The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-04-19
Tighten Belts Here and There
Around Machine and Make
Liberal Use of Oil.
TROUBLE IS MOST Annoying
Noises Frequently Occur in Springs
and Spring ShackIes if Neglected
and Allowed to Run Dry
Hoods Are Offenders.

Squeak, squeak" said the car, and
again it said squeak, squeak, squeak,
while the driver pondered unmention-
able thoughts. 'This is one of the most
annoying troubles while driving car
that is otherwise in good condition"
says William III. Stewart, Jr., presl-
dent of the Stewart Automobile school.
'"The squeak may not be anything seri-
Gus or it may indicate trouble which
may grow to be dangerous. In any case
it gives the sensitive motOrist no rest
until it is removed.
''If the noise occurs when you apply
the brakes it is evidently in the brake
bands, but other places are not so
readily located. For instance, if the
car squeaks when you go over water
bars and other jounces the trouble may
be in the springs, the spring shackles,
the mud guards, tenders, where the
body rests on the frame, or multi
tude Of other places.
Squeaks in Springs.
"But Squeaks frequently occur IN
springs and spring shackles, particu-
larly if neglected and allowed to run
dry. In order to prevent this these
parts should be gone over and thor
oughly creased at frequent intervals.
Jack up the frame to take the weight
of the car off the springs. Spread the
leaves apart, one by one, prying them
open with a cold chisel or q screw
driver with a metal handle, using
medium weight hammer. The process
will chip off some of the paint, but this
is unavoidable. Now spread graphite
grease between the leaves, using a
thin-bladed knife or hack-saw blade.
Use cylinder oil mixed with little
kerosene to reach in farther than you
can force the grease This will fire.
quently stop squeak that cannot be
reached by the grease alone.
''In rare cases the springs will have
to be taken off and the leaves taken
apart to give them a thorough oiling,
particularly if they have been neglect
ed for a year or more and have become
badly rusted There is a special tool
on the market for spreading spring
leaves. This may be used to advan-
tage.
Other Offenders.
Hoods and mudguards are frequent
offenders. Inspect the strips of raw
hide on which the hood rests. If these
are broken or missing they must be re-
placed. Close down hood and see if it
touches metal at any place. If it
does a squeak is sure to develop.
Stand on the spring hanger or the run
ming board and shake the car up and
down. This will ceause the squeak to
start, and it is then merely matter
of injecting oil into all places where
metal or wood may rub together. If
possible tighten the parts and elimi-
nate the cause. An oil gun, with which
q heavy oil may be injected with con-
siderable pressure is a great help. Fol
low the whole length of the mud
guards, the bottom and sides of the
hood, the hood fasteners, where run
ming board and mudguardS join, the
radiator supports and every likely and
unlikely place.
'If the brake band squeaks place a
little, a very little, grease on drum in
space where end of brake bands join.
This will be carried into the lining and
help stop the squeak. But use very
little, as grease is not noted for its
tendency to make Brakes hold.
Keep at it and try again. Shake the
car to draw the oil into the places
mentioned, and go over the work again
and again until success crowns your
efforts"