The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-07-30

have trouble with pounding in the
second cylinder of my car. Several
times | have tiehtened the connecting
rod bearings SO tightly that it is easily
felt while crankng the machine. When
| have run 400 or 500 miles the knock
reappears. The machine has run $500
miles in all. Can you tell the troublef
The most probable cause of the
knock you mention is loose bearing
This may be main, connecting rod,
wristpln or camshaft bearing. 1t
might also be caused by a broken pis-
ton ring, the camshaft being out OF
alignment, or if the knock is not very
severe it may be the result of carbon
on valve seat. AS 1t is most probable
that is it in the crankshaft bearings,
these should be inspected and if nee
essary carefully taken up or if they
are badly scored they may need to be
scraped, or in an extreme case they
will require replacing. In taking up
the bearings great care should be ex-
ercised not to get them too tight, and
1t should be noted that it is quite pos
sible that the reason your machine be-
gins to knock again after going 400 or
800 miles after the bearings have been
adjusted too tightly. When bearing
Is too tight excessive friction is the re-
suit, and overheating occurs. This
wears the bearing away in a very short
time and in some cases may even melt
the metal. The bearing should be only
taken up enough to remove all play.
1t would hardly seem possible that
the bearings should need scraping
after the car has gone such short dis
tance, but if they have been adjusted
too tightly it may be that they are bad
ly scored, and if this is the case scrap
ing will be necessary. This operation
should be left to the care of an eX-
perienced and skillful mechanic and is
not a job for the novice
Kindly tell me the best way to true
up the wheels on car. feel that my
wheels are not running true.
Before anything is done be certain
that the wheels need truing up. Some
times all that is necessary is to re-
adjust the tie rod. which connects
both wheel knuckles. Wabbling front
wheels may be caused by bent axle,
bent spindle, partially broken bearing,
interior of hub worn, etc. The COM
mon cause is bent Spindles. and a good
repair man can bend these back in
shape.
Why is it hard for me to start my car
when run out of gasoline and refill
the tank again?
Possibly the carburetor float sticks
against the side of the chamber, so
that it is difficult for the gasoline to
flow in. Another explanation is that
there is dirt in the fuel pipe and that
therefore the passage of fuel is very
slow, with the result that it takes
some time for the chamber to become
filed, and if an attempt is made to
start before this time difficulty may
be experienced.
Can you tell me how to mend crack
in the crank case? 1t is so bad that
the oil leaks out in short time.
You cannot mend this yourself un-
less it is very small, in which case
you might be able to patch it with a
piece of sheet steel metal and some
rivets. If the crack is of any size it
is best to have it welded, although if
the place is so situated that it is not
strained by the operation of the motor
1t may be sufficient to solder it.
What effect does the practice of US
ing the motor as brake coming down
a hill have on the mechanism of an au-
tomobIe2
The use of motor as a brake is
generally conceded to have a more or
less deleterious effect on the gears
The power through the gears is re.
versed, since the car is now tending
to drive the motor. Thus instead of
having the stepdown reduction we
have a step-up with consequently
more surface pressure on the teeth
and hence more abrasion.
Where is the best place to look for a
knock2
All moving joints are susceptible to
knocks. Tracing through the trans
Of power from the cylinder to
the rear axle. we find that ut each
point Of engagement of one or more
moving parts with other parts there is
a chance for Il knock. Starting with
the piston, if this is too loose, there
will be distinct slapping sound. 1t !
can only be cured by the use of an
diversified piston. The next point is at
the wrist pin, which might have
knock due to looSenesS in the upper |
connecting rod. The fourth point is in
the main bearings in the crankshaft.
fifth at the connection between the
crankshaft and clutch. then in the uni. |
versal joints and the gear box bear.
ings and between the teeth of the diff.
ferent gears Loose valve tappets, |
timing gears. etc. are also fruitful
sources OF knocks.