South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-11-14
MOTORISTS PROBLEMS
Solved for Readers of
The NeWS-TimeS
By William II. SteqCart, Jr.
By William II. Ste1oart, Jr.

DV ~ ktLLLAfIE II
Motor Department have had
trouble from the very beginning
with the brake dragging on the
right hand wheel 7 thought J had
70 fixed but after running "A few
miles tho brake drum becomes so
hot that you cannot touch 10 with
your hand. The trouble seems % be
with the expansion or foot brake.
Have YOU had trouble Ike this be-
fore. and can you offer remedy
Assuring you that I shall appreciate
an explanation or any helpful adj
vice IN overcoming these difdcultics,
4 am. J.. T.
Would suggest that YOU make
careful inspection and note whether
the brake drum ls properly conferred
or tho wheel. II the drum o. a little
om center there viii Doe n constant
drag which can hardly boz overcome
10y adjustment. The brakes used
must be conferred on the axle nous
ing and then the brake drum must
be conferred on the wheel. BY check
ing these YOU VIII undoubtedly To-
cate The source OF the trouble Also
be sure that the brake shoes re-
lease az they should. Sometimes
complish this and prevent the
brakes from dragging.
Motor Department. have been
n constant reader OF your columns
and know you have helped others
through them. You VIII oblige me
very much If YOU will answer the
following questions: ID Does a
generator such as those used in
connection with a starter charge
the storage battery. or does 81 only
furnish power for lights2 o. II IL
only furnishes power for lights IS
IL necessary to have a storage bat
tery connected 10 Il? CD When
does the gas have more time 20
burn. with spark retarded or ad-
vanced? 60 Please give the order
Of firing Of four and six cylinder
engines. y II
% The generator charges the
battery and II supplies the lights II
lights are on and engine is running
some Of the generator current goes
directly 20 the lights e. II there
were no battery the lights would
rise and fall as the motor speeded
up or slowed down and would go
out altogether when the engine
stopped. CD Gas has moro time to
burn in the cylinders with advanced
spark. II spark is retarded too far
the exhaust valve opens so soon that
there IS very little power stroke
3. or /. 3. 4, 2. For six cylinders
1. I. 2. s. 3. 5. or l. 5. 3. 6. 2. 4.
Motor Recently
have had trouble shifting gears.
They grind terribly and I can find
no way 10 prevent Il. Can the
trouble he in the clutch? Recently
when I tried TO put neatsfOot oil on
u 7 found II would not turn readily
and 1 had 10 crank the engine 10
reach every part OF the leather Ny
car IS a 1917 with leather covered
cone clutch and selective gear-set.
4. J.
Possibly the clutch bearing has
seized. that is the center bearing
has run dry and so turns the tly
wheel. There should be a grease
cup TO force grease into this bear
ing but II may have been neglected
or may be ciogged. Inject o. at
this point II the result is not sat
isfactory, you probably will have 20
remove the clutch for repairs
Motor Department. wish 10 use
a Buick sedan N the city and wish
TO know a. there was a device in
stalled on the rear for signalling
traffic. which could be operated
from the drivers seat without using
the hand as a signal. would this
comply with the driving regulations
OF the city7 The car would be cold
If window was left open. A reply
TO this query would be appreciated
G. S.
There are several such devices
which meet the requirements OF rhe
traffic regulations, but we caiInot
recommend any particular appar-
atus. Consult your local dealer.
Motor Department. have g
Ford car with the usual lighting
system run by tho magnetic. II IS q
nuisance 10 have the light go out
whenever the engine stops. Could ]
have battery connected up IN such
a way that I could throw the switch
when the engine stopped and keer
the lights going7 Would Il be pos
sible 10 have an automatic switch "a
take care OF Il. so that ] would not
have 20 bother with it2 Could the
magnetic charge the battery? OWN
Err.
The battery must be charged
from direct current, whereas the
magnetic makes alternating current
An automatic switch would net De
at all desirable. as 10 would easily
get out OF order. The switch on ~,
dash would have 10 be replaced b,
q two-way switch. the best and