The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-18
SOME USEFUL TIPS
ON FORD IGNITION
Owners Should Get Acquaint-
ed With Their Cars,
Says Expert.
By II. CLIFFORD BRoKAw,
West Side Y. NJ. G. A.

a.
There are some things about the Ford
IGNITION the owner should know. II
might necessitate rather more electrical
knowledge than the ordinary individual
possesses TO enable one to master the
generating part of the ignition system
bu, at any rate II Is hidden away
where the owner is not likely to NEEDLE
with IT, There Is enough that can DO
mastered, however. to give the owner
A pretty good line on his ignition sys-
ten, and enable him to keep II in order
under ordinary conditions.
The Ford Is one Of the few cars to-
day which employs a magnetic for gen.
Grating the spark for ignition. This
magnetic does not follow conventional
lines, being built into the hywheel. II
consists Of sixteen horseshoe magnets
which revolve with the fywheel and
m equal number OF small fixed coils
or electro magnets. The horseshoe mag
nets are fastened to the fiywheel and
they serve through their weight as a
stabilizer for the engine as well as for
generating electricity.
The current generated is alternating
and is used for lights as we'll as igni-
ton. II is of such low voltage or pres
sure that It will not jump the gap In
the spark plugs and Is. therefore,, led
whrough an induction coil, where the
this gap dnd give the desired spark.
There is an induction coll for each
cylinder. That the spark may occur
at the right time there Is commu-
tator, or spark timer, which serves to
send the current through the coil at the
exact moment the spark Is desired, the
contact point In the commutator COM
plotting the circuit and providing a path
for the current.
fu taA Nha a
end Of the engine and Is operated by the
cam shaft. II should have a few drops
Of oil occasionally. an oil cup being To-
Gated conveniently for this purpose. The
body OF the commutator is of fibre. q
non-conductor of electricity, and in this
are set metal contact pieces. A roller
hxed to the calm shaft revolves inside
the commutator and whenever 1t touches
one OF the metal pieces a current is sent
through the coil, giving a spark in the
proper cylinder. OF course when the
roller touches the fibre between the metal
pieces no current passes and there Is no
spark.
II this timer is allowed to run dry the
metal will wear and small particles viii
mix with the grease and form a paste
which Is distributed over the fibre, max
ing a rather uncertain path for the cur
cur at the wrong time. and the engine
will FIRE irregularly. The remedy is to
take of the cover and with knife and
sandpaper scrape the inside of the ring
until all OF the metal Is removed from
the fibre. Where convenient this may be
done quicker by putting the ring in a
lathe.
When the circuit Is completed in the
timer and current flows through the in
daction coil IL operates n vibrator or
top of the coil, under a removable cover
The spark actually occurs in the cylin
der when the vibrator points open. anc
this means that when the vibrator
buzzes there Is a stream of sparks oc
curing at the spark gap of the plug
II cylinder should mistire. it Is easy t.
determine which one Is at fault by re
moving the cover from the coil box ant
holding down with the fingers three o.
the vibrators II the other one buzzei
but the cylinder does not fire there Is al
most sure to be trouble with the plug
which may be fouled with an accumula
ton of carbon or may have a cracked
porcelain. or the spark plug may be to-
large or too small OF course, lack o
compression due 10 leaking valv
would have the same effect.
Wires leading to the spark plug ar
connected TO the terminals OF the coil 81
the inside of the dash and it is easy f
determine which coil gives current L
No. cylinder and the others in order
II the vibrator does not buzz it ma,
be found that the points are stuck TO
gether, or it may be that there Is poo
contact between the roller and meta
sector OF the timer. or the wire leadinl
from coil TO timer may be loose at eithe
terminal. or It may be broken. Some
times the fan belt cuts one of the wire
or breaks the insulation. II the Ursula
ton is broken and the wire makes con