The Washington herald., 1919-04-27
TIMELY HINTS
FOR MOTORISTS
Spring Is Season for Clean
up; Various Methods
Are Given.

NutlucE INC plCdSuIC5 Vi hhlAClPaIOh
are greater than those of realization.
We need not enter into this here, but
certainly the present season, with its
anticipations Of the Joyous time just
ahead. is not the least pleasurable
Of the motor car owners year. Though
mud and rain hold the world in thrall
just now. there Is a golden radiance
Beginning to steal into the sunlight
that presages the glorious days that
viii soon come-long, happy days on
the open road, with a whole summer
Of pleasure under the steering wheel
ahead But II the full enjoyment Of
these coming days Of spring Is to be
realized the car owner must give his
vehicle some careful attention at the
present moment.
First Consideration.
The first question that must be
decided in undertaking the spring
overhaul is whether there is any
vital part of the mechanism that
requires attention which the owner
does not feel able to give. Does
the rear axle need overhauling? Is
the transmission good for another
season? Do the engine bearings re-
quire adjustment? II the car must
go to the service station for some
replacement or repair take II today.
The repair men are going to be
tremendously busy this year. and
unless you get your job under way
now you may be without the car
when the good weather begins a few
days. perhaps. from now.
As a beginning of the work that
you intend to do yourself make a
careful list of all parts and equip
ment that you are going to need.
Gather the various things you ex-
pect to use. cotter pins. nuts. bolts.
valve grinding compound. patches.
cement. waste gaskets grease,
graphite. oils. kerosene, valve
spring litter. etc.
With the materials all gathered
and ready to hand. the first step in
ovehauling is a thorough cleaning.
This should include not only the
body. but the upholstery and the
running gear underneath the We
hicIe. The engine should be thor
oughly cleaned. all gummy deposits
being removed with kerosene. All
oil compartments, crankcase. gear
set. differential. etc. must be drain
ed of their old oil, and after being
flushed out with kerosene should be
reflled with fresh lubricant.
Begin with Engine.
1t is best to begin with the engine
and gradually work back through
the mechanism. Unless the cylind-
ers have recently had carbon re-
moved this is the first Step. OF
course scraping is the only really
thorough method of cleaning out
carbon. but the oxygen method is
fairly satisfactory and will have to
be resorted to in case the engine is
not of the removable head type and
the owner is in a hurry. Bar these
two ways. there is the carbon
loosening compound, which is often
very satisfactory. but care must be
used in purchasing this agent to get
one made by a reputable concern, as
there are some of these on the mar
ket today which are utterly worth
less. Finally. there is the chain
method. in which a special chain
with steel links is dropped through
the spark plug hole and the engine
is run. The chain is thrown about
the combustion chamber and knocks
the carbon deposits OF the walls.
The carbon having been removed,
the next step is to grind the valves
For this operation a valve spring litter
Is needed and some good grinding
compound. A grinding tool is ex-
tremely handy for the work. but e
screwdriver may be used. To grind a
valve the spring is first removed. the
passage into the cylinder first being
stopped up with cloth to preven:
bits Of carbon and grit getting into
the combustion chamber. With the
valve freed the engine Is turned over
until the tappet is at its lowest point
of movement. for otherwise the valve
will not seat. II the valves are badly
pitted use coarse grinding compound
at first. Spread a little Of the COM
pound on the face of the valve and
then place the valve in its usual posi-
tion and gently oscillate it with the
grinding tool Grind until the valve
and its seat are Of an even gray color,
with no black spots. Then remove the
valve and clean it thoroughly with
kerosene. cleaning the seat and parts
adjacent at the same time. Insert the
valve before removing the next. so az
to be sure that each Of them gets back
on its proper seat.
With this work done the cylinder
head should be put back. 1t is not
advisable to use the old gasket in
reassemblinE. a new gasket should
be ready to install. The seat should
be covered with little shellac and
then be put in place. After apply
ing the cylinder head tighten the
nuts. drawing down first one a lit
tie and then the opposite one. Do
not draw one nut down all the way
and so on around. as this may
spring the cylinder head.
The inlet manifold will next re-
quire a little attention. The gasket
here will probably need replacement
and sheet asbestos will be used
literally covered with graphite
Finally give the engine a general
Tightening up Use the wrench on
all nuts; tighten the pump packing
nut IL pump is used. Give the fan
any adjustment it may need. Tight
en- all the ignition wire terminals.
See that the magnetic. If one is used.
- tightly bolted down. Do the same
Tor the generator. Tighten up the
radiator holding down nuts.
The starting and lighting system
Sfll require an overhauling, and this
rad best be delegated to the service
station Likewise the ignition sys-
en- If II has been showing signs of
Internal disorganization; let the sx-
Derts at the service station give II an
'verhauling. About all the average
ssr owner can do Is to clean the in
;errupter mechanism with a little ker-
,sene and then give all moving parts
few drops OF OIL
Next IN line comes the steering sys-
EN-. flay should be taken up in the
inkase and all the joints should be
'acked with grease.
The clutch next demands attention.
II Is OF the cone type. the leather