Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-07
S|MPL|F|ED LESSONS IN
CARE OF AUTOMOBILE
Gucrrlich Describes Methods ~ BE
Used In Handling Electric
Starting System.
TELLS OF NECESSARY UNITS
answers Numerous Questions From
Owners Of Machines Who Have
PcrplcHing Problems to Combat
in Procuring Results.


Owners OF Machines Who Have
i'll Procuring Results.
by electric starting system is meant
.,,c,ric engine cranking system. as
All mat the 'sclf-startcr" Ices is to
crank the engine. Before using the
Sci-startcr" the engine must be set
Tor starting. just as though IL were TO
be cranked by haad that il. the igni-
lion switch must be thrown on. the
carburetor must be primcd when tho
engine is cold, and. IL the day bc very
cold, IL may be necessary to first prime
inc engine by squirting some raw
gasoline into the cylinders.
Before taking up the care OF this
system, let us again see what the nc
ScsSary units and their action arc. I
believe that no better illustration OF
inc action Of the electric system can
be found than that which | use ia
explaining the theory of the system
IN an earlier lesson, in which L COM
pared the action to ths action of an
imaginary water pressure starting sys-
tom.
In Figure l. A. ] show an engine
winch could be crankcd by the water
motor. In order to make tho water
motor operate we must be able to
Scnd water TO II under pressure. and
SO the pressure storage tank IL ncccs-
sary. ALSO we must have II means to
let the water flow to the motor. or
stop It's flow at will. Thus the con-
troll valve IS necessary.
II. as in Figure ., VIC have an cleo
tFic motor for cranking the engine,
NC VIII also have TO have an clec,ri-
CITY storage tank from which ,hc
current can now TO tho motor under
rh,,g
Is necessary. Like with the water
system, some device to control the
no" OF tho current to the motor is
necessary. and so we must have the
electrical switch
Again referring TO Figure 7, were
We TO use the water motor for some
'iInc. the water would he drawn from
INC storage tank and II would he emp
tied. so that il is necessary to have
some device TO send more water to
INC tank 20 take the place OF tina,
drawn or. Thus the water puinp is
necessary. In the same way ,vith the
e!cct'ic system, when current is drawn
from the storage battery, by the mo-
t"r u VII! become discharged ana so
inc electric generator, which might be
termed an electric current inanufac-
turing machine. is necessary. This.
You VII! observe Is driven from the en-
gnc.
In talking about the storage bat
terry in an earlier lesson. | mentioned
the Tact that the starting motor takes
many times more current per minute
IMAM Is made By tho generator. j, re-
CURING about thirty minutes to send IS
NiGch current TO the batter, when
the car is running az about twenty
miles per hour with the llSAts out, to
replace that drawn Oft In one minutes
use OF the starting motor. Thus i,
OFTEN becomes necessary to have the
battery charged at a service station
"hiie out OF the car.
When the battery is replaced. great
care must bc taken 20 get the wires
back as they We're ana il would hc
well, when taking the battery out. to
lag tn" wires as positive or negative,
according TO whether they were attach
Ell TO the positiv. or negative ter
minal or the battery
You can see the Importance Of This
ny referring TO tho drawing In
FiGUrc ! there Is small pine shown
al the right OF the pump through which
the water which is sent 10 tho tank
is drawn in. II the pipe leading from
pump 10 tank were to be conncc,td
where This small pipe - connected the
pump, instead OF sending water TO the
TANK. would draw the water from II
In the same way in Figure = II the
wires were to lie reversed at the gen
orator. the generator. Instead Of charg-
tnG the battery, would discharge il.
| Now. reversing the wires at the bat
tory would be the same rs reversing
them al the generator.
! Again referring TO Figure J. when
| the engine is idle the water would
tend TO run back TO :hc pump and dis
charge through H. so that some device
! is necessary 10 prevent this. Thus the
i check waive. which will allow the
water to run TO the tank, but which
! will prevent 1t from flowing In the
i opposite direction is required
Likewise. the current would Tow
from the battery through the gen
orator. when the engine is idle or run
ming slowly. and so the automatic
switch. which disconnccts the circuit
when tho voltage (preSsurc) Of tho
battery is greater than that of the
= generator.
The contact points of this automatic
cut-ou which is generally found on
the engine side of dashboard. often
stick. and 50 permit the battery to
. discharge overnight.
II would be we'll TO locate the cut
out on your ear, and watch it's action.
You will observe that the points will
he open when the engine is idle or
! running slowly. and will close as the
engine is speedcd up. Should your bat
terry discharge quickly, look TO these
points. IL stuck. you can open them
- with the finger nail.
Were the tank OF Figure I full. the
pump operating the pressure in the
tank might become so high as TO cause
IL TO burst. To prevent this, the safety
valve IL placed in the line, which will