The Washington herald., 1918-06-23
DimeuIt 70 start

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Editor Query Dept--I have .
1915 Hupmobiie that when It stands
overnight requires printing to start
the engine. and after It runs .
short while Il stops. The engine
has to be run until II is hot be-
fore Il will take the load. had
the batteries charged and they only
lasted about ten days. then they
were discharged. Kindly advise
what the trouble might be-.
vi c. H
From your description It would
seem that the valves are not feed
ing properly. and that the compress
sion 10 not what It should be. Try
the compression~o the engine and
by turning It over with hand crank
note II It is good. and IL It IL the
same in all cylinders. 1t will prob
ably be found that the valves need
grinding and the engine should he
cleaned OF carbon. Another trouble
may be that the piston rings are
not tight and need replacing. 1t
may be Of advantage to place one
OF the patent rings in the top Of
each piston.
The fact that your battery IL run
down either indicates that you have
Q short circuit or you are leaving
your switch turned on in which
case the starter IL driving the en-
gine. This, as you know. In a mo-
tor-generator type in which there
10 . constant connection between
the starting motor and the engine,
Ind when running at very low speed
or when the motor is shut OF and
the starting switch Is on. the start
ing motor drives the engine and
runs down the battery.
Cannot Locate KNOCK
Editor Query Department. have a
1916 Ford which has a pronounced
knock, a dull humming sound, and
very little power. This trouble was
not remedied by new piston rings.
new wrist pins. or adjusting the main
bearings. The car is clean. free OF
carbon, compression Is good, but not
perfect, and the firing Is accurate. I
always have plenty Of water and oil.
The knock Is present whether the
spark is advanced or retarded. The
carbureter seems to be properly ad-
justed. I have had the engine down
twice in order to find and remedy
the trouble. but without success. Any
Information will be greatly appreci-
ated C. F. e.
Look at the timing gears and vari-
Gus units In the valve drive. See II
they are firmly attached to their re-
spective shafts. Another point which
you should examine Is to see II the
magnetic and flywheel bolt. are firmly
In place. Loose units in the magnetic
would cause a knock. and at the same
time would be apt to cause loss Of
power.
Timing Of seripps-Booth, 1918.
Editor Query Department-win you
kindly inform me as to the timing OF
the valves of the Scripps-Booth 1915?
In overhauling the car 1 expected to
find the timing gears marked. but I
did not In assembling the car am
having little trouble to get the en-
gine running correctly. E. NJ.
The timing Of the Scripps-Booth
1915 is as follows: Inlet open IS deg.
IS min. after. top dead center. Inlet
closes A deg 81 min. after bottom
center. Exhaust opens 43 deg. Is min.
before bottom center. Exhaust closes
Is deg. Is min. after top center.
Adjusting Dodge Clutch
Editor Query Dept.-Please advise
me in detail how to ascertain and
remedy the slip or drag OF a disc
clutch on my Dodge 5-passenger
1917.
lis johnson carbon remover det-
rimental to the cylinder of a Dodge
U. s. N. d. E. J.
1-You can tell IL your clutch slips
IL the engine runs away from the
car and travels at a higher rate of
speed than that necessary to pull
the car. II the clutch drags the
Just or tighten the clutch, remove
the clutch cover plate, loosen the
clamp screw on the clutch spring
adjusting nut with a long screw
driver and turn up the clutch spring
adjusting nut, until the spring is
compressed sufficiently to make the
clutch hold properly. This clutch
spring adjusting nut Is located di-
rectly below the clutch throw out
fork and can be reached by a long
screw driver. When the proper ad-
justment has been made, care should
be taken that the clamp screw is
frightened down securely so that
there Is no chance for the nut to
slip of. If the clutch lever becomes
stiff or glazed and slips, wash It of
with gasoline and soften 1t by the
of Neatsfoot oil. A grab
bing or dragging clutch can be
remedied by soaking the leather
with castor oil.
II you have a later car with q
disc clutch the operation Of adjust
ment IL as follows: To. adjust or
tighten the clutch spring 1t must be
compressed sufficiently to allow the
slit washer which ,fits into one Of
the three grooves cut on the clutch
shaft. to be moved forward until 1t
fits into the next groove. After this
has been done, care should be taken
that the two halves of this split
washer At securely into the proper
groove on the clutch shaft. and that
the clutch spring rear retainer fits
snugly around the split washer.
Keep the foot of the clutch pedal
at all times except when it is used.
the disc facfnes as well
as the ball bearing throwout are
subject to excessive wear.
Wants AutonaobiIe Book
Editor QueryDepartment
can I get a book which would DEM
automobiles, their motors
and every detail regarding them. 1
would like the best possible book
at the least possible cost. E. 8.
iva rn tt, rana;nf ~