New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-02-23
PUT CAR IN SHAPE
AUTO OWNER SHOULD BE ABLE
TO DO THIS HIMSELF.
Time for the Work Is When Machine
Is Laid Up on Account of Bad
Roads or Weather-Hints
That Will Help.

I 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 W cars) there are at
least three months during which the
has to be stored on account of he
bad roads and inclement weather, and
during this time it is a very good idea
either to overhaul the car yourself or
have it done at a garage. l 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 ov%erhauling neces-
sary on the average car.
Before beginning the O~verhaullng
Of the car it is a very good idea to
provide a liberal quantity of the fol-
lowing: gasoline, motor oil, kerosine,
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
xr,;noI lru with u-oSfn IF worn thpV
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
a new one If necessary. Next the
springs should be separated and a thin
layer of graphite placed between
leaves, to give resiliency and prevent
s%queaking.
Next we will 60 to the motor. If
the car has not been run over five to
ten thousand miles it will not be neces-
sary to take it down. However If the
fywheel shows play when grasping it
and trying to rock it sideways the
cylinder block should be removed and
the bearings frightened by removing n
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, COM
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. II radia-
tor leaks it may be soldered, or if
slight leaks occur in the tubes it may
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 and
repaired if any breaks occur. The
brushes on the commutator of the gem
orator and starter motor should be
replaced If badly worm. The commu-
tator should be frightened by pressing
q piece Of emery cloth on it while run
ming. The connecting terminals or the
storage battery should be Frightened
before connecting to the system or it
will not operate the starter properly.
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
n 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 car will
run and look as good as ever.