South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-16
The General Overhauling
Why 1t Is Not Necessary and Hoo
1t Can Be coded
By J. B. Edwards, M. E.

well as with low priced car, If il
has not received proper attention.
Assuming that a car has had con-
sistent car in such matters as lubri- /
cation and casual adjustments, a
very large mileage can be made be-
fore a general overhauling becomes
advisable. The modern car, if IL is
assumed that repairs are made as
the need for them arises will not
require a general Overhauling for a
considerable time and il may be
postponed indefinitely, or in other
words. the car is likely TO become
obsolete and ready to be disposed
of before il becomes so i'll condi-
toned that only a complete over
hauling and extensive replacement
of parts can make 1t satisfactorily
disable. A well proportioned and
cared for car. which has been main
tanned or the stitch time" plan will
run from 10000 10 10000 miles be-
fore it requires TO be entirely dis
assembled and put out of commits
sion for a considerable time at a
considerable expense. In case minor
repairs are not made when required
and disarrangements are allowed TO
accumulate, so much work may be
necessary at one time, that ii may
be necessary to put the car in the
repair shop for rather extensive at
tentiOn at a considerable less mile
age than that mentioned above. A
general overhauling will of necessity
have to be prescribed for the re-
pairs which have been put off from
time 10 time and for the signs of
omission i'm the matter of lubrica-
ton. The results are rather un-
favorable and it is an expensive
remedy. y general Overhauling
should be postponed as long as it
can safely be postponed for more
reasons than one.
Indications of arrangements.
Much has been written on the
subject of noise in the modern mo-
tor car and what it means. When
running normally it is almost per
fectly quiet and any abnormal con-
dition is evidenced by noise which
IS n sure sign of some disarrange-
ment. These noises are more or less
definitely localized and this is indi-
cation of their cause. A car that is
running quietly and powerfully
needs no other attention than lubri-
cation, gasoline and water supplies.
When an unusual sound develops.
its source should be al once deter
mined and its cause removed. No
car can become noisy or develop
trouble all over at once, but these
symptoms develop successfully at
more or less long intervals and if
each defect is traced to it's source
and removed as soon as il occurs,
the car can never reach a generally
unfit judgment. Any motoist using
good judgment can delay the day
when his car must enter the repair
shop for a general overhauling. Ere
Quently, the mOtorist with his first
car drives il for a season and then
finds that his engine has lost power
and knocks badly, that brakes do
not hold and the whole car general
Is has begun to. rattle. In seeking
advice he will consult his local agent
or garageman, and ne is immediate
~ invited TO have his cars overhaul
ed Naturally il appears 10 him that
the car is nearly all in and he con-
sents to a general overhauling- How
ever, in nine cases out of 10, the
only defects are carbon in the cylin-
dcrs, the carburetor requires read
justment, perhaps connecting rod
bearings require adjustments brakes
and steering gear require adjust
ments, and certain parts such as the
springs and sheet metal parts may
require removal or rattles. In the
majority Of cases all of these de-
fects can be remedied and the whole
car put in good working order with
out any diSmantling whatever and
at a very slight cost. With modern
decarbonizing methods. the motorist
should more than ever avoid having
his car taken apart unnecessarily.
The owner OF a comparatively new
car is advised not 10 permit a gen
eral overhauling, at least until ad-
vised TO do so by an entirely disin-
terested automobile man of un-
doubted competence. If trouble
arises, he should Immediately seek
unbiased expert advice as 10 where
the trouble lies, if ne can't deter
mine this for himself. When the
seat OF the existing defects have be
come known he should instruct his
repairman TO rectify them and not
TO disassembIe or otherwise tamper
with other parts Of the car.
Getting Repairs Done.
An intimate knowledge of motor
car mechanism, the functions of the
various units and the attention
which they require is a very effective
aid toward economy in operation.
All of this may sound elaborate,
however. if one will carefully study
his instruction book he can readily
master these features and overcome
inefficient operation and costly re-
pairs which is almost sure 10 char