Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-01-04
GAS ENGINES NEED PROPER
HANDLING TO Be EFFICIENT
FARMER should Study Their Care and
opcration-H2yr Definite SIS
TEN for Locating Trouble.

Thousands of farmers in all parts
OF the country use gasoline engines
as source of at least part of their
power. The number in every branch
OF farming is increasing rapidly.
From the production Of crops to their
harvest 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
motor trucks are enabling farmers to
increase their operations. 1t is,
therefore, good business on the par.
OF the farmer to us them whenever
time, labor, and costs can be reduced.
Though the gas engine, whether
the stationary type, tractor, truck, or
automobile, is great labor saver
when operated efficiently, it is also
at times the cause Of great labor
waste. Often large crews hired to
help with thrash;ng, hay baling, cut
ting 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 a milking machine, or for some
other similar purpose, than would be
required to do the work by hand.
Such lost time is to great extent
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 Stotes Department Of Agricui-
ture.
Keep Engines in Repair.
The first essential in gasoline en-
CINE operation is to keep it in good
repair, say the specialists. All cata-
logues and directions furnished by
the manufacturer should be studied
carefully. Most manufacturers pub
lish instructions on the care and oper-
alton of the engines they manufac-
ture, and in order to get the most
satisfactory results from an engine
the owner should study and put into
practice these instructions.
Everyone who operates a gas en-
CINE should learn first to stop and
reason as to the probable cause Of
any trouble which develops. In trac-
ing trouble a definite system should
be followed. When an engine re-
fuses to start the trouble will, with a
very few exceptions. be due to some
interruption Of the supply of the
supply of the proper mixture of gas
and air, or to the failure of the elec-
tical system which furnishes the
spark to fire the compressed mixture.
Every system to locate trouble should
thake these two points into considera-
ton.
With all engines using spark plugs
it is comparatively easy to ascertain
whether electrical or ignition system
is working properly. Remove the
plug and by taking it apart see If the
porcelain is not broken. See that the
points ore properly spaced and re-
move the deposit of carbon. A space
Of about one thirty-second of an inch
the thickness Of 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-
CINE casting, then crank the engine
and note whether a spork jumps the
space between the points. This spark
should be a heavy blue, blush
white, or a "fat" yellow one looking
like q small fame. But II 1t Is thin
and greenish, or showing red, the
chances are it is too weak to fire the
charge of gasoline. In such case, or
il there is no spark, trouble may be
in the wire connections, or in the mag
neto, or II dry cells are used, they
may be too weak. See that all the
wire is properly insulated and not
soaked with oil, and tina: all connec'
tions are tight and clean. II there IS
no trouble in the wiring ond 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, il there is every
reason to believe that it is not func-
tioning properly. it should be taken
to an expert for repairs.
See That Fuel Is Supplied.
When an examination shows that
a good spark is being obtained at thu
right time, the next step is to see
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