El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-03

In some types OF engines the valve
head may break off and get into the
cylinder and when the piston comes up
punch a hole in the piston mead. \
petcock may be loose so that IL viii
jar open sufficiently TO affect the COM
preston and SO cause the cylinder TO
miss fire. These troubles usually are
confined to enc cylinder and not 20 the
whole engine.
The gasoline is the next 20 be IN
spected- Is there gasoline in the bowl
OF the carburetor? This may be deter
mined by inspection. opening urdin
cock or misunderstanding II not.
examine gasoline tank and see If there
is a supply: then see II the shutort
valve in the line leading to the carbu-
rotor is open, if so. drain the DOWl OF
the carburetor TO get rid OF possible
water and dirt. To check the possible
clogging of gasoline pipe or carburetOr
screen. notice If the bowl fills uD again
in a reasonable time.
do not adjust the carburetOr. Il the
engine has been running Il is practical
" certain that the carburetor has not
become out Of adjustment. Inspect the
intake pipe. or manifold, to see II II
has been loOsened by vibration II the
engine still refuses 10 run. put about
a tablespoonful OF gasoline IN each
cylinder and crank over the engine II
this runs the engine Tor Few reV1lu-
tons il indicates that the trouble IS
in the gasoline system and leaves but
the spray nozzle. which may have dirt
lodged IN II, OF the auxiliary air valve.
which may be stuck. as remaining
Next inspect the ignition system.
The first thing TO do Is 20 loosen one
Of the wires from a spark plug and lay
or hold II so the bare end VIII be one
eighth Of an inch from the base OF the
plug and have some one crank the en-
CINE by hand or with the starter. II n
spark does not occur, 20 first to the
interrupter points and short circuit the
q
metal tool and see If there is spar n:
Examine the points for dirt and see II
they come together and open properly.
Then examine the condition Of the bat
ters on the battery. which sometimes
Jar loose; examine the wires leading TO
the interrupter and switch see Il tney
are loose, or broken. Or short circuited.
This need not be done Z the spark
shows at the interrupter.
Examine the distributor for mOis-
turs or dirt and see II the wires have
become loose. II a magnetic only is
used. il is a simple matter 10 see II the
distributor is clean and dry. II these
appear to be all right the trouble is
doubtless IN the srmature winding ~
the condenser and can not be repaired
upon the road.
The wires TO the plugs may be
burned OF short circuited. II. with IN
apparently good spark. we have COM
preston and there is a mixture passing
into the cylinders, the trouble may be
in the spark plug. To test spark plus
II is necessary to remove Il. Widen the
gap TO one eighth Of an inch and lay
the plug with wire attached upon the
cylinder, crank the engine and see II
a spark jumps the gap. Widening the
zap is necessary. because the spark
viii not jump 20 far under pressure IS
in the open air. II Il does not jump,
the plug may have a broken tnsulator
or need cleaning An extra set OF
plugs should be carried 10 replace
those which become dirty; cleaning
should be done in the garage II IN
certain about condition Of plug eN-
change Il with one in another cylinder
that is working properly
This covers most OF the usual
troubles. experienced on the road
There are. OF course. a great many
other possibilities. but II these tests
carefully made, do not disclose the
cause Of the trouble. IL is advisable
that the novice send for garage man