The Washington times., 1921-10-29

AND GENERATOR
NEEDATTENTION
Many Autoists ignore These
Very Important Parts Of
Power Plant.

froDably the most neglected parts
OF the automobile are the starting mo
tor and generator. Both OF these units
are vital TO the operation OF the mo-
tor. and should have Intelligent care.
The importance OF >an occasional
overhaul OF the electrical apparatus
OF the car should be realized by every
owner. since actual demonstration
proves the added efficiency resulting
from such attention, says o. II. Coon
rad In Maryland Motorist. Most own
ers continue to operate their cars
after the starting motor has ceased TO
function properly. and In such cases
they often lay the blame for a poorly
starting switch. The real trouble,
however. is usually that the commu-
tator OF the motor 10 corroded with
oil, or the brushes fouled. or the bear.
ings gummed with graphite or grease
to such an extent as to put the motor
under heavy strain.
The motor must be removed In or
der to be cleaned. On most cars Il is
a simple operation to remove from the
brackets. The case should then be
removed and the armature taken out
and thoroughly cleaned. Usually
good washing in gasoline will clean
the armature OF any oil that may have
seeped In.
Use Emery Cloth.
The commutator can be cleaned
with fine emery cloth. Brushes
should be cleaned and given a new
face by using a piece of emery cloth
around the commutator. the grit side
out, allowing the brushes to rest on
the emery while the armature is re-
volved.
Once a year. or every 10000 miles,
the thin layers Of mica. used as in
sulation,. between the segments should
be cleaned out. A small scraper can
be used to cut a small groove between
the segments. Next the fields. or
magnets. should be cleaned with gaso-
line. using care not to loosen the in
sulation on the wires leading TO the
brushes. II this insulation is looseped
the wires should be wrapped with new
friction tape to eliminate crossed wires
or a ground.
1t Is often noticed that the bearings
carrying the load on the starting mo.
n"cnme WI. n 10 such an extenl
that the armature scrapes on the field
magnets, This Is often the seat Of
trouble In slow.pulling starting mo-
tor, and one of the most frequent
causes Of other troubles. An ind,ca-
ton Of worn bearings can be seen
when the armature Is taken out of
the motor,
In case OF worn bearing, the arma-
ture will show signs of friction at the
end nearest the worn bearing. Unless
" hearing ia replaced at once by
a new one, the insulation from the
armature wiring will soon be scraper
off. This will probably
result in burned-out armature.
Few Drops Of Oil.
The majority of the starting motor
bearings are of the self-lubricating or
graphite packed type, and require lit
10 attention. The motor is not in
operation, and for this rea son
he graphite bearing has been found
most efficient for this purpose. Where
he car is used for general purposes,
md Is not started many times a day,
few drops of oil every 10000 miles
s usually all that is needed.
Too much oil will tend to carry the
out of the bearing and cause
rouble. The writer has in mind a
ase where an owner mistook the
graphite in the bearing for collected
lirt and cleaned ii out with gasoline
md brush. He afterward wondered
Why this starting motor pulled hard |
md would scarcely turn the motor
ver enough to start.
: The-ssa principles apply to the
nne OF be generator as to the mo.
or s1ns removing the motor from |
he bracket, the motorist should exer. |
Use great care to- mark the gears |
n. order to get the proper mesh |
'hen the motor is replaced on the |
racket. This is especially true when |
he timing apparatus is driven off the /
shaft. In cars of this type, !