The Washington herald., 1921-08-28
when your Generator Acts Up.

when Your Generator Acts up.
Most automobiiists carry a Pyrene
or some type OF fre extinguisher In
the tool box for that dreaded back |
fire." Most OF the modern types Of |
small hand extinguishers use an |
Identical fluid. carbon tetrachioride |
II your. ammeter needle jerks q |
couple OF times and registers zero.
more than likely your generator |
commutator is dirty. Upon tracing |
the trouble to the generator. re-
move the dust shield from the COM
mutator end and with your engine
running let some of the extin-
guisher fluid drip on the commuta-
tor
The carbon dirt and glaze will
disappear as II by magic, and the
ammeter will show q full charge,
deeper trouble than q mere dirty
generator commutator.
when You're Mired Under.
In most cars the drive gear ratio
Is such that there Is . more power
ful torque delivered to the rear
wheels when the transmission is set
in reverse. You can get out Of the
mud nine times in ten IL you shift
" reverse. - iut VI oiu ucWepdpcIb
kept under your back seat will give
semi-solid foothold for your rear
wheels when you try to pull out.
An old blanket will serve the same
purpose. Always apply your power
slowly and gradually when trying
to get free from q mudhole. II
your wheels dig a trench for them
selves put some small flat boards
under your jack. lift the rear axle
and fill in the holes with rocks. then
let the axle down SO that the wheels
are resting on a higher base. Also
remember that a small extra added
push will get you out. II you are
carrying a crowd let all push but
the driver.
How to Stop Rattle.
Tightening your muffler rods will
kill many a mysterious rattle.
II your exhaust is smoky either
your carburetor needs adjusting or
your crankcase oil level is too high.
This is the time Of year to have
your non-skid chains overhauled.
II you spill Oil, gasoline or kero-
sene on the garage floor. sand 1t
down and sweep out at once, to
avoid unnecessary IRE risk.
Wire wheels are said to give more
heat radiation surface than other
types. therefore giving the tire more
life.
Never shut yourself up in a small
garage with your motor running.
The products of combustion are
carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
neither of which support life, and
the latter OF which is deadly poison.
II your engine starts hard OF
mornings. get the habit Of shutting
1t off at nights by pulling out your
choke. instead Of shutting of the
ignition switch. This leaves a rich
mixture in the cylinders for start
ing the next morning.
Nearly every carburetor has a
straining device to catch dirt and
sediment that gets into the fuel.
Drain and clean often, and save re-
p-ir shop bills.
Beware Of fancy "gas-savers," for
some Of them contain picric acid
which eats the shellac from the
cork float in your carburetor. When
this happens your carburetor will
flood, the float being saturated.
A great many Ford owners save
money In the summer by mixing
gasoline AMI kerosene in their fuel
tanks in the proportion OF FIVE gas
oline to one kerosene. Though this
requires a greater needle-valve
opening. It is said to be very
economical.
Avoid Use Of Brake.
Let gravity stop your car when
you can. Using the brake wears
out the tires as well as brake lin
ing.
Don't run over a dog. You may
break your steering gear and wreck
your car.
Gasoline is not a good cleaner for
leather upholstery. 1t cracks the
| leather. Use a little ammonia
water, to clean of the dirt, and
polish with a dry woolen or flannel
| cloth.
Don't use your gasoline funnel
for water or oil. Your carburetor
may clog up at a very bad time
from sediment and water due to a
dirty funnel.
Disc clutches can be flushed out
with gasoline, but kerosene is too
greasy for most clutch jobs. Never
use fuller's earth for anything But
an emergency job IL your clutch
should slip for in time it too glazes
and the clutch will slip worse than
ever. Better to ,dismount the clutch
and rough the disc surfaces with a
rasp or sandpaper.
Keep Gasoline in Reserve.
When touring always carry a re-
serve supply of gasoline even IL it