The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-07-16
Expert Advice For the
Automobile Owner
Queries and Replies Covering Matters OF
Importance to the Man Who Runs Car

What are the methods used in finding
the tie rod bolt center position in re.
laton to king bolt center on front
axle for both tie rod in front and tie
rod in rear of the axle? Are the wheel
base and tread of a car of Importance
in finding these positions?
The steering arms are aligned so that
their center lines intersect at the cen
tral point of the rear axle. This align
ment is independent to some extent OF
the wheel alignment, as both wheels
may be correctly cambered and gath
cred, with one Of the steering arms a
faulty angle. In moving straight
ahead this would have no effect. but
in turning the wheels do not run on
true circle. so that both wheels are
subjected to tire grinding. The same
effect results from the tie being too
short or too long.
To determine whether or not the
steering connections are properly made
it is necessary to know that the an
gle of the steering arms and the axle
spindles is right, and that the tie rod
is of the right length. Both Of these
depend upon the distance apart of the
steering king bolts and on the wheel
base of the car.
Measuring the angles of the steering
car, as made with the axle, the correct
angle that the steering arms on the
car should make with the car is found.
Frequently in lining up the wheels Of
car the. steering connections are
thrown out by engthening or shorten
ing the tie rod to get the proper gather.
This should never be done, as improper
gather is usually the result of bent
wheel spindles. The tire wear result
ant from bad wheel setting is obviated
at the expense Of a serious wear on
account of faulty steering.
How can | prevent the body of my
car from squeakine, the body being all
steel except the dashboard? The
squeaking appears to be all in the
dashboard.
Body squeaks can be eliminated by
lubricating the rubbing parts that
cause this noise or by stopping their
relative movement. AS rule, though,
it is extremely difficult to locate the
Get some one to listen for the squeaks
while you drive the car slowly over a
rough road Having found where the
trouble is. a little lubricating oil or
grease will stop the noise, or if it is
due to the looseness of adjacent parts
the squeaks can be stopped by tighten
ing up these parts.
Can you suggest something which
will clean out the radiator of my car,
which has become cIogeed7 Have tried
soda without effect.
The proper solution to use in clean
ing out clogged radiator depends
upon what particular impurity has
clogged it up. Usually this happens
through deposit of solid material
from the cooling water which forms
ON the interior of the entire cooling
system. Soda quite frequently will
dissolve this, but some deposits do not
respond to this treatment. The situa-
ton is the same as that of steam boil
ers, and some of the boiler compounds
probably will be valuable. 1t is sug-
gested that you send sample Of the
water employed to a water compound
manufacturer, who can then, upon
analysis of the water, determine the
proper cleaning compound to supply.
There are a number of radiator
cleaners manufactured especially for
motor cars, and they may be beneficial
Is the clutch Of the disk type if the
car is managed by the clutch coming
against round flat piece of metal?
No. The disk clutch consists of Sc
ries of metal plates. face to face, alter
nte ones being connected to the engine
and the others to the transmission.
When these are pressed together by
spring they all turn together The
device you refer to is the clutch brake
to keep the clutch from spinning.
My motor overheats. II steams when
driven eight or ten miles. Would too
much oil causes this, as it smokes at the
exhaust
The use of too much oil for any
length of time will cause carbon to de-
posit on the piston and cylinder head
and thus cause the motor to heat. If
misfiring is evident and loss of power,
then treat the motor as one badly car
bonized However, the heating may
be due to other things besides carbon.
The motor should not be operated with
the spark retarded too far. and the
brakes should not drag. The water
system must. of course, be free from
Instructions If the pistons are poorly
fitted or the rings worn excessively
the oil will work up into the combus-
ton chamber, deposit carbon and cause
heating. Try to do as little interme-
diate and low gear work as possible.
| have always considered that speed
was an indication Of power, but my
cars performance on hills does not
bear me out in this. Why is it?
Regarding the relation of speed and
: horsepower. there is no definite inter
| relationship between the two and no