South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-06
MOTORIST PROBLEM SOLVED
FOR NEWS-TIMES READERS
By VIM H. STEWART, JR


Motor Department The News
Times: 1 am working on a device
that attaches TO the brake rod so
as 10 flash a warning signal TO the
driver OF the car behind every time
the brakes are applied. A partial
movement OF the pedal will work it
so as to give warning when turning
At night IL will carry a red light
run from the storage battery? Do
you think the idea pract al? II
patented do you think there would
be much OF demand for it?
J. W.
Many such devices. including in
dicators TO show which way the car
is going to turn, have been tried
out and proved satisfactory. How
ever, there seems to be very few in
service. The demand for such a
device will depend greatly upon the
amount of advertising sou do.
Occasionally a small squirt OF gas
olene runs out of the air tube on
starting up. Sometimes / notice a
popping sound at the carburetor.
These troubles are OF recent devel-
opment. What would you advise
me TO do to stop this? NJ. E.
Evidently one of your inlet valves
leak, causing a popping back at the
carburetor and a pressure in the
vacuum tank which causes the gaso-
lene TO run at the top. Warm up
the engine, then stop II and test
if valve OF weak cylinder is touch
ing valve litter, holding it open.
1t should just clear il. When en-
CINE is cold a piece OF thick note
paper should pass between them
readily. If valve stem does not
touch litter, even when hot, remove
it and see If It is bent or needs
grinding.
Why is the two cycle engine no
| longer used for automobiles? It
must have merit or 1t would not be
used so extensively in motor boats.
What disadvantage does it possess
which render it impractical for au-
tomobile use? j. c.
Lack OF flexibility Grange Of
speed) and leakage of gas from the
crank case, causing weak power, are
causes for fits lack of popularity.
When throttled down the two cycle
engine loses crank case compress
sion and does not fill the cylinder
with enough gas to fire Leakage
of gas from the crank cases, due TO
worn bearings, causes the same eff
feet. This lack OF fleXibility is not
a disadvantage in a boat engine, as
a small boat usually runs at top
speed until its trip is ended. How
ever, such engines are not much
used over 10 horse power and never
on the large motor boats.
Motor Department, The News
Times: Is there any advantage in
having the clutch connected TO the
emergency brake and foot brake so
that setting the brake disconnects
the clutch and makes it easier to
stop the car? R. +.
1t is common practice to have the
emergency brake attached to the
clutch. so as to set one and discon-
meet the other. Do not have it at
tached TO the foot brake, however
as that would make it difficult to
start smoothly on hill.
Motor Department, The News
Times: Why is a fly wheel used or
an eight or twelve cylinder engine
can understand the need of one
on an engine with only one cylin-
der, as there is a long interval be-
tween power strokes, but where the
strokes overlap l should think the
fly wheel would be superiuous.
G. T.
The fly wheel is needed TO tone
down the vigor of the power stroke:
and so give a smoother running en-
CINE. The gas engine runs by &
series of heavy shocks on the cranl
shaft. These would be bad for the
transmission and unpleasant for th'
passengers. The fly wheel tones
down the force Of the explosions be
cause of its inertia and stores vi
part of TN force in doing So Dur
ing the weak part OF the stroke Thu
power is returned TO the engine anC
so makes the transmission of fore,
much more even. The fly whee
also helps in cranking TO overcom,
the resistance OF the compression
stroke. II is OF great help wheI
one or more cylinders miss explo
sions as it tides over the deaC
period. just as it would on a singl'
cylinder engine. The weight OF tn
fly wheel is not increased with tn,
multiple cylinder engine, but mad
very much lighter, showing that i
is not so important, although still
necessary.
Motor Department: Will Vol
kindly tell me If the auto world Ia
any kind of a lock for an auto an'
where one could secure the as
sistance of an honest promoter 70
such an invention. Awaiting reply
am.
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