The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-12-02
Will masnaIium pistons stand the
heat az we'll as cast iron or STEELE?

49, -
Magnalium, while it has a melting
point of something like 1856 degrees f.
at atmospheric pressure, stands up
well in service because Of the fact that
the dome never gets as hot as that Of
an iron piston. 1t is further stated
that the thermal cOnductivity of mag
nahum Is fourteen times hat Of iron
and that the dome Of such a piston
in service is cooler and the walls warm
er than in the case of pistons which
are made Of cast iron.
What formula will answer the Dues
ton Of radiator area required for a
four inch bore, five and one-haIf inch
stroke, and tho motor running at a
speed Of 300 r. p. M?
The size of the radiator cannot be
calculated exactly by formulas, as there
are so many conditions which enter
into the problem that it cannot really
be reduced to any definite standpoint
and therefore has always been solved
by a trial and error process. 1t may
be taken as a general rule, however,
that one-third of the heat units in the
gasoline consumed in the cylinder Is
given off through the cooling water.
If, for instance, a quantity of fuel con
tanning $1,000 B.. t. u. were consumed
in the cylinder In a unit of time then
the radiator would probably have to
handle a sufficient quantity of water
length Of time from the water jacket.
The cooling effect Of a certain guam
tity Of water is directly measured in
B.. t. u. and, roughly, may be stated as
follows: If q given weight of water. w,
in pounds passes through the radiator
in one minute and the difference in
temperature between the water as it
enters and as it leaves the radiator IS
T, the number of B. t. u. given up by
that water is equal to W.T.. 1t will be
thus seen that there are two variables,
the weight of the water passing through
the system and the difference in tenn
perature on entering and leaving. The
amount of water will depend upon the
capacity of the radiator in the first
place and the capacity of the pump, or
circulating medium, In the second
place. The temperature in and OUT
will depend upon the arrangement Of
the cooling area, the amount of expos
ed surface, the conductivity of the
radiator metal, the difference in tenn
perature between the water and the
exterior air, the efficiency Of the fan
and a multitude Of other less impor-
tant factors. Therefore, considering
the large number of variables which
enter into the problem of radiator de-
sign, it will be seen that the most eco
nOmical method of handling the prob
lem is to place a radiator on the car
that will handle the water safely under
the worst possible conditions of high
atmospheric temperature and extended
low gea travel.
How can pistons be Ioosened when
the oil has run out, causing them to
stick to the walls?
The best way to do the work Is to
~disconnect the rods at the lower ends
and then remove the cylinders with
the piStOns and connecting rods. Kero-
sene or oil should be poured into the
cylinder, and then with a large mon
key wrench an attempt should be made
to twist the connecting rod. This af-
fords a means Of turning the piston in
the cylinder. If you annot loosen the
piston in this way, try heating the pis-
ton and cylinder with a torch and at
the same time twist the rod. Do not
twist too much, for otherwise you will
distort the rods. If the methods sug-
gested are not successful the best way
appears to be to break the pistons.
Ny motor has a knock which ian.
not place or eliminate. 1t is really a
tap, and, though we have lone every
thing we could think of, it is still there.
What can it be? Patent piston rings
failed to remedy it.
This Is possibly a case of piston slap.
as the pistons might tend to oscillate
about the patent rings at the tops of
the cylinders and to slap at their lower
ends. Another possibility is that the
rings do not fit tightly enough in the
piston grooves, thereby giving a back
lash at the end Of each stroke. The
crank pin and crank shaft bearings
also should be inspected.
In wiring from the distributor to the
plugs how can one tell where zach
wire goes to correspond with the order
Of firing?
If the distributor Is not marked it is
q simple matter provided you know the
firing order. Get No. l cylinder ready
to fire by turning the engine Owe until
both valves are closed. Then remove
the distributor cover Of the magnetic
and note what segment the arm Is in
contact with. Take the corresponding
wire Of that segment and attach to No
1 cylinder. Suppose the firing order Is
n two. four. three. You already have
attached to No. l wire. The next wire
on the distributor is connected to No.
2 cylinder. the next to No. 4 and the
last to No. 3 cylinder. II after you
have connected the wires the engine
acts as II the connections are wrong.
interchange wires 3 and 4.
70 there any process by which . rub
hor. comont can be made Of old rub.