Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1918-07-18
Brakes Should Be Used Intelli-
gently and Only When It Is
Absolutely Necessary.
TANNING IS BAD PRACTICE
coasting Is Better on Level Road Than
Dashing at Full Speed-Light Pres
sure Will Check Car and
Save Up-keep.

Use your brakes intelligently and
only when absolutely necessary Is an
excellent motto to have printed on the
instrument board of every car. The
average operator, even the average
skilled driver, uses his brakes too
much. This wears the brakes, racks
the mechanism Of the car and Injuries
the tires-thres good reasons why such
treatment should be avoided.
Learn to stop your car by coasting
to the point where you wish to stop.
This may be learned with little prac-
tice and should always be done on
level road. If you find you are going
a little too far light pressure on the
pedal will stop you.
Better Than tanning Brakes.
This is far better than dashlng up
to a place and then jamming on both
brakes to make a spectacular stop.
Besides wearing the brake lining and
attachments, it racks the tires severely,
sometimes making the wheels lock and
the tires slide. This wears away the
tread In one spot. If this is done fire.
quently the tread will be ruined and
the fabric exposed. A tire worn away
in this manner cannot be returned for
adjustment, as 1t has been ruined by
abuse.
When coasting down hill use the
brakes alternately. BY changing from
the first is allowed to cool, prolonging
it's life. The longer 1t lasts the less 1t
costs for repairs, and so the total cost
of upkeep is reduced.
But changing from one brake to the
other does not cool the drums on the
wheels, as one brake operates on the
outside and the other on the inside of
each drum. So 1t is advisable to relieve
the brakes as much as possible.
This is accomplished by using the
engine as q brake. On a gentle slope
stay in high gear, with engine throt-
tied down, and do without brakes. On
q sleeper grade use the second gear,
or the first If the car is heavy one.
When the emergency brake is used
on a hill it must be applied with eau
ton or the brake rod will be broken.
If the brake is set and the band re-
moved it cannot give when the car
passes over water bars, etc. At this
time the rear axle moves backward,
owing to the flattening of the springs,
and if the brake rods are drawn tight
the strain comes on them, stretching or
breaking some part.
Yields to the Strain.
While using the foot brake the foot
automatically yields to the strain, but
If the emergency brake is set 1t cannot
yield.
Where one brake rod passes through
a tube carrying the other they may be-
come froZen-that is, stuck together
If they are not properly fabricated. Be
sure that the grease cups are turned
down at least ole turn day. If they
do become seized remove the lower
part of the grease cup and force kero-
sene into the hole with an oil gun.
Look over the equalizers, if they are
provided, and adjust the rods to the
same length to insure best action.
If brake lining is badly worn watch
the workman while he replaces 1t, and
perhaps the next time you can do 1t
yourself.
Test the brakes occasionally by
speeding up and then applying. If the
car keeps on or swerves to one side the
brakes need adjusting. A better way
to test them is to jack up both rear
wheels and apply the emergency brake
a few notches, enough to grip the
wheels firmly. Try both wheels to see
If they turn easily. If one turns more
readily than the other that one must be
frightened. To test the foot brake
Jack may be applied to hold it in posi-
ton, but it will be better to bave
helper If one is available.