CHAPTER XLV
CARBON REMOVING
It is necessary to remove the carbon deposits from the combustion chambers and piston heads at frequent intervals in order to maintain an economical and efficient motor.
There are various methods and ways of doing this without removing the casting or cylinder head; that is, providing regular attention is given to prevent the deposit from baking and forming in a shale which can be removed only by burning or scraping.
There are a number of carbon removing compounds on the market which give excellent satisfaction, although some of these compounds may prove very harmful unless the directions are followed very carefully.
A great many owners use kerosene once or twice a month. An ounce or two may be poured into each cylinder while they are quite warm and allowed to stand for several hours. The motor is then turned over a few times which allows the kerosene to escape through the valves. The particles of carbon are blown out through the muffler when the motor is started. Others prefer to feed it into the motor through the carburetor. This is done by speeding up the motor and feeding a little at a time into the float chamber or air valve. Others use chloroform, turpentine, and alcohol in the same way.
The latest method is to take the car to a garage and have the carbon burnt out occasionally with a carbon dioxide flame. This vaporizes and consumes the carbon and blows it out in the form of soot. The flame of an acetylene welding outfit may be used successfully. Great care must be taken to prevent fire. The carburetor is removed and the fuel line drained and tied out of range of the flame.
TROUBLES
| TROUBLE | CAUSE | REMEDY |
|---|---|---|
| Motor misses | Worn piston rings | New oversize rings |
| Motor misses | Pitted valve seats | Grind in valve seats |
| Motor misses | Loose locknut, tappets | Adjust tappets |
| Motor misses | Gas. mixture too heavy | Adjust carburetor |
| Motor misses | Gas. mixture too thin | Adjust carburetor |
| Motor misses | Contact points worn | Adjust points |
| Motor misses | Loose cable connections | Connect to terminal posts |
| Motor misses | Cracked piston head | Replace piston |
| Motor misses | Cracked water jacket | Weld, rebore cylinder |
| Motor heats | Poor circulation | Flush out radiator |
| Motor heats | Insufficient lubrication | Clean oiling system |
| Motor heats | Excessive carbon deposit | See chapter on Carbon Removing |
| Motor heats | Cracked piston ring | Replace rings |
| Motor heats | Scored cylinder wall | Rebore cylinder |
| Motor heats | Tight main bearings | Lubricate plentifully |
| Motor heats | Heavy gas mixture | Adjust carburetor |
| Motor heats | Cylinders missing | See Motor Misses |
| Motor heats | Worn distributor contact spring | Replace spring on block |
| Motor back-fires | Lean mixture | Adjust carburetor |
| Motor back-fires | Valve open | Reseat valve, adj. tappet |
| Motor back-fires | Ignition off time | See ignition systems |
| Motor fails to start | Lack of gasoline | Fill tank |
| Motor fails to start | Vacuum in fuel tank | Open air hole in cap |
| Motor fails to start | Lack of current | Close circuit |
| Motor fails to start | Short circuit | Tape conductor at point |
| Motor fails to start | Discharged battery | Test with hydrometer; have recharged |
| Motor fails to start | Lack of fuel | Clean carburetor |
| Motor fails to start | Lack of fuel | Clean screen at fuel entrance to vacuum system |
| Motor fails to start | Lack of fuel | Clean pipe from vacuum system to carburetor |
| Motor fails to start | Ignition fouled | Clean corrosion from terminals |
| Motor fails to start | Breaker points stuck | Redress lightly with finger nail file |
| Motor fails to start | Plugs improperly set | Close points to thickness of a dime |
| Motor fails to start | Oil on points | Clean plugs and screw down tightly |
| Motor fails to start | Cracked porcelain | New plug |
| Motor fails to start | Open valves | Grind or reset valves |
| Motor fails to start | Valves stuck | Polish stems |
| Motor fails to start | Weak valve springs | Replace springs |
| Motor fails to start | Open circuit | Close switch |
| Motor misses | Defective spark plug | Replace |
| Motor misses | Disconnected wires | Connect up tightly |
| Motor misses | Dirty plugs | Clean |
| Motor misses | Poor compression | Replace gasket |
| New piston rings | ||
| Motor vibrates | Loose frame connection | Draw bolts down |
| Motor vibrates | Pistons sticking | Increase lubrication |
| Motor vibrates | Pistons weight uneven | Balance evenly |
| Motor vibrates | Defective spark plug | Clean, replace plug |
| Motor kicks | Preignition | Time ignition system |
| Motor kicks | Carbon, combustion chamber | Scrape out, burn out |
| Motor knock head | Wrist pin bearing loose | Give pin 1⁄4 turn |
| Motor knock head | Loose connecting rod | Tighten upper bearing |
