New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-11
What to Garry on Tour
To Be Completely
Prepared
By n. Clifford Brokaw

Although it is true that woman
with hairpin and piece of string will
ix almost anything under the sun, the
autoist would better not trust to his
wife's ingenuity. but be a little better
prepared for the emergencies of the
road. 1t does not do any good to know
what the matter is when the car balks
unless one has the tools and material
to do the necessary repair work.
Every new car is equipped with
pump, jack, monkey wrench, screw
driver and a set of special wrenches to
fit the parts Of the car most likely to
reed adjusting. Some owners have no
interest in these tools and lose most Of
them in a short time, so that when they
are needed they are missing, while
other owners add sufficient tools 10
equip a good sized machine shop.
A wise selection of tools for the car
will provide everything at all likely to
be needed on tour, and yet capable of
being packed in such a compact space
that II does not become an annoyance
through the room occupied or weigh
down the car. The special tools should
be preserved with great care, because
there is nothing else fills the bill quite
80 we'll. To these might be added some
few tools and parts not needed often,
but when they are their absence is n
source Of delay and is temper provok-
ing.
The Pile Was Missing
Recently was asked to go about
fifty miles into the country to bring
in machine which had refused to run
and had been stored in a barn over
night. | found that the interrupter
points had become glazed so that no
spark was being procured. A special
file is manufactured for the particular
purpose of cleaning off these points.
AS one Of these was not in the car, it
was necessary to disassemble the spark
timer completely, take out the points,
and then find a fiat piece of hard stone
upon which the points could be cleaned.
This did the work all right, but much
time could have been saved il the in
terrupter point file had been carried
in the car.
Likewise, no wrench was available
for adjusting the points. and it was
necessary to go to nearby blacksmith
shop and saw out temporary wrench
for the purpose.
Many owners have had the exper-
fence of being caught out on the road
by storm and having to put on nom
skid chains. How often they have
found that though these chains were
in good condition when leaving home
and when they were put on, after
running while over rough roads at
fair speed some of the links wore
through and began to thrash against
the mud guards! This is not only
annoying, but often does real damage
to the guards.
| have stopped several times to wire
the loose ends to the side chains to
stop the banging, and it certainly
would be more satisfactory to carry
supply of links and chain tool so
that the broken ends could be removed
and new links inserted.
OF course, the loose ends can be
pried of with a screwdriver and new
links pounded fast with hammer, but
you will have to remove the chain to
do it, and it takes time, and much
evaporation can be saved by using the
proper tool.
Taking Along a Pail
A folding pail is very useful, es-
pecially when one has to go up very
long hills and finds that the water in
the radiator has boiled away. The cool
ing systems for automobile engines to-
day are very efficient, and il is only in
exceptional cases that the water will
boil out of the radiator, and that is just
the reason why an occurrence of that
sort is disastrous, because one is not
expecting it and is not prepared for il.
In sandy country and on dirt roads
have often had occasion TO jack up "A
wheel 70 change a tire, and found that
the jack would sink into the loose sand
or dust instead of lifting the car A
block of wood an inch thick and about
six inches wide and foot long will be
found big help under such circum- r
stances. | have also borrowed a fence
rail TO jack up a car because some one
had taken the jack from the car and
neglected TO return il. Even though
tire trouble is not expected, it is well
70 make sure that there is jack in the
car and also a handle for the jack. The
jack is more often found than the
handle.
Working about an automobile is
sure TO add lot OF grease and CRIME
to the hands and possibly oil or grease
upon parts of the car, so that it is well
to carry small bag of waste or rags
II the grease or dirt prove obstinate, a
little gasolene, drawn from the drain /
cock At the bottom OF the carburetor. /
will cut il and enable you 70 clean the .
hands fairly we'll.
Useful Valve Tool /
Il is good idea 20 have a three-in- /
one or similar valve tool, with which I
i. il possible 70 remove the valve plum I
ger. cut threads In the valve stem 40
that the plunger may be properly 4
seated ard cut threads on the outside .
~ the stem so that the cap will screw .
down tight. J.. some cases where the .
valve stem l. battered in changing a
tire a.r caHno; DC got into the tire .
/; these threads a.e damaged.
Many persons OBJECT 20 carrying
tow rope .or Gear II will be taken a.
an admission that they have doubts
v their ability 20 come home under
heir owl power; but. in addition 20
ford.rg connection 10 some other
'etNc OF power low rope may De
CO to help brother In distress and
superior TO chains in very sandy or
auddy places wher wrapped about the
ire.
Az extra sct o. electric light bulbs
''ay save considerable trouble and an
.oyance. because the traffic policemen
o-day Will accept no excuse when one
light is not burning.
II YOU do not take your Wife's first
you would better be provided with a
pool OF soft iron wire-the ordinary