The Oskaloosa herald., 1917-11-01
Expert Advice For the
Automobile Owner
Queries and Replies Covering Matters Of
Importance to the Man Who Runs Car

Will you please tell me how TO line
up the front whesls of q carr
In lining up the front wheels the first
thing is to make sure that the wheel
bearings are properly. adjusted. They
should be just tight enough so that
there is no side play in the wheels; but,
on the other hand, they should not be
so tight that the wheels bind and do
not turn freely. This done, take long
stick or rod that will reach from the
inner edge of one rim across to the En-
ner edge OF the other Then measure
the distance between the rim edges
horizontally back of the center Of the
wheel. Mark this distance on the stick
and then try 1t on the rims horizontally
In front of the wheel centers. The
front distance should be one-fourth
inch to three-eighths inch less than the
distance across the backs Of the hubs
II you find these distances are not cor,
rect you can get the proper adjustment
by taking up or letting out on the
steering cross rod, which parallels the
axle and runs across just back of 1t.
First loosen the lock nut at one of the
ends, then take out the pin that goes
through the Steering arm and yoke and
screw the yoke out or in. as the case
requires. Then check the wheel align
ment again and tighten the lock nut
What 10 the object of clutch braks7
A clutch brake is device to check
the momentum Of the clutch while
changing speeds. Usually when the
clutch is thrown out or disengaged
it tends to spin for some time. due to
the momentum it received from the
engine. The clutch brake rubs on the
clutch or clutch shaft in such MAN..
ner as to slow 1t up so as to make
quiet gear shifting without having to
wait for the gears intended TO be
meshed to assume approximately the
same speed. $685..
When taking down my car ] put the
cylinders into soiution Of caustie soda
to remove the old PART and have found
THAT the solution acts as an excellent
carbon remover. II soales, the carbon
right off and leaves the surface cleaner.
ttdh abtcT bSTdPin9. NOdiO yod lSii ttfe
| IL u would harm the motor to inject
il into the cylinders and let il stand
for day or two, then start up the
motor to blow the carbon out through
the exhaust II some of Il went by the
pistons would Il have any effect on the
iubrieation7 Does IL attack iron7
Your suggestion regarding removal
OF carbon Is very interesting, and it
should cause no difficulty provided
care is taken, but otherwise great
havoc may result.
Caustic soda, cautic potash or so
dium or potassium hydrOxide will not
injure iron If left in contact with it
| for only a day or so, but all these So
lutions quickly dissolve aluminium and
eat bronze and brass; consequently it
is imperative that none OF the solu-
! ton you use come in contact with
these substances.
In other words, it is perfectly safe
to clean the carbon out by this meth
cd, provided you have the cylinders
off, but it is doubtful If you will find
it safe with the motor assembled an
|
crank case are iron or steel.
A particularly violent action might
! be set up If the pistons are aluminium.
the aluminium and cast iron forming a
battery, and rapid corrosion would re-
suit. .. ....s.. ..-..
1t is dangerous to use this solution
when the crank case is aluminium, as
some Of the liquid might leak down
and attack it. This applies to motors
with crank case bottoms of aluminium
II the upper half of the crank case is
aluminium and the bottom is Of steel
there is small cause for worry.
Any of the solutions mentioned will
not attack lubricating oil or any min.
eral oil, but vegetable oils viii be turn.
ed into soap.
In using an alcohol and water mix
ture 10 there any way of telling, except
when first mixed, the percentage Of
alcohol remaining in the soIution7
BY the use of a hydrometer. You
can I'LL the rediator with what you
consider the correct proportion of al.
cohol and water for the temperature
conditions Of your locality and then
test this solution with a hydrometer
to determine its specific gravity. Once
you have found the figure for the cor.
rect mixture you can tell thereafter
whether the percentage has dropped
/ by new tests with the hydrometer.
/ What IL the difference between direct
current and alternating current?
In direct current the electrical cir
cult is In one direction at all times; In
alternating current the electrical cir
cult varies its direction internationally.
! To make this clear suppose you put
straw into water and drew with a
steady suction with the mouth at the
other end Of the straw. The water
would pass up the straw In even flow
In one direction. The electric current
does the same thing In all direct cir
cults. Now, suppose you suck and blow
on the straw. alternating the efforts
evenly, The water will pass rapidly
i q Ta4N