South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-16

We are approaching the season
when cars are given a general over
hauling and everywhere the ques-
tion is heard, Are you going 10
have your car thoroughly overhaul
cd this winter" And although
there may be reasons for answer
ing IL i'm the affirmative, let us in
vestigate what is really considered
a general Overhauling. The term is
generally defined as meaning the
complete or nearly complete disas-
sembling of the whole car all me
chanical elements, control devices,
and auXliaries, the cleaning of
them. the replacement OF parts or
such of them as require il. then re-
assembling and adjustment and the
replenishment Of them with oil and
grease. This. when properly con-
sidered. is "a long and laborous JOB
and even when honestly and eff
GENTLY performed, viii cost con-
siders BILE sum. In the early stages
Of the motor car era. the cars after
few thousand miles of service,
were completely out of order. the
motor generally disabled, other ele-
ments or units very noisy and un-
dependable. the brakes worn and
units generally out Of complete ad-
iustment. when these were provided.
Disarrangcmcnt was so general and
the individual elements were so in
accessible without removing neigh
boring parts. that the obvious pro-
ccdure was general disassembling
and Ovcrhauling Moreover, there
we're mparatively few men in the
business who could exactly locate a
defect, or so 10 speak, make a di-
agnosis, without an extensive Eek
plorative operation" There We're
usually so many worn parts that had
20 be replaced and, of course the
removal and replacement of these
parts required such a complete dis
manuing Of the vehicle, that it was
only logical to take it all apart and
put il together again.
Thus, from the above we can
readily sec how the term general
overhauling" came into vogue and
became at least an annual function
OF every indispOsed observance, pre-
Chanic or ones own chauffeur. dur
ing the OFF season when driving was
rather cold and unpleasant work
This practice is still undulged in and
much more frequently than there
is any valid reason for. This. in
many cases, constitutes a heavy and
unnecessary burden upon the motor
list. It may be termed a custom with
some which now lacks in a great
measure its original Justification. 1t
is impossible TO make an exact
statement although it is safe to say
that the modern car is capable OF
running at least 10 times as far
without showing very genera LIKED
deterioration as was the car OF 10
or L years ago, when an annual
overhauling of "a complete character
was legitimate procedure and eX-
pense. Owners, as well as repair
men have been educated and are
now much better able than former
~ to locate and diagnose the disar-
rangement without disassembling.
Individual parts are also more
readily removable and replaceable
without disturbing other parts In
fact, there is no comparison between
the accessibility of the motor car
and that of the earlier cars. With
proper care very few parts of the
modern car wear out seriously with
i'm the cars expected life. and break
ages of mechanical parts are exceed
iugly rare.
How To Avoid General Over
hauling.
This customary general overhaul
ing. performed AT more or less reg
ular intervals. was generally sup
posed TO possess a certain precau-
tionary value BY bringing to light
defects when in their early incep-
ton. before they had assumed such
magnitude as to lead 10 disablement
of the car or 10 actual danger 70
the passengers. There may have been
considerable advantage in original
idea developed in the old days, but
in this era OF advanced automobile
metallurgy. testing and inspection
department and more mature de-
sign. there is very little 10 be gain
ed by adhering to the idea The
writer does not know OF a case than
an ordinary examination OF a part
disclosed signs from which its failure
could not be definitely predicted
! There may be still plenty of in
stances OF cars, which require a gem
eral overhauiing but the number Of
such cars which actually require a
general Overhauling annually is
comparatively small For instance.
car which is driven extensively
and very roughly and which receives
hardly any attention day by day in
the way OF fabrication and adjust
ment is very likely To become 50
generally ont OF condition that at
the end of the year a general over
hauling may be necessary. This Is
the case with a high grade car as