The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-01
nx JAMrs J. MoNrAGuE

The motoriSt can save time and eX- pense by making his own repairs. All that is required is the ability to find out what is the matter with the car, and knowledge of the way to fix it.
 In serious cases, such as total destruc- tion by fire or the blowing out of more than two cylinders, it is best to consult an experienced and moderate priced ga- rage man. There must be such a man somewhere. although the author has not yet found one. and consequently cannot supply his name and address. In minor break-downs, however, no such professional aid is necessary. You can make your own repairs on the road by following a few simple rules which were hereby lay down,
 Most causes for motor cars refusal to continue to function are enumerated below, together with the accepted method of correcting them. Follow these rules carefully and you will be astonished with the result. ~.
 CHOKED CARBURETOR
 When the engine spits three or four times, like an irritated tomcat and then suspends operations, the carburetor is choked.
 Lift up the hood and find the carbu- retor. which is usually on the left side of the engine.
 Tap it gently on the bacl. and request it politely but firmly to say, Ninety nne."
 If it refuses to say. "Ninety-nine." try. to get it to say "eighty-eight.'
 If 1t still remains mute. suggest any other numerals that occur to you.
 .sI I1O a Ea of the lid by unscrewing several small screws. These you may throw away. for you will never find them again when you go to look for them.
 Remove irony the throat of the car buretor whatever it has been choking place the lid. and proceed on your way.
 CONGESTED TRANSMISSION
 Congested transmission results from the intrusion into the long metal box just behind the cylinders of extraneous matter such as small wrenches, oil cans or parts of thermos bottles.
 After putting on a diving suit which it is always wise to carry while on tour, pry up the floor boards with crowbar remove the cover of the transmission box with 8 light charge of nitro gly- cerine, and look for the extraneous matter.
 The first thing you will find is heavy deposit of small shards of steel, which are merely broken gears. Put these carefully back. for without them the car will have a strangely quiet sound which in short time will get on your nerves
 Reach down through the encircling grease with your hands till you find any object that has nothing whatever to do with the mechanism of the automobile. Remove these with pair of pliers. In case some of the gears come out also put them back and restore the lid. lf after this operation, the car refuses 10 run or makes harsh grating sound, another can be purchased at a very reasonable cost.
 FRACTURE OF DETRIMENTAL
 The differential is the sauash-like bulb that grows on the rear axle almost be- tween the wheels. Its purpose is to make one wheel go faster while the other goes slower, or, on the other hand, to make one wheel go slower while the other goes faster.
 If this didn't happen. the car while you were rounding corner, would pivot on one of the wheels and start back the way it came. which. unless you hap- pened to forget something before you started, is embarrassing.
 Fracture of the differentiaf may be caused by getting too close to corner and running over a hydrant. To remedy consists in again putting on your diving suit, lying flat on your back under the car removing 76 bolts with a wrench and looking into the differential with a lens.
 If there is any grease left in it. the fracture is negligible. If the grease is gone. find the fracture calk 1t with putty. put in new bolts the old ones will have been lost) and start again. Tn case you can't start you may be able n