South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-17
MOTORISTS PROBLEMS
Solved for Readers of The News Times
By WILLIAM H. STEWART, JR.

Motor Departnent.-Wha ls the
best method 90 tell the weak cylinder
on a Ford when / look for weak
compression look for bubbles
around the spark plus friend Of
mine takes out all the other plugs
and then shifts plugs from one cylin-
der % the other is there better
method Pc. j.
Crank engine and watch one inlet
valve. when that closes the cyiin-
der g. on compression stroke. Watch
each inlet valve lu turn and the
weak cylinder viii be discovered
Motor Department. have been
told that an old shoe. cutting of the
RIM can be inserted in another old
shoe and that this can be used or
travelled with number OF miles.
Please advise just how 20 insert and
% 90 - necessary 10 place additional
patch in the old shoe 90 cover blow
o-t?-N. s.
Sections from an old shoe may be
used TO advantage IN cases Of blow
should be carefully bevelled 20 pre-
vent injury 90 the tube. IL is also
advisable TO remove the tread from
the section in order 10 reduce the
thickness. II IS not advisable to in
stall a complete casing within an
old casing.
Motor Department. have a
Nash Six and have a small leak in
The radiator. I wish 20 know II the
radiator cement advertised by var
fous firms Will be injurious TO the
radiator I have been afraid TO risk
this. and. am therefore asking your
advice in the matter.-E. II.
Do not place anything in the water
or cooling system. If it is a small
leak and the cement can be applied
at the spot on the outside no harm
can result from the experiment. The
radiator is a sensitive and important
unit Of your car. Even though more
costly, II is best TO have radiator
leaks properly soldered
Motor Departmental run
ming my car about a year there IS a
knock TN the engine which%stil per
sists. II the spark is advanced half
way the engine knocks very badly.
When the spark is retarded there is
no knock. I had carbon taken out
: or the cylinders and IL seems a little
better. Please give me some rem
edy.-E. NJ.
Possibly the ignition IS timed too
early and causes a knock when the
spark lever Is advanced too far.
: Then again the wrist pin and rod
= bearings may be little worn. Bet
ter have the engine gone over by a
=. good repair man.
Motor Department.-My new car
has the exhaust pipe directly under
= the carburetor and sometimes drips
n on the pipe. Is there danger Of
$. dre?-N. c..
There is no great danger unless
= there is leaky joint in the exhaust
pipe near the carburetor. which
i would allow a flame 80 reach the
= vapor If the drip could be led away
= to one side. IT would remove the
:. danger which. however. is quite re-
= mote.
3 Motor Department:-My car is a
1917 model and has Mad very good
Z care. but recently il seems TO be us
81 ing a great deal Of oil. and l have to
p remove carbon more frequently than
n ever before. Would fitting new pis-
: ton rings help?-C. r.
p New rings would help to some ex-
8 tent unless the cylinders are badly
= out Of round or are scored. These
= details can only be determined by
careful inspection after taking down
4 the engine. Try a heavier grade
= lubricating oil than the one you are
using.
Motor Department+-In ovWhaul-
ing my engine I note there is a small
amount OF play in the main bearings.
Il is hardly noticeable 10 the feel. -
but it can be detected by using a
jack. I know II Is difficult and
laborious task TO tighten these bear
ings. 40 l do not want 10 tackle Il
unless I know IT IS absolutely neces-
sary. Can any harm result from
connecting rod bushings, 90 they
have TO be fitted or scraped II tine
crank shaft appears 10 De in good
condition ?-OWNER
Any looseness IN main bearings IS a
serious matter which tends TO grow
worse. 1t Will soon develop a knock
and may cause a serious break. Have
& -emedied immediately. New bush
ings should be scraped 20 a perfect
1T This involves the use OF Prussian
blue ard a scraper and should be
done BY a skilled workman.
Motor Department.-In descend
ing q long hill should one use both
tho foot and emergency brake or
JUS the foot brake OWNER.
In descending NIL the driver
usually controls the speed OF the car
by the service brakes. II is good
practice 20 equal-ze the wear on each