New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-07
Motor Boat Enthusiasts
Should look Before
They Leap"
DANGER IN CASTING OFF
BEFORE TRYING ENGINE
Troubles of All Kinds May Be
Avoided by Using a
Little Foresight.
BY N. {. BROKAW.

printing cup. tine fy-wheel is rocked to
vaporize the printing charge, the motor is
cranked over a couple OF 'chug chugs,"
and-we're of for the first motor boat
trip OF the season.
Sounds good doesn't il? It's the dream
OF the motor boat bug. the dream that
he's been dreaming many a long winter
night. 1t was such dreams as this that
sweetened the toll OF spring overhauling,
the dsagreeable job OF scraping that keel.
caked with dry mud. the scraping off OF
the old paint and brushing in the new
coat and all the other hard jobs neces-
sary in getting the boat into commission.
But dreams don't always come true.
The experienced motor boat man does not
cast off from his moorings until he is GER
tain that the dream is going TO be re-
atty And many 4 wise cne." profit
ing by bitter experiences OF the past
sneaks out 10 his boat alone, before his
guests OF the day have arrived. and tries
out the motor to make certain that there
will be no slip 10 mar the days pleasure.
Many a motor has "chug-chugged" mer-
rily for a few moments. and then has
baked and refused point blank 10 go sny
further. Just as matter of precaution
keep fast to your moorinys until you have
given the motor time to show any weak
spot that may exist before starting the
first trip of tho season. Sometimes is
a little dirt In the carburetor. or a faulty
spark plug. weak battery. or. in fact.
any number OF things
Just a year ago the papers had long
stories OF q boating party which drifted
many miles TO sea because OF a stalled
motor. II was the first trip Of the season.
The party. starting from Rockaway.
drifted far beyond Scotland Light Ship
and were finally rescued by a searching
party at o'clock the next morning. 4
faulty carburetor adjustment caused the
trouble The carburetor had been taken
off. and when put back was placed ~ an
acute angle. It was of the float feed type.
and for little while worked we'll enough,
but soon the chamber flooded. and be-
cause Of the angle at which it was set
the cork float could not rise high enough
to shut OFF the how. II was several hours
before the cause was located, and then
there was no wrench aboard with which
to straighten the carburetor.
1t is a good plan to tie your boat UP
fore and aft and give il a thorough trying
out. Start the motor and let it run with
out the clutch being i'm for five or ten
minutes: then throw the clutch In and out
a few times. After that throw the clutch
into reverse few times. Speed the en-
g.ne up to fun capacity and then slow
down to her minimum speed II the ear
buretor is not properly set YOU will find 1t
out and have chance TO remedy the
trouble.
Do you know the peculiar song that
your motor sings when It is in proper run
ming order? Every engine has its own
hum. and the man who knows the tune OF
his motor can tell the instant anything
goes wrong with IL. II you do not kno"
YOUR motor this well after you have II
started, ait down beside 1t and listen until
your ears know the tune perfectly
II il also wise 10 learn how 10 prime
your engine. Many men pick up their
squirt can, open the printing cup ana
give her" what they think is about
right" sometimes a spoonful, sometimes
half a cupful Too much gasolene INTO
the printing cups makes starting difhcuIt
IL not impossible and too little will cause
lust as much trouble. There is a happy
medium. Some men complain OF trouble
in starting; others can prime the motor
even after it has been idle for several
weeks, and make IL kick OF WITHOUT
any struggle whatever. It's In the priIh-
inc.
When trouble does come, don't crank
and crank and crank. Cranking Is goou
exercise for your muscles. but TOO mucn
NJ &, ia likely to sour your disposition. TX
tho adjustments are all In perfect order'
your motor will run without great
amount OF cranking. When motor Will
cough a few times and then stop, locate
the trouble. Cranking will not put II III
perfect running order.
Frequently poor gasolene causes the
trouble. The gasolene given us now Is not
as good as that Of few years ago. anu
tvo-cycle motors suffer more from IT than
,ho ,our-cycle type. Two-cycle motors
will stall II the base Of the engine De
comes flooded with gasolene. Most motors
bave a drain cock for the base OF the en-
cine II YOU have much trouble In start
ing Il would be well 70 open tne u'a,"
cock and make certain that the oase 10
not flooded II you feed oil TO your engine
through oil cups instead OF mixed WIN
the gasolene, II will be necessary 10 give
the engine extra oil for while AFTER the
base has oeen drained.