Bisbee daily review., 1920-06-13

Possibly there may be something more useless about a motor car than a self starter which will not start either the car or itself-but it is diff ficult to tell what that may be. It does balk at times. and it is neces- sary to learn how to start a self starter when pushing the pedal has no effect.
 The chief trouble in starting sys- tems comes from loose, short cir cuited or broken wires, brushes stuck or worn so that they do not make good contact with the commutators of motor and generator; dirty or because of greater use of current than charging capacity of generator, and mechanical disorder in starting switch, cutout or regulator, in the connection between starting motor and engine, or between generator and engine.
 If the starting motor will not turn when the pedal is pressed, first see If
 
 the terminals are tightly fastened; if the switch works properly; if the wires are tight on motor terminals, and if the brushes make good contact, with tue pedal pressed. test for cur rent at motor terminals with a volt meter. If a good voltage shows, the trouble is somewhere in the motor. If the brushes are clean and make good contact, and no wires loose or broken, the trouble must be in the winding and requires the services of an expert.
 If the motor rotates but does not start the engine, examine the gear of chain drive to see if it is working properly. See if the over-running clutch is slipping. If the motor cranks the engine but does not start, the trouble is in the engine and not the starting system.
 If, when the engine is running, the indicator does not show charge, ex- anime first the cutout, to see if it is closed, and then the wiring between generator and battery. While you can not look inside the regulator, you can test for current at the generator ter minals with the voltmeter. ana where the wires are attached to the regula- tor and where they leave that device; also at the switch and at the amme- ter or charge indicator, to determine if the current is flowing, and thus locate the points between which the break in the current occurs. If all lights were burning, they might con sume more current than the genera tor is producing. If the indicator shows discharge when the lights are on and the engine stoppec~ and does not show charge when the engine is running at ordinary road speed, eith- CT the generator or regulator needs attention by an expert.
 If you did not find the cutout closed on inspection, close it by hand for moment while the engine is running, and see if it remains closed. It may have been stuck, or the generator may have needed slight current from the battery to re- new what is called residual magne- tism. especially if the car has been laid up for long time
 Where the generator for replenisn- ing the battery is separate unit il may be driven by chain, gear or oth- erwise. sometimes with 2 coupling where the ignition device is built in to the generator. Be sure to under stand just how the current travels back and forth from the battery to the starter and from the generator to the battery, through the regulator, cutout, switch and charge and dis charge indicator. The regulator is to prevent too high a charging rate by introducing a resistance which op-