The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-08-05
Expert Advice For the
Automobile Owner
Queries and Replies Covering Matters of
Importance to the Man Who Runs Car

Ny motor will not throttle down be-
low fifteen or twenty miles per hour,
which is very annoying, as | cannot
stop with the motor running without il
sounding as though il was coming out
Of the car. ! recently had the magnetic
changed, but still have to run on bat
teries, the magnetic firing very irregu-
IarIy. How can remedy this2
The probable cause Of this trouble Is
that you are not securing a rich enough
mixture at low speeds, If you will
change the needle valve adjustment on
the carburetOr, which will provide a
rich mixture, and then If necessary
cut down on the air supply the motor
should run at low speed. Another pos
sible cause OF this trouble is that the
spark plug points are SO far apart that
you do not get a good spark until the
motor has speeded up to such degree
that a high current is generated. Pos
sibly another solution to the problem
would be that you have an air leak
somewhere in the Intake line, which
permits too lean mixture at low
speed. Go over all joints in the intake
limo very carefully and see that there
are no leaks there. A Kissing sound
when the throttle is opened suddenly
Is an indication of an air leak In the
intake.
W;H zHaHkika Aha
leaves of my front springs keep them
from squeakins?
The use of graphite grease between
the leaves Of the spring Is very effec-
tive in preventing squeaks, and there
can be no possible objection to its use
for this purpose. 1t Is intended that
the leaves Of the spring slip freely over
one another.
What are the advantages and disad-
vantages Of a transmission in the rear
axle?
Engineers in favor of the rear axle
construction state that this type Is
more quiet than the others; that the
rear axle gearset unit being heavier
than the usual rear axle form, better
traction is gained by the tires, which
means less skidding. Further discus
sion brings out that the rear axle gear
set requires a number Of long control
rods. which the unit with motor and
amidships construction does not call
for. A longer drive shaft is possible
when the gearset is q unit with the
rear axle, which means that there is
less strain ON the universals, In the
opinion Of u number of engineers. Ac-
cording to another, only one grease re-
tanning reservoir IS necessary, and this
statement is supplemented by another
engineer to the effect that the grease
contained In the case is not thinned by
the heat Of the motor or the muttier
pipe. With the rear axle type the
clutch is usually accessible. One en-
gineer, uphOlding this type, claims that
in certain make the gears OF the
gearset may be removed in very
short time by the removal Of the ton
ncau floor boards. An advocate OF
unit with motor construction states
that In his construction the entire
gearset may be inspected and oiled
without difficulty, whereas with the
rear ankle construction inspection Is
not easy and fabrication difficult. That
the rear axle with gearset weighs more
than S.her types is brought forward,
but Is argued against by one maker,
who adds that his rear axle weighs
but twenty pounds more than does the
ordinary form Of rear axle. With the
rear axle gearset the axle shaft must
be heavy, which increases the weight
ON the tires and 1t is stated that this
extra weight means greater tire wear.
The statement Is made that the rear
axle type simplifies the chassis, but an
opponent brings out that the control
linkage is not simple and the oscilla-
ton of the springs is communicated to
the sliding gears, resulting In indefi-
mite gear location.
How can put a n1otoneter on a car
with hard rubber filler cap?
In order to drill through the hard
rubber filler cap the cap must first be
softened slightly. This is done by plac-
ing 1t In boiling water and permitting
it to remain there for about three to
eight minutes. After being removed
from the water it can be drilled with
out fear of cracking.
What 10 the formula for connecting
rod length7
There is no formula for connecting
rod length. this being determined ar.
bitrarily. AS a rule. the connecting
rod is made about twice as long as the
stroxe. This particular figure has been
chosen, because when connecting rod
Is made longer than this the overall
height of the motor becomes too great,
adding weight and increasing the cost
Of manufacture. Increase in connect
ing rod length means greater recipro-
eating weight, and 1t is desirable to
keep this as small as possible. When