, 1923-06-14
BATTERY REPAIR
VERY IMPORTANT
Little Black Box Filled With
Magic Works in a Most
Mysterious Manner.

(By Z. W. COOKE, President of Coyne
Trade and Engineering School.)
Ii ever you feel like patting your
self on the back because you know
how and why the carburetor carbu-
rates, the clutch clutches, and so forth
If you are ever tempted to regard
yourself as an authority just because
you have driven and tinkered with
motor cars since they first began to
smoke-or if you ever get the idea
that there isn't anything about auto
mobiles that you don't know, then con-
slider your storage battery.
Little Box of Magic.
There, tucked away beneath the
hoor-boards or front seat of your car.
is a little black box filled with magic
that works in a mysterious way. A
marvellous thing is this battery-deli-
cate as a child, yet strong enough to
turn over the most powerful engine
against its own compression as diff
cult to understand as a woman, as
sensitive as a wife, everlastingly eat
ing its heart out. Treat it intelli-
gently and it reciprocates with faith
full service; neglect II and 1t retaliates
with slow but certain vengeance, but
Xix the mule, IL takes a surprising
amount OF abuse before II quits.
For the benefit of those motorists
who take pride In well-groomed cars /
suggest a few things necessary to get
the best results from the battery.
The ammeter is the pulse of the cleo
trical system and 1t should be care
fully watched to see If the battery is
Charging or discharging properly.
Test the battery with the hydrom-
eter at least onc a week. Make posi-
tive that your hydrometer is accurate.
II 1t Isn't buy a new one Immediately.
Your battery's good health is at stake.
Add enough distilled water once a
week to keep the electrolyte over the
plates. Not too much or the fluid will
bubble out and eat its way down the
wood container.
Never leave the switch on when the
engine is not running.
Prevent Short Circuits.
Prevent short circuits by watching
for worn places in the insulation and
tapping them when discovered. Never
lay a tool or other piece Of metal
across the battery terminals. These
should be kept tight and free from cor
rosion (sulphate).
II a greenish substance forms around
terminals, clean and dry the parts
thoroughly, replace securely and cover
them with cup grease to prevent the
acid from climbing up the posts and
causing more trouble.
Never fill the battery with water to
too high a level. The water will tend
10 work through the top, starting r
rosion Of the terminals and quick de-
structlon OF the wooden box.
If electrolyte is needed, never add 1t
yourself but consult the battery man
at the service station.
Practically the only repair that is
safe for the car owner to make on his
storage battery is patching up the
pitch ln~sulator which protects the cells
at the top. When this becomes broken
or damaged In any way the hole may
be filed and smoothed over by melting
pitch and applying II while hot with
a wlde-bladed knife. For all other re-
pairs the battery must be taken to
the expert at the regular battery
service station.
Keep the cells filed with distilled
water up TO the proper point; keep
the battery properly charged so that
the specific gravity rs measured with
the hydrometer is at, or close to 1850.
Bear In mind that when the specific
gravity drops 10 1.15 your battery Is
very, very III and needs expert atten-
tion Immediately. And, most Of all,
watch the water. Though the adding
Of the water TO battery fluid is the
easlest thing TO do, II Is an actual
fact that 90 per cent OF all batteries
die for lack Of water.