfls the
foot clutch forward to it's furthest
position This operation makes an
electrical contact and shifts the gear.
To throw the SECOND gear into
mesh, push the button marked No. 2
until it locks, and. repeat the clutch
movement. To throw the gear into
high speed, push the button marked
No. and repeat the same clutch
NOV en- ent.
To make the car move back ward
when it is travelling forward, first
stop the car, then push the button
marked r. and perform the same
fc1utch movement. If the car is going
up a steep grade on hign, gear that
may necessitate the dropping into
second gear: beforesJthe top of the
grade is reached, the driver can press
button Mo- 2 at any time, and VIII en-
the car has slackened speed so that
the motor is about. to labor: the dri-
yer can throw the clutch lever to the
limit; let it in again; and the car will
Immediately be running in second
Snaad