South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-08-01


Have had considerable trouble, and
can't seem 10 get proper adjustment
for the present day gasoline. Will
you please advise CD IL a modern
carburetor il necessary TO get good
results o. What make is best
suited TO this car? j. K.
The service manager states that
no change should be necessary. In
other words, no other make Is being
installed on this model. Why not
take the matter up with the Scheb-
Ter Co. and perhaps they can solve
your trouble with little II any ex
pense. Would suggest your doing
this first, before changing carbure-
tors.
Motor Department: II am in
trouble with my 1920 Ford sedan. II
runs all right while l run fast, but
when | am on hard pull or starting
IL seems like the valves stick and
don't hardly pull. II jerks also. /
tested all spark plugs and found
them all right. j. Il.
Make sura that all your spark
plugs are sound, clean and properly
adjusted. Also that coils are cor
reCtly adjusted and the points clean.
Don't forget to keep the timer clean
inside and outside. Remove and in
speCt the plug just above the fly
wheel and keep this clean. IL the
valves stick, you will have no COM
preston in one or more cylinders
when cranking by hand. Loss of
compression in one or more cylinders
will cause all your trouble.
Motor Department:-Abo eight
months ago 1 purchased a new car
and have been having trouble with
the generator and relay from the
beginning. The points in the relay
would not come together without
racing the motor. About three
weeks ago 1 dressed and adjusted
the points and cleaned and smoothed
the commutator, so that they
worked perfect for about two weeks
then the points would not come to-
gether even when the motor was
raced. but when 1 push the points
together the ammeter shows charg-
ing correctly. When / came in from
my last trip the points stuck to-
gether after the motor stopped, and
l had to pull them apart. Please
tell me where the trouble is, or ad-
SUBSCRIBER.
You fail 70 mention the make OF
the electrical system and according
ly It is difficult TO suggest a rem
edy Look out for loose connections
OF any foreign matter that may
cause short circuits. or prevent
proper generation OF current. I'm
less you are thoroughly familiar with
the electrical units and their work
ings. would suggest that you take
your car 10 some good service man
for an inspection and adjustment.
If this is not possible. then write the
manufa cturer, but do not fail 10 give
full information regarding the type,
model, etc.
Motor Department: - My engine
will not throttle down properly when
release the acceleratOr pedal and
/ have 10 hook my toe under II 10
prevent the engine from racing
am afraid 10 experiment for fear of
making matters worse and my in
struction book does not help me.
What would you advise? K. L.
OIL all the moving parts. Prob
ably more mechanical troubles on a
car are due 10 lack of fabrication
than all other causes combined.
Move the accelerator pedal and fol-
low along from pc Mt 10 point, put
ting oil wherever there is a bearing.
Also increase the tension OF spring
which closes the throttle when foot
is taken of.
Motor epLrtment:-I have 1915
model Ford car. il has been run
1900 miles and very well cared for.
II has developed a miss. l had all
the mechanics in reach OF me TO look
Il over. and some have worked on
II and IL still misses. II does not
miss regular. Sometimes IL misses
every fourth time and sometimes IL
will fire eight or more times before
n misses. | have had new piston
rings nut in. the valves ground. car
bon cleaned out, new carouretor put
on. the coils adjusted and tested, a
new roller in the commutator, and
new wire from cOmmutator TO coil
post new wire from plugs 10 coil
post. new spark plugs. When
throttled down very slow II has jerk.
does not run smooth. II does not
puu quite so good as before. One
mechanic said the trouble was In
the second cylinder from the radia-
tor. One said that was character
istic OF a gas engine. X. r.
You seem TO have done most every
thing needed 70 eliminate an ordin-
arv miss. Il Is possible that you
have overlooked the source or cur
rent. namely. the magnets. Weak
magnets will cause loss OF power
and missing. The result is the same
as a weak battery. Borrow a good
storage battery and note any change.
A defective coil viii also cause the
same trouble. Change the coils
around and note whether the miss
changes to another cylinder.
Motor Departm ent.-HoW can
tell II my battery is getting weak?
have no means OF testing IL, and
would not know how 70 use II II l
had. 7 put in distilled water every
two weeks 20 keep the plates COW
cred and watch the ammeter 10 ses
that il indicates charge" whenever
the engine is running. but. like most
Deople. I have simply been running
my car and trusting TO luck. G. Y.
Bv All means get hydrometer
and have the dealer show you how
10 use il. When the float rests at
t175 II shows battery Is discharged,
either because OF excessive use OF
starter or lights. II II indicates
975 70 1900. the battery is charged.
- YOU have no hydrOmeter. the fact
MAT the starter does not crank the
engine rapidly. or that the lights do
not burn with their usual brilliancy.
would indicate a weak battery; but