South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-18

standard makes OF shock abs0rbers
relieve tho jolts while running IN
loaded. or would they be Ike the
springs already or the car-too stih
20 take effect unless one has 1000
pounds or so for q load ". @.
Il f. very difficult 20 obtain
shock absOrber that viii give the
desired result under varying condi-
lions. Trucks as a rule are not ex-
pected 20 be easy riding. Primarily
. the function Of a shock absorber is
10 check the rebound action or the
spring. and II you can install some
device TO accomplish this you VIII
improve matters We do not recon-
mend any accessories.
Motor Departmeut.-I have been
q reader Of your paper number OF
years. therefore wish 20 ask you 10
explain a problem for me. The
starter on my car runs the battery
down quickly. The generator builds
up the rest OF the battery, but does
not seem 20 furnish current to the
starter end. Can you tell me through
your query column what 70 do for
same? J. p.
The generator IS not supposed 70
furnish current for the starter except
through the battery. Perhaps you
use too much current trying 70 start
the engine. Ordinarily the engine
should start. after a few turns OF
the starter. but II YOU continue 70
crank with the starter then your
battery IS bound 70 become eX-
bausted The generator will re-
charge the battery normally, but II
cannot replace all the current wasted
by excessive cranking Of the engine.
Be sure that your generator charges
the battery at the proper rate when
driving II or 3 miles an hour. If
yOr do not have an ammeter 20
register the current It would be adj
visaiole TO install one.
Motor Department:-Wi ap-
aparent cause I have within a short
while broken three right hand rear
axlss on my car Overland model
SSB-1916). Can you suggest a
- probable cause. how determined and
how remedied2 Early answer
through your department will be ap-
preciated. 2. II.
Undoubtedly you VIII find the axle
housing cracked on that side near the
point where the spring is anchored.
This will cause an additional strain
on tho shaft at every turn and cause
IL to break. Would suggest that you
have n new tube riveted IN place.
When the axle housing and bearings
are in good repair and proper align
ment you should have no further
trouble.
Motor Department.-Win appreci-
ate very much II you will answer
these questlOns:--(a) I have a 1918
twin Harley Davidson that is in first
class condition mechanically. but to-
day acts very peculiar. With spark
fully advanced II runs o. K, but on
full retard. 10 fires only on cylinder
No. 2: never fires on No. 7 except
on advance. Interrupter is good,
contacts open Is thousandths OF an
fnch, are not pitted or dirty, timed
as by factory marking, new arma-
ture, condenser. brushes. cables and
spark Plugs. What IS the 'troubleE
(bl I also have an American Six.
with cut-out open Il has sharp
metallic sound. seemingly once 20
firing six times, but with cut-Out
closed no unnatural sound occurs.
DO YOU think anything IS loose2 Also
when running from 30 70 45 miles
an hour I hear fairly regular
sharp. cracking about six times, then
a. moment elapses, then six more
sharp cracks. It sounds like high
tension current jumping across the
wires. but engine never misses,
cranks easily and has all sorts OF
power What is the trouble? Cc)
The starter IS sluggish on starting in
the morning and once in a while at
other times. Circuit from battery
20 battery tests o. x. Brushes and
switches o. X Battery tests Z v.
1900 gravity. What causes this?
Cd) Do leak proof rings for pistOns
OF the double seal type have any
merit over ordinary diagonal cut
rfugs? Ce) Is II proper TO take up
bearing by reducing SHIN thickness
on crankshaft and connecting rods of
a car that has only run 10000
miles. or should they be scraped and
blue-htted? Does cutting new seats
or valves and valve seats have any
merit2 Answer appreciated. II. r.
(a) Make sure that the interrupter
points open 25 thousands Of an inch
and see that this occurs for both
interruptions. One side OF the in
terrupter may be out a little and
cause the trouble mentioned so
check each carefully CD Perhaps
the Cut-out valve causes the click
at certain times. III the current
Jumped the safety gap YOU would
notice the engine misdre The
trouble cannot be serious, since YOU
hear and observe nothing when the
. rut-out IS closed. Sometimes a slug
fn the exhaust manifold will cause
an annoying click under varying con
ditions. CO. A loose or carroded
battery terminal viii cause the
trouble OF course. when the en-
zine is cold YOU must expect greater
resistance caused by the chilled lu-
bricating oil Then again a stOr-
aee battery Is somewhat less ef-
Hcient when cold. CD The more
carefully pistOns are made 10 seal
the Joints the better the result
There are many kinds on the
market. but no particular make can
be recommended through these col
umns (e) Slightly worn bearings
NAV be adjusted by removing
Ehims II the shaft and bearings
have been neglected then more care
fuI attention Is required All new
bearings must be scraped and fitted
carefully. II the valves are badly
s.s.a o~ r--Co.-aH fhnw should IA