The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-07-22

In using denatured alcohol as a car
bon remover, how much should be used
in each cylinder, and should il be al
lowed to stand for twelve hours or so
before using asain7
The piston OF the cylinder should be
on top, dead center, and both valves
closed The cylinder should then be
filed to capacity with the alcohol. This
should remain. In the cylinder at least
six hours and preferably twelve hours.
The cylinders should be hot when the
alcohol is poured into them.
What advantage is gained by placing
plate. on the pistons to obtain higher
compression2 Will IL cause an exoes-
siVe vibration in a motor running 1000
revolutions per minute2 ......
Many owners have fastened plates
to the piston tops in order to increase
the compression and gain power and
speed, but the construction is not adj
yised, as the results obtained are not
worth the expenditure In time and
money. All depends upon the weight
of the plates as to whether the yibra-
ton will be high.
How long will magnetic run with
out rema gnetizins il and oVerhauling
il in general?
Magnetos will run for FIVE years and
upward without remagnetizlng If "A
good job has been done in the first
place and If the magnets employed have
the proper degree of retentiyity. The
exact time cannot be stated, but the
service which you can secure from q
magnetic before 1t needs recharging will
extend over an indefinite period Of
years.
There is a knock in the cylinder of
my car which ! can stop only by re-
tarding the spark lever as far as it will
90 and keeping it so, no matter at what
speed the car is going. What is the
matter?
You have not said whether you are
obliged to retard the spark so far that
the power is reduced. 1t may be that
the spark nnkage is connected UP so
that the spark ordinarily occurs too
early and that the lever must be re-
tarded all the way before the spark
occurs in the proper place. If this is
the case change the setting of the
spark linkage so that when the motor
is cranked slowly the spark occurs at
dead center with the lever retarded.
Vary the adjustment of your carbu-
rotor with the lever halfway advanced,
and then note whether the knocking
continues. Crank the motor slowly
and note which cylinders offer small
resistance to the pull of the crank. If
all are strong then there are no leaky
valves, plstons or rings, but If one or
more are weak you should take your
car to repair shop and have the trOu-
bic fixed.
| Remove the radiator cap while the
motor is running. and note whether
| the circulation of water seems free;
also feel the various parts of the sys-
tenn and see whether there are any
wide variations in temperature or
whether the temperature is fairly uni
form all over the radiator and piping.
Big differences In temperature would
indicate lack of circulation, caused by
sediment in the water jackets, loose
pieces OF hose in the passageways or
dirt In the radiator. A thorough flush
ing of the system should be sufficient
to put 1t in good order, and II 1t is not
the car should be intrusted to a repair
man. A heavy coating of carbon on
| the cylinders will cause q knock, and
the remedy is to remove the carbon.
Defective ignition, If it causes a knock,
should also cause miss. Worn insula-
ton, loose connections, poor adjust
ment of the vibrators, incorrect spark
gap, dirty plugs and cracked porcelains
are the principal ways in which the
Ignition may give trouble.