New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-02
Getting the Car Ready for Spring Driving

Will he a complete ana proper luoIICa
ton Of all parts that require u. THIS
will be practically all that VIII be re-
uuired 70 make the car ready for the
road. Tho oil that Is ln the engine
base Is probably 'ummy and very dirty:
II should be drained of. A quart OF
kerosene or moro should be introduced
into the crank case and the motor
cranked vigorously for a minute or two
so that the kerosene viii penetrate all
Of the wearing surfaces. By this means
the interior Of the engine can be thor
oughlv cleaned and all gummed oil
freed from the passages. After the
kerosene is drained off the engine
should be filled with the necessary
amount of cylinder oil. and the car and
the engine. in 50 far as their internal
fabrication is concerned, will be ready
for the road.
The oiling OF the starting and light
ing apparatus should be done according
10 the manufacturer instructions, the
method being different in each case.
Generally the oiling of the magnetic
consists of putting few drops of light
machine oil in each oil hole; this may
be accomplished with the aid of
toothpick or match. If the magnetic is
Of the type that makes use Of a breaker
mechanism. with a cam operated rocker,
the pin holding the rocker should have
a drop OF oil put on 1t.
Lubricating the Clutch.
The oiling Of the fan bearing depends
on the pc Of bearing. II 1t is ball
or roller bearing il should be packed in
grease and few drops of oil should
be added from time 20 time during the
year. The cone clutch should have its
surfaces washed with gasolene 70 clean
out the grit and gummed oil, then
neat's-foot oil should be applied until
the leather is soft and pliable. II the
clutch slips there may be too much oil
on the facing, and fuller's earth should
be busted over the surface. All wear
ing surfaces of the clutch mechanism
should be cleaned and fabricated. In
the event that the clutch is Of the disc
tyne the discs should be cleaned with
kerosene, and it might be advisable TO
soak them for few hours. If the
clutch is of the multiple disc type. run
ming in oil. it will be necessary to put
some oil into the clutch chamber unless
perhaps the lubricant is supplied
through the engine. The thickness OF
oil 70 use with any particular clutch IS
important. and here again manufactur-
er's instructions should be closely ad-
hered to.
Make the Gear Box Grease-Tight.
The gear box also needs attention.
All grease should be removed and the
entire case thoroughly washed with
kerosene and every trace OF grease re-
moved from the bearings. After this
is done the case should be filled two
thirds with grease Of a medium con-
sistency. II the grease leaks from the
case new paper gasket should be cut
for the cover. and perhaps new felt
washers may be required at the front
and rear Of the main shaft.
The universals are the next TO come
under consideration. They should be
tiled with grease of consistency that
is stiff enough so as 10 run out IN
warm weather. The rear axle should
a.so be treated in way similar TO the
gcarset: all grease should be removed
from il and a kerosene bath admins
tered With proper consideration. after
- hich new grease should be supplied
and. if necessary. new gaskets and
washers provided for the inner side of
he wheel hubs.
I'm like manner the wheel bearings
sh )uld be cleaned by flushing with kerr
oscne and then properly fabricated; it
will hardly be necessary TO remove the
wheel 70 DO this. Last but not least
the steering gear mechanism should be
given very careful attention. The
housing should be filled with medium
grease and all wearing surfaces or
bearings carefully fabricated. OF course
all grease cups should be cleaned out
and rehlled do not miss a single one
OF them. for they are important.
This ends the mechanical overhaul
ing that the car requires. OF course
the body will need cleaning. washing
and probably polishing. and since this
is Job that has been attended TO
many times during the season. it will
not be necessary to reiterate any rules
or regulations for the purpose of max
lag the body appear bright and clean.