New-York tribune., 1920-02-29

| and ltS care ana upkeep. OLneE ar
ticles are to follow.
Possibly there may Do something
more useless about an auto than q self
starter which will not start--either the
car or itsel{-but do not happen to re-
call what It is. 1t does balk at times
snd it follows, therefore, that it is
necessary to learn how to start q self
starter when pushing the pedal has no
effect. However. merely because press
ing the pedal does not do the trick, 1t
we're we'll to remember. first of all,
that does not mean that the whole
works is out Of kilter.
1t is on record that ono fellow, who
found the pedal did not start things
and concluded the whole thing was bad,
was amazed when q mechanic next day
pulled up the pedal, which had be-
come stuck so that it did not close the
switch, and then pushed 1t down with
or intuition, or bunch. should govern
your hunt for starter troubles.
Taking 1t for granted that You have
followed previous advice and have pa
t.ently read the instruction book on
the starter and have sought out the
wiring on the car so that you know the
layout and Just how the motor starts
and how attached to the engine crank
shaft, we may safely proceed The con-
nection may be through q gear on tho
hywheeI or by silent chain with over
running clutch on the forward end Of
the crank shaft, usually arranged TO
release the motor as soon as the en-
CINE starts. II the system is single
unit the chain drive Is probable.
Where the generator for replen.shing
the battery Is separate unit it may be
driven by chain, gear or otherwise,
sometimes with a coupling where the
ignition device is built into the gener-
stor Inspection of your car has re-
vealed to you Its peculiarities: Be
sure to get it through your head Just
how the current travels back and forth
from battery to starter and from gen.
orator to battery, through regulator,
cut-out, switch and charge and dis
charge indicator.
The regulator Is TO prevent a too
high charging rate by introducing a
resistance which operates when the
rate Is too high. The regulator Is
sealed 50 that you cannot get at 1t.
II anything is wrong with It an ex-
make connection with the battery when
the generator produces q higher volt
age than that of the battery, and to
break the connection when the gen.
orator voltage falls below that Of the
battery.
The chief troubles In starting sys-
tens come from:
Loose. short -circuited or broken
wires.
Brushes stuck or worn 50 that they
do not make good contact with the
commutators of motor and gener-
ator.
Dirty nr M IN faPa
Battery run down. because Of
greater use of current than charg-
ing capacity of generator.
Mechanical disorder in starting
switch, cut-out or regulator, or in
the connection between starting mo-
tor and engine, or between gener-
ator and engine.
II the starting motor will not turn
when the pedal is pressed, first see if
there is current In the battery; If the
terminals are tightly fastened; If the
light on motor terminals and If brushes
make good contact. With the pedal
pressed test for current at motor ter
minals with voltmeter. If q good
voltage shows the trouble Is some
where In. the motor. If the brushes
are clean and make good contact and
no wires are loose or broken, the
trouble must be in the winding and
requires the services OF an expert.
IL the motor rotates but does not
start the engine, examine the gear OF
properly. Determine if the overrun-
ming clutch slips. If the motor cranks
the engine but the latter does not
start, the trouble is in the engine, not
the starting system. The next article
vii deal with such troubles.
Il, when the engine Is running, the
indicator does not show "charge," first
examine the cut-out to see if it is
closed and then the wiring between
cannot look inside the regulator, you
can test for current at the generator
terminals with voitmeter, and where
;he wires are attached to the regu.
lstor and where they leave that de
vice. also at the switch and at the am
meter or charge indicator, to determine
4 current is flowing. Thus you car
ocats the points between which the
break in circuit occurs II all lights
are burning they may consume more
current than the generator is produc
lag. II the Indicator shows "dis
charge" when the lights are on anc
.he engine stopped and does not show
charge when the engine is running
~ ordinary road speed, either the gen.
orator or the regulator needs attention
oy an expert,
II on inspection you do not find thu
cut-out closed. close 1t by hand for a
moment while the engine is running
and see II it remains closed. 1t may
nave been stuck, or the generator may
nave needed a slight current from the
battery to renew what is called resid
asl magnetism. especially if the ca,
mas been laid up long time. Remem.
Der this after the long idle spell be.
cause Of this winters road conditions
The chief thing to remember in look
ing for troubles is that by eliminating
one part OF the system after another
soon the search will narrow down to 8
small bit OF wiring or a single device
where It is comparatively easy to 10.
cate the trouble. Always work with
me wiring diagram Of the car handy
Tor reference, at least until you have