South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-11
MOTORISTS PROBLEMS
Solved for Readers Of
The News-Times
By William, II. Ste1cart, Jr.

Motor DEPARTMENT. have 1919
model Ford. which has gradually de-
velOped a puzzling trouble and so
far 1 have been unable 10 find any
one who can explain IT, when run
ming with the throttle almost closed,
the car jerks or 'gallOps" badly. as
II a couple OF cylinders were miss
ing. or as II one cylinder was firing
prematurely. But IL the throttle IS
opened IL stops this and goes 20 pull
ing In good shape on all four cylin-
ders. Then having attained sufficient
speed II the throttle Is partially
closed this jumping again becomes
evident. although. OF course, rot so
much so as when running slow. This
trouble first showed Up very slightly
several months ago and has steadily
grown worse until - is now very
annoying. as I cannot run slow with
out a continual Jerking unless the
engine IL pulling rather hard. l
have put IN new rings, put on
new carburetOr. ground the valves
twice and substituted dry batteries
for the magnetic. but none OF these
things seems 10 have any effect.
Compression Is excellent on three
cylinders and fairly good on the
other. I have done about all know
20 do and will greatly appreciate
any advice you can give me. Q. II.
In order 20 have your engine pull
evenly at slow engine speed the com
preston IN all the cylinders must be
good A weak spark caused by weak
magnets will cause the trouble. Bor-
row a good storage battery and try
IL in order TO check up the cur
rent supply. Slightly defective or
carbonized spark plugs will cause
the missing at slow speed A worn
or dry timer with a weak spring will
also produce the same result. Check
up the valves and be sure that none
stick. At higher engine speed the
liability Of this is lessened. Fur
thermore, make sure there are no
air leaks In carburetor manifold or
gaskets.
Motor Department. purchased
a six-cylinder car last month which
runs very well in every way except
that It goes only five or six miles
10 a gallon OF gasoline. The people
OF whom / bought this car said
ought 70 get at least 10 miles, and
q friend OF mine who has a car
Identical with mine IS averaging
about II miles 20 the gallon His
engine also seems TO be much snap
pier than mine. Can you give me
an idea as TO why my motor is not
so good as hist K. NJ.
often motors which are exactly
the same In every way as far as
construction Is concerned are not at
all alike in the way they run. Your
friend may be n more skilful driver
than you. but IL is more likely that
your carburetor Is not adjusted
properly. The very fact that you
do not get the mileage you should
and that your engine is sluggish
suggests that the mixture is too rich.
assuming, OF course, that your car
is driven correctly. Would suggest
that you adjust the carburetor so
that more air shall be admitted 10
the mixture. a leaner mixture will
tend not only TO give better mileage
per gallons Of gasoline. but will also
be quicker to burn. thereby max
ing the engine livelier.
Motor Departm ent:-After the en-
CINE OF my car has been running
for a little while the carburetor runs
dry. but Il does this only when I
start up the engine the first time in
the day. Otherwise Il never gives
me any trouble on the road. either
driving or running idle. have
opened up the valve that shuts of
the gas from the carburetor a little
more. but 70 does not remedy the
trouble. have taken the carbure-
tor and piping apart. but find
nothing 10 stop the gas from flow
ing. Can you assist me in locating
the trouble II. s.
Would suggest that you inspect
carefully the float valve and pivots
the reduction IS only slight. never
theless, il can be noted.
Motor Department: - Some two
months ago you gave advice in
regard to stopping the squeaking OF
the fame. Would you kindly repeal
f.? By doing so you would greatly
oblige. NJ +.
A disagreeable squeak may b,
OF floats Also note whether foa'
sticks. IL is possible that overnight
corrosion Of the parts causes chem
TO stick for a time when first start.
ing. Since your trouble disappear,
after motor has been running "A few
minute this seems the most probahl,
cause OF your trouble.
Motor Department:-AIy car IA.
n large size exhaust pipe enterinl
the mufler and shows no appreci
able increase in power with the cut