| Motor knock head | Valve slap | Adjust tappet |
| Motor knock base | Connecting rod loose | Adjust remove shim |
| Motor knock base | Main bearing loose | Adjust remove shim |
| Motor rumble | Flywheel loose | Adjust reseat |
| Motor rumble | Fan bearing loose | Adjust grease |
| Motor tipping | Fan blade strikes radiator | Adjust bend blade |
| Motor tapping | Tappet worn | Adjust tighten lock nut |
| Motor compression poor | Thread stretch | Tighten head bolts |
| Motor compression poor | Gasket burned or blown | Replace, new gasket |
| Motor compression poor | Valve seat pitted | Grind, reset valve |
| Motor compression poor | Valve guide worn | Replace bushing |
| Motor compression poor | Valve stem warped | New valve |
| Motor compression poor | Piston rings lined up | Distribute openings |
| Motor compression poor | Cylinder wall scored | Oversize rings; rebore |
| Universal joint noise | Loose sleeve connection | Tighten flange bolts |
| Universal joint noise | Insufficient lubrication | Remove boot and pack with grease |
| Universal joint slap | Worn bushings | Turn bushings end for end |
| Universal joint slap | Worn trunion | New bushings |
| Differential noise | Dry | Fill with graphite grease or 600 W |
| Differential click | Chipped gear | Replace |
| Differential knock | Broken out tooth | Replace |
| Differential growl (steady) | Ring gear mesh too deep | Back up trifle on adjustment |
| Differential growl (uneven) | Ring gear mesh too loosely | Set up adjustment |
| Differential growl (uneven) | Axle shaft sprung | Retrue, replace |
| Differential growl (uneven) | Loose bearing retainer | Tighten nuts |
| Brakes fail to release | Rusted clevis joints | Lubricate with heavy grease |
| Brakes fail to release | Broken coil spring | Replace |
| Brakes fail to release | Stretched coil spring | Replace |
| Brake clatter | Loose adjustment | Adjust |
| Brake clatter | Worn lining | Reline the outer band |
| Brake clatter | Loose release spring | Adjust |
| Brake squeak | Dry lining | Four or five drops of oil |
| Brake squeak | Burned lining | Replace |
| Brakes fail to grip | Lining worn down to rivet heads | Replace |
| Brakes fail to grip | Overly lubricated | Wash with kerosene |
| Brakes fail to grip | Lining worn slick | Wash with kerosene and roughen with file |
| Brakes fail to grip | Lining burned hard | Replace |
| Brakes fail to grip | Stretched rivets | Draw down |
| Brake rod rattle | Worn clevis pin | Replace |
| Brake rod rattle | Spread clevis yoke | Drive ends together |
| Brake rod rattle | Loose lock-nut behind clevis | Tighten down |
| Brake rod rattle | Brake rods strike each other | Tape one rod at contact point |
| Brake rod rattle | Dry connections | Lubricate with small lump of grease |
| Torque rod rattle | Loose connections | Adjust |
| Torque rod rattle | Loose coil spring | Adjust |
| Emergency brake lever rattle | Loose joint bearing | Replace bushing |
| Emergency brake lever rattle | Worn plunger spring | Replace |
| Gear shift lever rattle | Worn ball socket | Lubricate with heavy grease |
| Gear shift lever rattle | Worn ball | Dent in socket with punch |
| Gear shift lever rattle | Worn alignment spring blades | Replace |
| Gear shift lever rattle | Worn bearing | Place thin washer at end of joint |
| Steering wheel play | Open mesh | Set up sector |
| Steering wheel play | Loose bearing | Turn down cone |
| Steering wheel play | Worn gear tooth | Take up on eccentric bushing |
| Steering wheel play | Loose drag link sockets | Turn in end plug |
| Steering wheel stiffness | Dry | Pack with grease |
| Radiator heats | Poor circulation | Flush radiator |
| Radiator heats | Jammed tubes | Remove jam and solder in new piece tube |
| Radiator heats | Sediment in bottom tank | Flush out with soda solution |
| Radiator heats | Stopped up overflow | Run wire through |
| Radiator freezes | Too much radiation | Cover bottom half of radiator with cardboard |
| Radiator freezes | Jammed tubes | Cut out section; solder in new piece |
| Radiator freezes | Sediment in bottom tank | Flush out with soda solution |
| Vacuum tank spouts gas | Dirt on vacuum valve seat | Clean valve |
| Vacuum tank overflows | Dirt on vacuum valve seat | Clean valve |
| Vacuum tank fails | Suction pipe from manifold stopped up | Clean pipe |
| Vacuum tank fails | Vacuum valve stuck | Clean valve |
| Vacuum tank fails | Entrance screen stopped up | Remove fuel line and clean screen |
| Vacuum tank fails | Loose connection at manifold | Tighten joint |
| Vacuum tank fails | Plugged fuel line | Run wire through |
| Carburetor wheeze | Choke valve out too far on dash | Push in after starting |
| Carburetor wheeze | Choke valve wire too short | Lengthen and adjust |
| Carburetor wheeze | Butterfly loose on air valve pivot | Adjust and tighten |
