The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-06-01

! have a car which | wish to convert
into a speedster. Can you tell me what
changes are necessary to secure the
most speed out of it'll
The weight distribution over the
front and rear wheels should be made
as nearly equal as possible, so that
the car will hold the track and take
the turns without upsetting. This rule
is followed out in designing cars for
racing The center of gravity is made
as low as possible to accomplish the
same end. The motor should be bal
anced by making the reciprocattng
parts as nearly equal as possible in
weight. The crankshaft must be per-
fectly balanced, the connecting rods to
weigh the same. In fact, there must
not be more work thrust upon one cyl
inder than upon another. By reducing
the body weight the car will give
greater speed. The new body should
be such that wind resistance is re-
duced considerably, for this is one
great factor in speed. BY reducing the
gear ratio still greater speed may be
obtained, but the life of the car would
be short with gear ratio of less than
three and one-half to one.
The speed Indicating dial of my speed
ometer osciIlates back and forth. Can
you tell me how to remedy this?
Try tightening the swivel joint on
the end of the flexible shaft near the
gear. Also strap the shaft to the ra-
dius rod of the car, thus preventing it
from swinging. If this does not stop
your trouble the inside parts of the
speedometer must be worn out and will
have to be renewed.
What causes a motor to have one cyl
inder slightly louder than the other
three? The motor runs we'll except in
this regard and seems to be slightly
lame when pulling heavy at slow mo-
tor speed, enough to cause quite lit
tie vibration at times. When the mo-
tor is running one can notice that one
of the exhausts is slightly louder than
the balance and of a sharper sound.
This is doing no harm other than being
annoying. 1t is four and one fourth
by four and one half inch motor of the
valve in the head type. The compress
sion is good in all cylinders and the
valves are all right. The exhaust has
been always this way. have not tim
ed the valves with the flywheel, as
has never been changed, and the cam
shaft is integral with the cams. ! am
of the impression that the cam shaft is
at fault, as it appears that one valve is
slightly out of time.
1t Is evident that the exhaust valve
of this cylinder opens earlier than the
escape when it is at higher pressure
than the others. This may be caused,
as you suspect, by faulty cutting of
the cams, but the likelihood is very
small, as integral cam shafts seldom
vary being cut on automatic or semi
automatic machines and to conform to
jigs and to pass inspections within
very narrow limits. 1t is more likely
that the length of the valve rods is at
fault. If these are of the adjustable
type, shorten up on the offending rod
slightly. This will give little more
play than was had formerly, with the
result that the valve will open a little
later. 1t is possible also that the 9th
er valves have too much play in theii
action, so that they open too late. This
would mean that the cylinder that
sounded the loudest was the only one
whose valves were working properly
Which of these is the case may be de-
termined by running the motor on this
cylinder alone, suddenly switching to
another and running that one alone.
If it runs faster on the second the fault
is with the first cylinder. There can
be little harm in such condition ex-
cept as to cam wear. 1t is likely that
the wear is more severe where the
play is not so great.