The Washington herald., 1920-04-25
SPRING MOTOR
REPAIR NEEDED
Time Is Here to Give Car
General Overhauling
For Season.
WORK SYSTEM SHOWN
Each Part Demands Special
And Careful Atten-
ton.
WORK SYSTEM SHOWN

Spring still tarries somewhat coy
ly in the background and the wise
motor car owner will use the few
days or weeks. as the case may be,
in enforced idleness to get his car
in such shape that 1t will be ready
for the strenuous service just ahead.
The only satisfactory method OF
handling the spring overhaul prob
lem Is to begin at the front end OF
the car, the engine, and work back
ward, taking each unit in turn and
giving IL the atten ntion it needs. II
the engine has a detachable head.
the first thing to do is to remove
the head for an inspection of the
Interior. Perhaps the carbon may
need removal. Perchance the bear
ingS need attention. II this latter.
the oil pump must come OF. Now
the entire interior of the engine is
laid bare. First examine the bear
ings. both main and rod. to see IL
they need taking up. If so. do the
work, taking care not to get the
bearings too tight The play must
be taken up in such a way that both
sides are equally free to move.
Bearings Must Fit.
II II is necessary to refit the main
bearings. the crankshaft ought
really to be removed. This, how
ever, is beyond te ability of the
average car owner. To take up the
road bearings calls for scraping,
and happily this may be done with
out removing the rods. Suppose we
describe the operation briefly: Take
of the bearing can and remove a
thin shim- Next smear the shaft
with lampblack and oil, replace the
rod. tighten the cap bolts carefully
and turn the engine over several
times. NeNt take of the bearing cap
once more, rub the part with a cloth
and note the black spots that ap-
pear on it. These spots should be
scraped down with a scraper II ii
is possible to get the whole rod out
SO much the better. because with
the rod out IT is possible to treat
the upper half of the bearing in the
same way. In most modern engines
the rod may be taken out either
through the top or the bottom OF
the engine, but in older engines the
bottom is too big to go through the
opening.
Always remember that a properly
fitted bearing will not be so tight
that the rod or shaft cannot bG
turned, but at the same time il mus;
be a snug fit. This condition will
be indicated by the distribution OF
black spots. all over the surface
after the lampblack and oil test de,
scribed above.
Having finished with the bearings
the car owner will next give the
fabrication system a careful over
hauling. In the case OF the plain
splash system the lower half of the
crankcase should be mopped out
with cloth. the old oil having been
thoroughly drained out If the lu-
brication system employs pipes and
strainers, Kerosene should be forced
through the piping and the screens
be taken out and cleaned.
Valves Demand Attention.
While the attention is still focused
on the engine, it may be found that
the piston rings need renewal, oil
that the cylinders have been scored
II the latter is the case regrinding
or reboring must be resorted to, ac-
eording to the condition.
Next the valve system will cal
for attention. The valves should be
removed and ground. While they
are out inspect them carefully for
warped heads and worn or bent
stems. Each valve should be fitted
In its guide. and if there Is too much
play a bushing should be installed
in the guide or else u new valve
should be fitted with an oversize
stem.
The cooling system will undoubt
edly need a good cleaning out and
the rubber hose connections should
be renewed. To clean out the sys.