Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-12
BY Walter Shields

On New York SUM
Many motorists. particularly ney
ones. fail to realize that the long tour
which is perhaps the most delightful
thing ia all motoring, cannot he uu
deriakcn without considerable fore
thought and preparation. Before the
car enibarks on 4 strenuous journey
OF this sort. with varied conditions OF
ROAD and weather ahead of IT. there
are certain inspections that are vitally
necessary to be made. not only for the
comfort of the occupants. but even
for their safety. Also there are eer-
tain tools aud parts that should find a
place on every ear engaged ia a long
tour. ON the other hand. it is not ad
ViSahle to load the vehicle down with
great mass of miscellaneous equip
meut selected haphazard and proba-
bly, never to hc used. In motor ear,
AS elsewhere, the good traveller travels
light The problem then is TO select
the equipment that will actually prove
valuable, instead OF being SO much eN-
ira and needless weight.
The average summer tour will
range from 1900 to 5000 miles, and
over our indiffcrently good highways
this means great deal of racking for
the ear. even though the driver be
both expert and careful To he sure
that the ear is ready to "Stand the
gait, a complete inspection should he
made Of the mechanism, and every
thug that can be tightened should
have this attention. The spring clips,
the motor supports, the radiator fast
.lf h., n
chassis and body should be drawn
tight, 1t is good idea to drain the
crank case. flush it out with kerosene
and then refill with fresh lubricant.
The gear cases should he refilled and
grease cups should all be filled and
turned down. Such parts rs the ignition
unit, lighting generator and starting
motor should be carefully covered to
exclude moisture and dirt; remember
this is to be a long. hard trip through
sunshine and rain. over sand and
through mud BE sure that the vital
elements of the mechanism are protect
ed against fortuitouS interference with
their funetioning.
Inspect Brakes First
OF course the careful driver will
think of his brakes among the first
things of all First inspect the entire
braking system from the control to
the part. Unless the brakes have been
refined this year, it is best to make
precaution certainty by refining them.
Make sure of their efficient action by
testing them out and adjusting them.
being certain that the adjustment is
equal on both sides If the driver for
anv reason does not happen to know
how to make adjustments in his brak
ing system, he should learn how be
fore starting. on long trip. If any
thing should go wrong with the
brakes while the car is on the road,
the safety Of all on board may depend
on the driver 5 knowing how to make
the repair.
On long tour under the conditions
generally holding during the summer,
it is important that the cooling system
be in good order. In the mountainous
districts generally encountered sooner
or later on an extended trip, the cool
ing system has all it can do to per
form its appointed task, even if it is
in perfect condition. In this connec-
ton it is a, wise precaution to fit the
radiator with one of the devices that
shows the temperature of the cooling
water, so that the danger point is con
stantly before the driver 5 eyes.
= Obviously, too, it would not be wise
to start on a long trip unless one were
certain that the carbureter and the
entire fuel system are in good work
ing order, The best plan, perhaps, is
to take the car to the nearest service
station and have the experts there
look it over If the driver does not
understand the working of the part,