Evening star., 1921-05-15

Answers to Last Weeks Questions. I
/. To get maximum service from a |
used car there are a number Of tests |
you can give to ascertain the condi- |
tion of the car Before taking a ride |
in your proposed buy. test the COM
preston in each cylinder by turning !
the engine over slowly with the hand :
crank. Step on the starter pedal and
switch on the lights. If the lights
dim when starter is applied. it may be
a sign of weak battery. When the
engine has been started and is warm,
feel the bottom of the radiator to
find out il the cooling water is circu
lating properly. Then take the car
out on the road Listen for knocks in
the engine due to loose or worn parts,
to rattles or squeaks underneath the
car and for any unusual noise coming
from the transmission or differential.
Gates worn or broken members. Shift
gears. notice how they mesh and
whether the shifting is easy. Test the
brakes. They should not take hold
suddenly unless great pressure is ap-
piled to the foot pedal, but should
when necessary. An easy pressure
should slowly bring the car to a stop.
The emergency brake should hold the
car on a grade. Try the doors of the
body for play or rattle When closed
the doors should be firm. A cheaply
very hollow sound. when the doors
are slammed. A we'll built body will
give a firm. heavy sound If the car
starts away smoothly, it indicates
are changed they mesh quietly. it in
dicates that the Transmission is in
good shape. II the car acceIerates
quickly from a low speed, it indicates
an engine with good compression.
piston rings and valves in order. If
slow rate of speed in high gear. it
indicates that the entire driving sys-
tenn is in fair shape. The car which
has these features in addition to good
tires is q good purchase.
2 The front wheels Of q car are
lined up by simply screwing on or
backing off the adjustable clevice on
the steering tfe-rod which conn ects
one steering arm with one other.
Check the alignment of the wheels
the wheel felloes at both front and
rear of the axle Measurement should
be taken at a point from the ground
equal in height to that Of the axle.
narrower at the bottom than at the
top, to permit easier steering. As this
undergathering would cause the
wheels to turn IN opposite directions
away from the car, this tendency
Wheels or drawing them together in
the front about a quarter Of an inch.
When aligning ths wheels. always
see that the distance between wheel
felloes is quarter Of an inch less
than that of the rear measurement
3. Night driving is preferred by
many to that of driving in the day
time, because they claim that the en-
gine runs better at night. Perhaps
the air, being more damp at night
and possibly containing more oxygen
than during the day, when it is moro
expanded. would produce better re-
suits in engine operation. Whether
this is true or not. the average driver
night. He goes slower and is more
cautious in regard to road conditions
and traffic, resulting In the operator
paying more attention to his engine.
ing the day. This may be why an
engine is considered to operate better
at night.
4. One cause Of a very elusive
squeak in a car is rubbing OF the
chassis. The remedy is a simple one:
loosen the body bolts. apply oil to all
parts where body touches frame and
tighten the bolts.
5. Sediment or dirt in the gaso-
line does not pass into the cylinders
along with the gasoline vapor but
collects at the bottom Of the tank
and carburetor. remove plug or drain
valve from gasoline tank and car
buretor occasionally to drain or any
sediment which may collect. If this
is not done clogging Of carburetor
or gasoline line may result
s. The ranking" of motor We
hicles on the street means standing
them one behind another parallel
with curb. "Parking" differs from
ranking inasmuch as parking means
standing vehicles beside one another
at an angle to the curb.
T. The cause of battery terminals
sulphating is a break in the cover.
ing compound which prevents acid
within the battery from climbing the
terminal posts. To prevent this sui
phatfng the crack in the compound
Which which ''aas the battery must be
8. No extra care need be given a
cord tire beyond the common precau-
tions taken with a fabric tire These
precautions are to attend to all small
cuts or breaks In the casing and to
maintain the proper air pressure. Be-
cause the cord tire is more flexible
and has greater air capacity. the air
pressure Ia about 10 per cent less
than that Of the fabric tire. But 1t
10 q common habit among motorists
to carry even less air in cord tires
not be continued or the life Of the
tire may be OF short duration.
0. Jerky running Of the car can
usually be attributed to irregular
running Of tho engine. Tho cause
may be improper adjustment of
valves. an afr leak somewhere be-
tween oarburetor and inlet valves or
irregular ignition.
10. A rich carburetpr mixture alone
usually docs not ovorhsat tho ex-
haust pipe to the red hot point. II
is usually a combination of an ex-
ceSsiYely rich MIXTURE and spark