The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-03-03
PUT CAR IN SHAPE
AUTO OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE
TO DO THIS HIMSELF.
Time for the Work Is When Machine
Is Laid Up IN Account OF Bad
Roads or Weather-Hints
That Will Help.

have read your articles in former
issues concerning the overhauling of
the car for the coming season, writes
Wayne Higgins in the National Stock
man and Farmer. In this particular
section (where so per cent of the farm
ers own their own cars) there are at
least three months during which the
car has to be stored on account Of the
bad roads and inclement weather, and
during this time it is very good idea
either to overhaul the car yourself or
have it done at garage. strongly
advocate the former course. The av-
erage farmer who owns and operates
an automobile can, by carefully read
ing and studying the instruction books
which accompany the car, prepare him-
self to do all the overhauling neces-
sary on the average car.
Before beginning the overhauling
Of the car it is a very good idea to
provide liberal quantity of the fol-
lowing: gasoline, motor oil, kerosihe,
cup grease, transmission greases, cot
ter pins, assorted nuts and washers
and a complete tool kit, all OF which
can be found at any good supply house
at reasonable terms.
Beginning at the front of the car at
the wheels they should be removed
and both sets of bearings and spindles
thoroughly washed with gasoline and
wiped dry with waste. If worn they
should be adjusted, repacked with a
good grade of medium grease and re
placed, being sure to get the lockout
In position, also the cotter pin, using
new one III necessary Next the
springs should be separated and a thin
layer Of graphite placed between
leaves, to give resiliency and prevent
squeaking.
Next we will go to the motor. Ii
the car has not been run over five to
ten thousand miles it will not be neees-
sary to take it down. However If the
fiywheel shows play when grasping it
and trying to rock it sideways the
cylinder block should be removed and
the bearings frightened by removing one
or more of the thin shims and retight-
ening the nuts. The crank case and
oil reservoir should be drained and
thoroughly washed out with kerosene
or gasoline. The cylinder head, conf
bustiOn chamber, etc, should be thor
Oughly scraped to remove all carbon
deposits, the valves ground in till a
thorough seat is secured. Put new
Oil in crank case.
The radiator and water cooling sys-
tens should be inspected. If radia~
tor leaks it may be soldered, or if
slight leaks occur in the tubes it Eafty
be repaired by using boiler compound
or some of the many other prepara-
lions on the market.
The universal joints, transmission,
differential, ETC., should be washed
out with gasoline and repacked with
new grease. The wiring Of the car
should be thoroughly gone over aid
repaired if any breaks occur. The
brushes on the o0mmutator OF the gen"
orator and starter motor should be
replaced If badly worn. The commu"
tator should be frightened by pressing
a piece of emery cloth on it while run
ming. The connecting terminals on the
storage battery should be frightened
before connecting to the system or IL
will not 0Derate the starter Dronerly
Do not forget to add distilled water
regularly to the battery.
The gasoline tank and line should
be inspected to see that there are no
leaks. Have the car Thoroughly washed
and if the paint is good have it given
coat Of good varnish. Brighten
up the seats and top with a coat of
seat and top dressing, let these thor
Oughly dry and set, and your ear Will
run and look as good as ever.