Evening star., 1924-06-01
ADJUSTMENT ADVICE
FOR AUTO OWNERS
Expert Urges Tourists to Overhaul
Ignition System Before
Starting Trip.
INSPECT PLUGS, HE SAYS.
Points Should Be Set With Feeler
Gauge, He Adds.

The ignition system. including the
spark plugs and generator, and the
cooling system should be gone over
before the tourist starts on cross
country travels. The wrong adjust
ment Of breaker points or spark plug
points or the failure of the water and
air cooling systems will be the source
OF continued aggravation during a
long summers trip, according to q.
Clark Mather, chief engineer, Paige
Detroit Motor Car Company.
All ignition systems must have the
breaker points in the distributory
cleaned. There is a certain gap clear
ance for every ignition system which
must be maintained If satisfactory
results are to be had. If the points
are set too wide on any make of mo-
tor ii will affect the high-speed per-
formancc as we'll as power. If they
are set too close the idle and low
speed performance may suffer, also
the points are more subject to burn
ing ard will require more frequent
cleaning.
New spark Plugs Urged.
1t is recommended almost univer-
sally in making an engine overhaul
that new spark plugs be installed.
The points should be set with a feeler
gauge. The best point setting varies
on some makes of cars. On motors
manufactured by this company the
points should be set at from .022 to
.02o. The same REMARKS regarding
improper setting of points as applied
10 the distributor apply also 10 the
spark plugs. Ii points are set too wide
the high-speed performance will not
be as good and If they are set too
close the low-speed and idle perform
ance will suffer.
Ia, 1T hot l.
plug points should be set with thin
dime. The public surely has learned
by now how ridiculous that advice
was. There is really no data avail
able on how thick thin dime is
and, therefore, il Will pay motor car
owners TO invest i'll set of ''feeler
gauges.
should Watch Generators.
If the reader is driving a car with
a siX-volt battery system the output
checked. preferably with a portable
ammeter and, if the maximum out
put of the generator is over Il
amperes, it should be reduced TO a
1o-ampere maximum. A greater rate
results in not only boiling the water
out of the battery, but is also hard
on the plates Of the battery itself.
Other evil results are the frequent
burning out of lamp bulbs and the
pitting of distributor points.
The battery, of course, should be
checked at d service station to see
that the electro-lite is of the cor
rect density and that there iS suffi-
ciert liquid t. properly cover the
plates. Battery terminals continual
ly corrode with 4 SrayiSh. Summy
substance. This should be removed
by washing off with "a brush and
hot water. Coat the terminals with
vaseline.
Fan Belt should BE Tight.
In preparing the cooling system the
radiator core and all other paSSa ges
should be flushed out and thoroughly
cleaned. Possibly the hose will need
replacement, especially If the rubber
has started to disintegrate from the
use of anti-freeZing solutions the
previous winter.
Most garages and car owners do
not adjust the fan tension properly.
Proper adjustment must be made for
mountain driving. The motor should
have the benefit of the air output OF
the fan. To gain this it is necessary
that the fan belt be so tight that
=, when the fan blades are grasped with
the hand it is impossible to turn the
fan. This adjustment is extremely
important in aiding the motor up the
long hard grades. and should be
checked from time TO time during the
4 trip if very much mountain driving is
done. as some fan belts stretch and
. lose their tension quickly.
Remember that the fan IS not
tight enough for mountain driving
il you can turn the fan blade with
your hands.