Evening star., 1922-06-25
THE OWNER-D DRIVERS
COLUMN.
Buying a Used Car.

In the purchase of a horse there is
a great deal of truth in the saying.
your eye is your market" In buying
a second hand car" not only your eye
but your ears and hands are your
market. Automobiles permit Of
camoufage far more than do horses.
In order to buy a used car wisely and
intelligenuy the buyer should know
something about cars. but he does not
have to be an expert. There are plenty
of signs to be guided by which the
ordinary driver can detect as well as
the expert.
First of all it takes little time to
"go over" car. and there should be
system in the work. Here Is the
writer's method. which has worked
WELL many times.
% Examine the running gear. A
great deal more reliable opinion as to
the amount of running a car has done
can be formed from the condition of
the running gear than is possible any
other way. Jack up the front wheels
in turn; bear against the top and bot
tom of the wheel alternately to see IL
there is much play in the steering
knuckle. Too much play here means
neglect and much running. The front
wheel bearings should be taken note
Of here; the front wheels should run
quietly and freely.
Cd The steering wheel and drag
link connections should next come in
for inspection. Excessive play and
looSeneSS are not an encouraging fea-
ture.
go Turn your attention to the rear
axle. Jack up both wheels clear Of
the ground. Try the wheels for loose
f1,1
the hub and bear up and down to test
for looseness in the outer rear axle
bearing. There should not be much
Of either in car worth our attention,
side than in the other Is especially
suspicious. Be sure in making these
tests that the brakes are off. Rock
one wheel back and forward gently to
test for play in the difrerential. the
with a little practice. Now put the
car in high gear with the clutch in
and rock the wheels back and for
ward. This will detect the play be-
tween the engine and the rear wheels.
If there Is much over one-tenth of
turn it means excessive wear.
(4) With the rear wheels still off
the floor start the engine. Let the
owner or salesman get in the car and
car and see whether the wheels run
true. A wabbly wheel may mean
that it can be Strengthened out in re-
placing the tire or, by truing the
wheel. but to me 1T means a bent
axle shaft till it's proven to be some
thing else. While the car is thus rum
ming a good idea as to it's internal
condition can be formed by the use of
the ear. The rear axle should not
! emit any sounds at all. but il there is
| Anything approaching a noise which
gives the impression OF gears riding
harder on one side than on the other
| should be distrusted. Stop the en-
gine.
(5.) Remove the footboards and
get in the drivers seat so that a good
view of the gear case and clutch can
F., be secured. Start the motor. go
and meshing of the, different gears
! having your ears and eyes well open.
| (60 By this time the engine is
! warmed up, and that is the only way
! to try the compression. Grasp the
crank and turn the motor over slow
! ": note carefully any differences be-
tween the resistances of the cylinders.
! Go over them several times to make
, sure. If there is weak one let
some one else turn the engine over We
| breather on the crank case, set
| pasteboard mailing tube over the
! breather pipe and put your ear to the
! tube. Any Kissing noise can easily
| hearO,
"blowing past the piston. This
| should mean a scored cylinder TIL
proven otherwise. If there is no hiss
| ing past the pistons the compression
loss is likely past the valves which is
/ not so bad.
| Electric System.
| (7) The electric system should
| now come in for attention. Test the
| lights and horn, notice the discharge
reading on the ammeter. Start the
motor and note the charging quan-
F.! ties of the generator, 1t should charge
| we'll over ten amperes at an engine
| speed of say twenty miles an hour on
/ high gear. con-
| d;t;on can be formed from the way II
| turns the engine over and from gen
eral appearance Of the tops of tne e
! cells. terminals and fittings. Should
there be any doubt. though, hydrom-
eter test should be made ana any
| var,ations between the readings OF
| the cells should be viewed with sus-
| picion. ~ 1tye an
| Intending purchaser an Idea as to tne
! nnndition of car. II they do not
come up to a good standard, then USED
cars should be priced accordingly.
| Copyright. 1927