Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18
HINTS To
MOTORISTS

All adjustments of valve tappets
should be made when the motor Is hot
for the reason that the heat expands
the valve stems and the cylinders, al
tering the clearance. This means that
the clearance when the motor Is cold is
not the same as the running clearance
One thing that must be remembered
in adjusting tappets provided with
fiber cushions or silencers is that the
tappet will countersink a hole In the
fiber in time. and that then the actual
clearance will be greater than that in
dicated by the use of the usual "feeler
gauge" When the fiber becomes thus
recessed it should be either filed off
even or replaced with new
Excessive wear of the contact points
on coil, the points pitting and neces-
stating frequent dressing, and occa-
sional replacing, indicates one of two
things-elther the points are not made
of platinum or the condenser has a.
short circuit. Sparkling at the points, if
excessive, will lay the trouble at
the door of the condenser which is
supposed to prevent sparkling when the
circuit is broken. If the sparkling does
not appear excessive, however, the
purity of the platinum of the contact
points should be suspected.
If one ball from ball bearing is lost in
overhauling, never replace it with a new
one, but replace the whole set. The rea-
son is that the old balls are worn smaller
than the new. which will therefore have
to take an undue share of the work For
the same reason. that of uneven wear the
balls from each bearing should be care
fully Kept separate, and each put in the
proper bearing If new balls have to be
supplied, it is best to take the job to a
specialist.
Yoke ends on brake and control rods
often become loose through having to
transmit motion at bad angles. When
loose they cause annoying ratt1es. If the
wear is sufficient, the noise may be stop
ped by placing thin brass or tin washer
in the yoke. In the case of control rods.
if the holes are badly worn. a drill may
be run through and then bushlng made
of sheet tin or brass bent to the proper
shape This is not, of course, what might
! be called an engineering job, but will do,
since the rods do not carry much stress.
and will likely last for a year, saving the
considerable cost of roaming out the holes
and fitting new pins, as the safageman
| would do.
1t is a good plan for the owner Of a
car, before starting on any very dirty
work about it. to scratch a little SOAP
from cake ana run II well uHGeF
| fngernails. This will prevent the oil and
grease from working up under the nails
where it will be very hard to remove.
! When using a spark plug pump. remem-
| Der to place the removed spark plug or
| some part of the motor or frame, before
starting engine. Or If the secondary wire
; is removed from the plug. ground it or
/ the engine or frame. The object is te
/ provide an escape for the high tension
| current and thus prevent damage to the
coil or magnetic In case double ignition
| is used, with two spark plugs. be sure tt
disconnect the secondary wire from the
spark plug left in the cylinder. or other
! wise the cylinder will fire, and perhaps in
| jure the pump.
| In case one of the rubber tubes from
| the headlights to the copper tank tube
| develops a crack while on the road, s
temporary repair may be effected bl
/! holding a lighted mattel: near the crack
| The heat will soften and finally melt thu
rubber, when the edges may be pressed
together. The operation should not b.
carried too far for fear of closing tn,
tube with the melted rubber and, o
course should not be performed wheI
there is any gas in the tube. With lit
tie skill a complete break may be mend
ed in the same fashion.