The Jasper news., 1919-03-27
TEST OF IGNITION SYSTEM IS IMPORTANT
IN LOCATING GASOLINE ENGINE TROUBLE

in good shape by disconnecting the
wire from the igniter block and snap
ping 1t across the corner of the en-
CINE casting or the end Of the other
wire leading from the coil. But even
though this gives good spark It
does not necessarily mean that the
spark is given in the cylinder when
the engine is turned over. It may
be that the points of the electrodes
inside the cylinder do not touch each
other when they should or are not
making good contact, because car
bon, oil, dirt, ETC., hive accumulated
between these points. Therefore, IL
a good spark occurs when the wire Is
snapped across part of the engine,
crank the engine until the movable
electrode Is released and allowed to
fly back.
Contact Not Being Made.
If one Is not sure just when the
points of the electrode should be touch.
ing, the engine may be cranked very
slowly for two fun revolutions while
the end of the wire is repeatedly
snapped across its connection on the
electrode. If no spark can be OBJ
tanned at any position of the electrode,
II Is evident that contact is not being
made by the points inside the cylin-
der Uhis Is in case the other wire is
grounded directly to the engine).
Sometimes the other wire is fastened
to piece Of metal insulated from the
engine, but which touches part Of the
engine for an instant when the spark
should occur in the cylinder. In this
case, If n spark can be obtained by
bringing the ends of the two wires into
contact it should be determined wheth-
err the insulated piece Is making con-
tact with the engine properly.
If no spark Is obtained at the plug
or iGniter block when tested as d-
rected, it will, of course, be neces.
sary to look over the electrical system
in order to ascertain what is wrong.
The electrical systems Of various en-
gines differ considerably, and no def
mite instruction can be given for diff
fercnt makes, but some general points
will he mentioned. First of all see
that the switch Is In starting position.
Much time has been lost in thousands
of cases by trying to start the en-.
| CINE with the switch Off.
| Next, look over all wire connections
to see that they are tight and clean.
If the engine starts on battery Of
dry cells see that all connections be-
tween the cells are tight and that no
short circuits are caused by the me-
tnllic portions of the cells touching with
other. or by metal connection with
the engine or by tools lying on the
cells. etc. The small knurled nuts on
dry cells frequently loosen from VI
bratlOn and thus interrupt the whole
Ignition system.
Testing Battery Strength.
1t Is good thing to keep an nm.
meter handy for use In testing the
strength Of the cells of battery. In
testing with an ammeter II is best to
discard all cells that do not test over
II amperes. A new cell should test
between 20 and 80 amperes. If no
ammeter is available crude test can
be made by striking the end of wire
connected TO one end cell of the bnt-
terry against the first connection on
the cell ut the other end.
DO not keep the wire In contact
with the cell for more than IN In.
slant. Doing so will weaken the bat
terry, but by swapping it quickly across
the edge of the knurled nut q few
times and noting the sparks, one can
ascertain whether the battery is pro.
ducing a good current BY making this
test few times with a battery which
is In working condition. one can easily
learn about how much of spark
should be expected.
Oil Causes Trouble.
Sometimes too much oil will cause
trouble by accommodating on the con-
tact points In the breaker box. 1t Is
usually easy to examine these points
and see If they have oil on them; nre
rough or pitted, or not opening prop
erly. If oily, rinse with a little gas
oline and wipe dry.