New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-03
Graphite Can Cover MANY
Defects, Asserts H. Cliff
ford BrOkaW.
MOTOR BOAT EXPERT
DESCRIBES PITFALLS
Tells How to Detect Weak Com
preston, Loose Bearings and
Other Troubles.
BY ". CLIFFORD BROKAW.

School.
DO YOU know what doped engine is?
Mo-. Then don't attempt to buy a second
: hand engine fOr your motor boat until you
have learned something about the meth
DDS used to make old worn-out engines
look and act like new. Old engines can
be made to sing the same sweet song that
a new engine sngs-but the change Is
only temporary-the song soon turns to
wheezy croak and the old motor shows
itself for just what it is. often worn-out
bit of mechan s.n M only for the scrap
heap.
Graphite is the fayorite dope" with the
man who has a second hand motor to sell.
BY the liberal use of graphite engines
which have lost their compression can
be made to act like an engine with good
compression. and only a man with eXpe-
rience can tell tho difference.
II a cylinder is worn or scored and
scratched the INSCRIPTIONS man, who is
thinking only Of getting the motor off his
hands, will pour a mixture Of heavy oil
and graphite into the cylinder and run the
engine a little while. This makes coat
ing on the cylinder walls and on the pis-
ton, and as a result the engine will turn
Fover heavy and apparently there is good
compression.
In such cases as this the motor Will
show good speed-but only for a little
while If the engine you are thinking OF
buying is i'm boat, ask the owner to give
you a long ride. Observe the engine on
the start and note how it runs. After IT
has been going for half an hour examine
it again. If the engine has not been
"doped" it should run just as fast and
just as smooth as when 1t started.
This is not intended as knock
against graphite, for IL used judlcously
il will improve a good engine.
Remember that good compression. the
kind that cannot be obtained by "dop-
ing" always has Spring" to it. If the
compression is the right kind, you can
/ rock the fy-wheel up against compress
sion. and it will so back with rebound.
Good COMPASSIONATE right kind of com
/ pression-always has this characteristic
Of rebounding. # is like a rubber ball
If the engine you are looking at merely
turns over heavy, but has no rebound, 1t
is a good sign that the compression Is
not compression at all. but that graphite.
or perhaps a cylinder which fits too tight
| ~ or piston rings that bind, is the trou-
BILE
Keep an eye open for worn bearings.
GrOanings. creakings and loose, rat
Ting sound are the signs. Take hold OF
the fly wheel with both hands and turn
it sharply up and down. Loose bearings
on the wrist pin will be located in this
manner. If you hear rattle, or there is
a loose, jerky feeling, the bearings have
/ been worn.
In such case new bearings arc nee
essary, and before buying the engine
make certain that the manufacturers are
still i'm business. so that YOU can buy
new ones Remember that the insertion
/ of new bearings means a lot Of work, also
some expense If you like the engine in
othe~ respects, figure in the cost of new
bearings and labor in arranging on
/ price.
/ Worn crank case bearings are another
point 10 look for Most marine engines Of
the small sizes are of the two-cycle type,
and this style motor cannot deliver full
power if the crank case bearings are
worn In such an engine the charge OF
| gasolene and air is drawn from the car
buretor into the crank case. and when
the piston dcscends it is forced from the
crank case into the cylinder head If the
crank case bearings are worn the mkt
urc." when the piston descends. will be
/ forced out through the bearings. and only
portion of it will find its way into the
cylinder head. There is, consequently.
/ loss Of power.
| IL the bearings are very much worn
il can be detected by screwing down the
grease cups which feed oil 10 the shaft.
/ Thus charge Of grease is forced into
the bearings and for few seconds will
prevent the mixture from leaking out
around the bearings. If the bearings are
much worn the speed of the engine will
/ be materially increased every time the
grease cups are screwed down tight, but
the change will be only temporary. and
after a few seconds the motor will iall of
/ In speed.
/ If the engine you are looking at IS IN
stalled in a boat be certain that the
owner operates the engine for sou and
gives YOU plenty of time to examine it.
/ If the motor is not in boat and there
/ is no opportunity TO observe 1t in opera
/ ton. 30 very slowly Take nothing for
granted. The man who has an engine 10
sell needs the money. Remember that
your money is your own so long as it is
! I'm your pocket
Take the engine apart. Look II over
thoroughly. Pay especial attention 10 the
I bearings and cylinder walls and piston.
Examine the engine test the compression.
rock the Hy wheel back and forth fer
loose internal bearings before taking it
apart. then take 1t apart ana see now
! II looks from the inside.