New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-02
Nv ALFRED II. BARTSt ".

NE shall take r. for granted that
the average owner is not an OK
pert in the true sense Of the word. but
that he has the desire TO do q moderate
spring overhauling himself so as TO
save the wherewithal TO Offset. at least
in part. the high cost Of gasolene. 4
good cleaning Is necessary. and minor
adjustments with "A thorough lubrIca-
ton Of all points that require n are
advisable These any owner can attend
TO satisfactorily, and 50 10 Is with
these phases Of the sub oct Of over
hauling that We shall dea. to-day.
Probably the best way TO start VIII
be % give the entire chassis thor
ough cleaning With pail OF kero-
sene and a stiff bristle brush the JOB
should be commenced. or course. as
much dirt and dust as possible should
be removed before the kerosene bath
is commenced. Wash down the engine,
gearset. clutch mechanism, unlversals.
and so on. being careful during the
operation that dirt and grit are pre-
vented from reaching any bearing sur
faces, such as around push rods, etc
The bath having been administered,
work on the car will be made pleas
anter because Of the freedom from
grease, and also the ability TO exam
inc all parts easily for the purpose OF
making adjustments, etc.
Engine Adjustments.
Probably the most important item
under this heading is the necessity for
cleaning the carbon from the com
bustion chamber. This subject was
treated rather extensively on the auto
mobile page OF last Sundays Tribune
so that only short synopsis need be
given here. If the cylinder head IS re
movable the easiest way to clean out
the carbon is by scraping the cylinders
with a screwdriver or other similar and
special instruments so shaped that they
cen be handled with ease in reaching
the various hooks and corners Of the
combustion chamber. When the head is
not removable these special tools can
be inserted through the inlet or eK-
haust valve caps and worked around
so that the top of the piston As well
as the top of the cylinder can be
scraped free Of the carbon.
In order 70 assist this work il is a
good plan 20 soak the entire inside Of
the combustion chamber with kerosene,
which. because of the facility with
which il finds il wcy into the smallest
crevices, - an ideal auxiliary 10 the
process of carbon removal. After the
scrapinc operation has been completed
the inside Of the cylinder can be
washed with kerosene or gasolene by
putting into service "A conventional
squirt gun and cloth swathe made of
unfrayed linen attached firmly 70
heavy wire.
One point which must he given at
tention during all these operations is
that in each instance the piston should
be kept at the top Of its stroke.
Inspecting the Valves.
Now that the cylinder head is re-
moved or the valve caps out. as the
case may be, IL is advisable 10 examine
the valves, as some. If not all, will re-
quire grinding. The intake valves, be-
cause of their position IN contact with
cool vaporized gas and air will IN all
probability be found in good condi-
ton. The exhaust valves, however.
generally become pitted. due to the eN-
cessive heat which passes them while
the engine is in operation, and because
of their condition loss of compression
and consequent lneiilclency VIII result.
II is best to inspect all exhaust valves
and not TO pick any particular one.
How to remove the valves depends on
the construction Of the engine or the
form of the cylinders.
After the valves have all been ground
IN. the push rods will require slight
adjustment. The space between the
valve stem and the push rod should be
about the thickness OF sheet of writ
ing paper. but under no circumstances
less If the clearance Is too small
there is danger that the valves will not
seat properly, and the engine will then
operate very unsatisfactory and the
valves will become badly burned and
perhaps ruined.