New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-02-10
When Water
Pump Works
All Is We'll
But Be Sure 1t Gets the Sort
Of Care That Will Keep
1t Going Right
By William Fl. Stewart, Jr.

WHICH CHe Ndtcr pump WOrH9 prop
erly all is we'll, but when it fails mat
tiers 60 from bad to worse and lorg
train Of troubles may follow. The ef-
ticicncy Of the cooling system depends
upon this faithful little device, and
upon it also depends the efficiency Of
the engine. When one fails the OF, er
fails.
The engine will lose power, the CYL
nders and rings may become scored,
and the pistons may seize, wrecking
the crankshaft and possibly breaking
the crank case. Keep u close watch on
the water pump.
OF course, the foregoing list OF
troubles will not happen without pre-
liminary warning, SO the careful driver
must be on the lookout for such symp-
toms and quick to correct them when
they occur.
Keep Shaft Bearing fabricated
The best cure for trouble is preven-
ton; therefore, one must give tn -,
water pump the required attention and
then sec that it is doing its work prop
crly. The first detail of care is lubri-
cation. There should be a grease cup
ON the pump shaft bearing, since tac
shaft rcvolvcs at a fairly high rate Of
speed and needs lubricatior No sucl.
provision is made on some pumps, as it
is considered that the water working
INTO the bearing will lubricate it suEi-
GENTLY.
Grease is used instead OF oil because
- stays in the bearing better. Oil Will
run in with the water and be wasted
1t Will also interfere with the cooling
effect and will help to no. the rubber
hose at top and bottom of radiator and
any rubber gaskets that might be il
use.
Next sec that it is working prop
crly. The radiator must be filled and
the engine started in order to observe
This Remove cap of filler opening On
most cars the water can be seen return
ing. as it shoots into The top Of tic
radlator with considerable force
but some radiator designers put a
haff1e-piatc IN front of the return pipe,
which forces the water sideways or
down, SO that it cannot be seen in
:
here; in fact it mag be used on anv
car having pump system. 1t is to
mold tho hand against the bottom of
, the radiator. If The bottom is hot the
I pump is working; if the bottom IS
cold the pump is not working.
Normally the bottom of the radiator
should be bot. but not quite as hot as
/ the top. The heat reaching the bottom,
is due to the action of the pump. which
/ draws out the water and so makes
room for more water at the top. The
hot water entering at the top is con-
annually moving downward, making the
bottom not, also. IF the pump stops
working or the radiator and pipes be-
come clogged the hot water is not
drawn down; the draft from the fan
coolS the water quickly, and so the
bottom OF the radiator becomes cold.
u may be questioned why the bottom
OF the radiator is not always cold; in
asmuch as the purpose Of the radiator
IS TO cool the water But this ariscs
from a mistaken idea Of the functions
ct the radiator and the entire cooling
system. The purpose is not to cool
inc engine, but to prevent the engine
from overhcatlng. The water leaving
the radiator should be still close to .he
boiling point, or 212 degrees Fahren-
nett. If 1T gets below $50 degrees the
engine begins to lose power. Thus. VIC
see that the radiator merely gets rid
OF some of the heat-not ali Of il.
Guard Against Leaks
At all times ono should be on tho
lookout for leaks in any part Of fhS
soo''ng system. The usual place on
INC pump Is at the stufing box. This
sul ROUNDS the pump shaft, and is
Pachco WIN some sort of mate rial II
prevent leakage of water from the in,
Terror. Graphite asbestos packing is
'nc pest but cotton waste or cloth with
sOmc cup grease rubbed into it and
rolled into the right shape will do os
we'll W. w a.
When the stutlins box cannot b,
.Igh'ened any more and it still leaks
IL must be repacked. This is done h,
unscrcWlng the cover and putting in a,
much or the rolled packing as it vii
hoid. &c very careful to TIGHT, !,
just enough to prevent leaking. II to,
much force is applied it binds too t.yht
" on the shaft. cutting into it and max
ing ~ so rough that it chcws up an,
new packing about as fast as it can be-
r lIp..,, l., When properly packed i
should last year without repacking
although it may need Tightening occa
sionally. '>'''''s wv"
If there is a leak around the cove,
or the pump. or if the cover has bee,
removed, new gasket should be fitted
ms may be made from a piece q
thick wrapping paper, but must be an
pied with shclac in order to hol,
properly. Rubber gaskets arc no. nd
V'saoIc on water pump, since heat dis
1ntegrates rubber
A paper gaskct is easily made bv Law
ing IN, :, me paper over the surface ane
marking the outline by drawing tn,
thumb along it. 1t may then be en-
out with the scissors. Another wav !.
TO work 1t out by means of hamme
but this method would best be learnc,
from A machinist.
If there is any danger of freezing dc
not be satisfied by draining the system
through the tap at the bottom Of thI
radiator. There should be drain plus
at the bottom of the pump which mus
also be opened. The pump forms
water pocket which invites freezine
with consequent bursting of the parts
R,opv A,,t1l.J