The Clio messenger., 1921-09-01


ment of Agriculture.)
Thousands of farmers in all parts
of the country use gasoline engines as
a source Of at least part of their
power. The number in every branch
Of farming is increasing rapidly. From
the production Of crops 10 their har-
vest and preparation for sale, and
even their transportation to market,
the gasoline engine facilitates the
business of farming. Tractors, gas
engines to run belt machinery and mo-
tortrucks are enabling farmers TO in
crease their operations. 1t is, there
fore, good business on the part of the
farmer to use them whenever time, la
Dor and costs can be reduced.
Though the gas engine, whether the
stationary type, tractor, truck or au-
tomobile, is a great labor saver when
operated efficiently, il is also at times
the cause of great labor waste. Often
large crews hired TO help with thresh-
ing, hay baling, cutting ensilage, etc,
draw full wages for hours spent in
idleness owing to inefficient handling
OF the engine. A man will sometimes
spend much more time and energy in
starting a gas engine to pump water
for stock, run milking machine or
for some other similar purpose, than
would be required to do the work by
hand. Such lost time Is to great eX-
tent preventable. Gas engines are not
difficult to operate, and delays from
engine trouble are usually due to the
operators lack of knowledge of some
of the details essential TO proficient
operation, say specialists of the United
States Department Of Agriculture.
Keep Engines in Repair.
The first essential In gasoline engine
operation Is TO keep IL in good repair,
say the specialists. All catalogues
and directions furnished by the manu-
facturer should be studied carefully.
Most manufacturers publish instruc-
tions on the care and operation of the
engines they manufacture, and in or
der TO get the most satisfactory re-
suits from an engine the owner should
study and put into practice these In
structions.
Every one who operates a gas en-
CINE should learn first to stop and rea-
son as to the probable cause Of any
trouble which develops. In tracing
trouble a definite system should be
followed. When an engine refuses TO
start the trouble will, with q very few
exceptions. he due to some Interrupt
tion Of the supply or the proper mix
ture of gas and air, or TO the failure
Of the electrical system which fur
nishes the spark to fire the COM
pressed mixture. Every system to 10
cate trouble should take these two
points into consideration.
Testing the Ignition System.
With all engines using spark plugs
il is comparatively easy to ascertain
whether electrical or ignition system
is working properly. Remove the plug
and by taking it apart see If the por-
celain is not broken. See that the
points are properly spaced and re-
move the deposit of carbon. A space
of about one thirty-second Of an inch
the thickness of a worn dime-is
the proper distance between the
points.
To test the spark connect the wire
with the plug and place the latter so
that the metal base touches the en-
gine casting, then crank the engine
and note whether spark jumps the
space between the points. This spark
should be heavy blue, a bluish-white,
or a "fat" yellow one looking like a
small flame. But If II is thin and
greenish, or showing red, the chances
OF gasoline. In such case, or IL there
is no spark, trouble may he In the
wire connections, or the magnetic, or
II dry cells are used, they may be too
weak. See that all the wire Is prop
erly insulated and not soaked with
oil, and that all connections are tight
and clean. If there is no trouble in
the wiring and dry cells are used, the
latter may be tested by attaching the
wires direct TO the points of the cells.
Though magnetos seldom give trouble,
II there is every reason to believe that
Il is not functioning properly, II
should be taken TO an expert for re-
pairs.
See That Fuel is Supplied.
When an examination shows that
good spark is being obtained at the
right time, the next step is to see
whether the engine is receiving the
proper mixture of fuel and air. Ex-
anime the carburetor and make sure
that the gasoline reaches II properly.
Sometimes water gets into the car
buretor and gives considerable trouble.
For this reason the carburetor and