El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-01
PRACTICAL PARAGRAPHS.


4 Brake bands have a certain limit
/ Of usefulness. AS soon as the wheels
| do not slide together when the pedal
! is depressed, the bands should be eL-
/ amined. In many cases the wear may
I be compensated for by adjustment OF
I the rods. but again the band has worn
so much on one side that il makes
only partial contact with the drum.
Should the bands fail TO hold because
I OF oil or grease on the face, a kerO-
sene bath will restore their grip.
After driving in the rain II will be
found that the brake bands are COW
I cred with dirt, some Of which viii
soon make its way under the band
thorough cleaning will prevent this
trouble.
Old files. particularly those OF the
haf round variety, may oe made over
into really admirable bearing scrap
ers. Apply the file TO an emery
wheel thereby grinding off the teeth
and then grind 1t into any form de-
sired
Don't.
when it Is necessary to back car
into place by pushing, the first thing
on which most drivers settle Is the
radiator cap. This is rather dan
gerous practice, for the exertion OF
is quite likely to break IL off.
Gasoline Storage
Before making arrangements FOR
installing an underground gasoline
storage system. the car owner should
look well TO his local and state laws.
In many places II is necessary to vent
the tank so that the vent pipe comes
within a given distance OF the roof
OF the building Some laws make - B
necessary to have the tank located /
a given distance from the house and I
II this IS not compiled with, certain I
rules regarding venting must be met .
Examine all phases OF the matter
carefully beforehand
COmmunatOr Brushes.
When the commutator brushes OF 7
the generator become slightly worm
so that they cause arcing, they should
be filed to make good contact with I
the commutatOr. small magnets
file IS best for this purpose. If the
itself proves to be dirty,
a piece OF fine sandpaper held against
Il while the generator srmature Is re-
volving. viii clean II off A mistake
frequently made Is In adjusting the
stretched too much. causing the
brushes to heat rapidly, by reason OF
the excessive friction. This causes
rapid wear. The brushes should be
set so as Just TO touch the commuta-
tor lightly and yet not so much as
to give poor contact. The curvature
OF the brush should be the same as
that OF the commutator.
Engine Knock.
When the engine knocks with the
spark advanced or retarded. the
water system should be examined. a
dry water system will cause Excess
sive heating; preignition follows and
knocking.
Caring for the Top.
For removing dust and dirt from
the car top, use a dry brush. Never
employ gasoline, which acts with de-
structive effect upon the rubber in
the top material Soap and warm
water are the best agents to use IN
mistake to put any other cleaning
agent in the water, on account OF its
possible Ill effects on the rubber IN
The top material
Emergency AntI-FreeHe.
When the car owner Is caught IN q
freeze and no regular anti-freeze So
luton for the water system Is avail
able, a quantity OF table salt thrown
INTO the cooling system viii help to
prevent freezing A saturated solu-
don OF common salt in water freezes
It about zero.
OWNERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
A connecting rod broke in my en-
zine right in the middle and I claim
ought to get a replacement because
II defective material Can a rod
freak in the middle from any other
ause?-R E. H.
While II is possible for defective
METAL to have been the cause. It also
) quite likely that improper align
nent OF the rod caused the trouble.
)r II the bearing was recently tight
ned and brought up too much this
night induce excessive strain on the
cd which would break at its weakest
Iolnt
What DO you think OF the future OF
he eight and the twelve cylinder
ars? It looks 20 me as II the six Will
e the only type In a few years and !
annot see why the Fights and
welves should gain any headway.-
l. o. k
I must disagree with you about the
uture Of the Fights and twelves for
believe that within a fen years, es-
ecially so II the war stops. there will
q many more OF both. II you ever
ave driven a twelve you should know
hat II Is quite impossible to get the
anne smoothness IN an engine with
0 4