The Washington times., 1916-07-15
ANSWERS Found Here
To Motorists Queries
mobile Drivers, Solve d, With Benefit to All.
Ia. Helpful Hints to Owners Added
BY w. H. STEWART, JR.

Motoring Department, The Times-How
can I determine whether 4 need new
pistons or not for my motor? II Is a
1912 type. and / am told that the cyln-
ders need reboring and new pistons
fitted. 1t is being taken down nov. and
! don't want to put u together without
having It right. What clearance 10
given the pistons in the cylinders7
r. B.
You should caiiper the cylinders and
pistons In order to assertion II they
are true. II they are not true the CYL
inders should be rebored. When this Is
done new pistons and rings are neces-
sary to complete the work properly
The clearance at the top of the piston
is usually two-thousandths of an inch
to each inch OF cylinder bore. At the
bottom Of the piston It Ia about one
quarter as much.
Motoring Department. The Times
when let In nv clutch the car Jumps
In starting. This has occurred lately.
IL is almost new car and l do not
or not. Can YOU tell me what might
be the cause OF this and how to fix It?
1 think 1t Is leather-faced clutch.
A. L.
The clutch is too fierce" When
starting from a standstill YOU should
engage 1t slowly. II you have a metal
to metal clutch treat II with mixture
of graphite and oil. II II is a leather
faced clutch. then treat the leather
with some neatsfoot oil. In the latter
case the oil should be allowed to soak
into the leather for few hours at
least
Motoring, Department, The Times-r
have 1912 car which I am nov over
hauling. The clutch thrust bearing
seems to be worn considerably. and
some Of the balls are broken. The
races are worn smooth. Is 1t neccs-
sary to purchase a new complete bear
ing. or do you think 1t advisable to
buy new balls for same? b. c.
1t will he more satisfactory and better
to install a complete new bearing.
The races must be worn somewhat. and
unless perfectly true the installation of
new balls will not produce a satisfactory
result. II you do not care to undergo
the expense. then you should buy slight
ly oversize balls to take I'D the previous
wear of the races.
Motoring Department. The Times
Which. IN your opinion. is the better
radiator for a five-passenger automo-
bile. homeeycomb or tubular, and
why? II. B.
The honeycomb type radiator has
greater cooling surface and therefore
Is more efficient. 1t is more expensive.
however. For one who wants the best
the honeycomb radiator will give every
satisfaction.
Motoring Department. The Times-I
Ignition Is double that of magnetic ig
milton. n tas-1 claim the high tension
magnetic produces a spark equal to that
OF the battery system. why could not the
wider gap be used?
Which system will start the engine
quickest in cold weather. the magnetic
or the battery? II there is any differ
ence please state the reason.
] am not satisfied with my magnetic,
which the manufacturers declare o. X.
and Is one Of the two most widely useed.
Thanking you in advance for your ad-
vice. OWNER.
The high tension magnetic does give a
hotter spark at certain speed. but II
run slowly gives no spark at all. The
gap Is set smaller 30 that the spark
can jump at low speed. The battery
gives the same heat of spark. no mat
ter how slowly the engine is run. Hence
II Is easier to start on the battery at
all times, in cold weather as we'll as
warm.
Motoring Department. The Times
Can use a low tension magnetic for
merly used on a make and break igni-
ton system, as a generator for a storage
battery. or as a generator for lights
directly? s. s.
The magnetic. producing an alternating
current could not be used TO charge
a storage battery. as a direct current
IL required. II 'geared-up" sufficiently
1t might run your lights. but it's VOLT
age increases with the speed which
might burn them out. II 10 intended to
produce from six to ten volts. whereas
the lights are intended for six-volt cur
rent. They would fuctuate with the
speed of the motor and might even be
ruined.
Motoring Department. The Times:
will be very pleased to get your ad-