New-York tribune., 1919-04-20
Not Yet Has the Ideal of a
Carefree Automobile, as
Far as Lubricant Is Con-
cerned, Been Attained
By H. Cliff ord Brokaw

boards, say-which, dirty and neglected
would bring shame if exposed to the
light? Is "out of sight, out of mind
the unwritten rule in caring for your
car? If so, there is no better time than
the spring for twice-over.
The past winter has been so mild that
it has been possible to run all the time,
even in the country hereabouts, and
more than the usual amount of mud
and dust and grease has collected
doubtless, in the hidden parts Of the
running gear beneath the car body. Be
sure, if this Skeleton" is allowed to
remain, it's ghost will rise to confuse
you when you try to get some one to
take the car off your hands in part
payment of a new one.
The wise purchaser of used car
looks in the out -the-way places first
to determine the condition and his
offered price will depend largely upon
what he finds there. 1t will be of no
use to point to the engine compression
if the steering gear is worn, the
knuckles loose, the brake linkage COW
cred with mud and grease of long
accumulation and the other parts show
ing continued neglect. These things
and not the engine or the outside paint
received.
First the Steering Gear
Probably the first place to be in
spected would be the steering knuckle.
Now this is not revolving part and
some might think the wear would be
slight. Not so. for there is heavy
load and q continual motion, even on a
straight road and the collection of dust
there is easy and sure. Not all drivers
have learned that constant supply of
heavy grease is needed here to pre-
vent rapid wear The grease cups
should be screwed down every time oil
is put in the engine. In screwing down
the cups turn them until little grease
Is forced out around the bearing and
then wipe off this excess, taking with
II the dirt which otherwise might have
worked into the wearing surface Fill
the cup when 1t cannot be turned down
further. This part is in sight and is
more likely to receive attention than
some others and 1T is important. In
sight also are the spring shackle bolts,
which usually have grease cups and
need about the same attention as the
steering knuckles.
Sometimes the grease holes become
ciogged and must be cleaned out; occa-
slonally car will come from the fac
tory with enamel clogging the holes so
That grease cannot be forced throuoh
1t is necessary to drive out the pins
from the shackles and clean out the
holes. Motion is slight but continuous
ana snackies have been neglected until
they wore through, letting the hodv
down on the axle Neglect NAV also
produce a mysterious squeak, hard to
locate and seeming to jump from one
place to another. Be wise in time
Chder the floor of the car are a mum
per OF running parts requiring atten-
ton frequently. Careful instructions
LOT the care and fabrication of the
clutch, transmission gear case and dif.
Ieiehtial gear case are given in the
manufacturers instruction book which
should be followed and need not bo rn.
pea1ed mere. IT is we'll to remember
however, that in the gear cases-both
TRANSMISSION and differential-that toc
mucn and too heavy lubricant will eat
up horsepower and the lighter and the
less that can be used with safety the
more power will be transmitted to the
drive wheels. way
Not Too Much Lubricant
Inc usual rule in the transmission
gear case is to have the lubricant iust
.ese! WIN the bottom of the shaft. but
iH i, aoS,se that only enough be usec
70 allow the smallest gear to din Yor
nave seen the gear in operation NJ 49,
auto snow with the grease we'll fn;no
le +h Case' Dut perhaps you did not notice
ttnee there was one and one-ba1
horsepower motor to turn if
ae oiHerentlal, likewise. does M,
80 go more lubricant than is required r.
81 ] S1l tne gears supply. Probable
II yo,, .r,0au5 a, 5,ac'urer's level is right. but
Sou ma that 1T is inclined to fret -,
tne axle housing and thence m 80 ~
nd 49, bands particularly on the riob,
.fy using slightly less in tho caaa
;o;n.e u sight there is the un;verse-
& si; rare cases two-where the~e
rnr ~aish' motion, but when the COW Is
| Is baa.es, !" ~, IS continuous and the 1os[
- neavy The entire power of ne ne ioao
- transmitted by it. Woderr or 'ne car car
h ihlsSe housings which are Silad 1orms iI,
;.s@Fy OIL which lasts a montb WIN
foS,o @ leptacements that often aI'a, 0+ba.
tar.t"@'c nave grease cups which naol -'.
very time the car is used az
arn,a ,, '.Ja.h also are the levers erd
and bra1os bso ior controlling the clutcf
motor 80 80. 'he accelerator, startina
which ara n,' ana any other device
m'.H are operated under there re- re
~1e hot used 80 continually bnt ness
% tnat they need attention ~ eNougr
or they VIII wear. ParticnlarI,v, 4uent!y
true OF the clutch and brake i;,S,. Is TINS
10 USED CHIEFLY in the citv nS VI
o stops give these rnemhers L
usdge' AS rule the oil squirt c, naie
lne only means Of fabrication for ~. thaal n
oeaIihgs and only a few drops nav s,es ~
Hpplico a. one time; this rneans q. jo' w
once a week for this lob, cvon "a, at leas
.hay mean donning the overaIIs =
getting under. 0'@iis ant
he Careful Of Brakes
sometimes the brake ljnkaoo =.
rear axle has not even an oil hoJa nl 'nt
o,i must be flowed around tho ;o;,', ,oir. 1 and
Siowed 70 work in. But II '"s ro,'s. "i'o ao
sa.. on wear In these lesser bearino 90 90
nay easily produce "a menac. '.afihKS
1d 1dIn you need Il brake you need T.
gadiy and the emergency nav 'eeo ~
eesige ~ n part giving way. Keen EN- eli Il
r. p@fes underneath the car clear .n,i
IuI,r;1.oin a.oin grease and dirt; keen thn.a
watc, ts"seo se properly and regularlv , and
small amafl .Dr wear. keplaccmentn os tha
wbem phrls ~ inezpensivc. egoecisIl', liz
Eyat. DieaE may mean danger ~ i,s.'
Dfmses, Mt, not breaks, il wbat x,'', 70 NE.
,9 "neei hubs, being tjyj,tiyv y"a want.
Il r,,ss mns'y 70 be neglected also yronea thons.a
:. mpst be apparent that the Ss"o, ..r lnough
w. nsaVy that frequent ;,.. .,s.c" 'S
snrI.n ~ sa os mad They ought 10 rnn 'toa sor
ssz months when properly nack ~ run M tor
mere iE no way Of teIIin. Dut
sns -, ln'se creme except inspection
~"a 'AsS sh'ui4 be looked over at revn-