| Carburetor chokes | Dirty valve | Grind needle valves |
| Carburetor chokes | Sediment in bowl | Clean out bowl |
| Carburetor chokes | Heavy mixture | Open air valve slightly |
| Carburetor chokes | Water in gas | Clean out bowl |
| Carburetor snaps | Thin mixture | Cut down air |
| Carburetor snaps | Water in gas | Strain gas through chamois |
| Carburetor snaps | Dirt in fuel line | Run wire through |
| Carburetor snaps | Dirt under needle valve | Remove; clean seat |
| Carburetor overflows | Dirt on needle valve seat | Remove; clean seat |
| Carburetor overflows | Cork float (water-logged) | Dry in sun and shellac |
| Carburetor overflows | Metal float punctured | Punch hole opposite leak, blow out, solder both |
| Carburetor backfires | Worn intake valve bushing | Replace bushing |
| Carburetor backfires | Defective spark plug | Replace |
| Carburetor backfires | Pitted valve seat | Reseat |
| Magneto roar | Armature shaft bearings dry | Two drops of light oil in bearing well |
| Magneto click | Dry bearing | Two drops of light oil in bearing well |
| Magneto fires uneven | Breaker points out of adjustment | Adjust points |
| Magneto fires uneven | Open safety spark gap | Adjust gap to 1⁄16″ |
| Magneto fires uneven | Condensor short circuited | Take to service station |
| Magneto fires uneven | Distributor segments worn | Take to service station |
| Magneto fires uneven | Distributor brush worn | Take to service station |
| Magneto fires uneven | Distributor insulation cracked | Take to service station |
| Magneto fires uneven | Coil short circuited | Take to service station |
| Distributor arm wabbles | Worn center bushing | Replace bushing |
| Distributor fails | Spring blade broken in head | Replace blade |
| Distributor fails | Worn contact point in head | Cut down insulation |
| Distributor fails | Oil on contact block blade | Clean with kerosene |
| Distributor fails | Contact points welded | File smooth, adjust |
| Distributor fails | Loose on shaft | Reset and retime |
| Distributor fails | Coil shorted from dampness | Dry out thoroughly |
| Distributor fails | Punctured condensor | Replace |
| Distributor fails | Secondary wire short circuited | Replace or tape |
| Distributor fails | Secondary wire disconnected in switch | Connect to proper terminal |
| Starting motor fails | Corroded terminals | Clean and grease |
| Starting motor fails | Brush loose | Tighten and adjust to even contact |
| Starting motor fails | Terminal from battery short circuited to frame | Clean and tape |
| Starting motor fails | Starting switch short circuited | Cut off end of wire, make new connection |
| Starting motor fails | Bennidict spring broken | Replace |
| Starting motor fails | Battery discharged | Recharge battery |
| Generator fails to charge | Disconnected | Replace heavy wire |
| Generator fails to charge | Short circuit in cut-out switch | Make new connection |
| Generator fails to charge | Brush out of contact | Adjust contact |
| Generator noise | Dry bearings | Lubricate with light oil |
| Battery discharges too quickly | Plate short circuited | Take to service station |
| Battery discharges too quickly | Leaky cell | Take to service station |
| Battery discharges too quickly | Weak solution | Take to service station |
| Battery discharges too quickly | Deteriorated plates | Take to service station |
| Battery discharges too quickly | Dry plates | Cover plates with distilled water |
| Battery overcharges | Insufficient use of current | Burn lights and use starter frequently |
| Battery heats | Overcharging | Burn lights and use starter frequently |
| Horn fails | Wire short circuited | Replace or tape |
| Horn fails | Brush making poor contact | Adjust brush evenly |
| Horn fails | Brush making heavy contact | Adjust brush lightly |
| Horn fails | Drum too tightly adjusted | Adjust through funnel |
| Squeaks | Body loose on frame | Tighten four retainer bolts |
| Squeaks | Dry springs | Lubricate with graphite grease |
| Squeaks | Fuel tank loose | Tighten bands |
| Squeaks | Radiator loose | Tighten studs |
| Squeaks | Drip pan loose | Compress coil springs |
| Squeaks | Fender irons loose | Tighten bolts |
| Squeaks | Upper steering shaft bearing dry | Pack with heavy grease |
| Rattles | Loose spring alignment clamp | Bush and tighten |
| Rattles | Spread rod clevis open | Draw up ends and grease |
| Rattles | Demountable rim lugs loose | Draw up or replace |
| Rattles | Door hinge screws loose | Draw up |
| Rattles | Door lock worn | Bush slot |
| Lights jar out | Wires short circuited | Tape worn insulation |
| Lights jar out | Weak plunger spring in contact plug | Stretch spring |
| Lights fail | Poor contact | Remove wire and tape insulation |
| Lights fail | Poor contact | Remove plugs and adjust firmly in sockets |
| Lights dim | Globes carboned | Replace |
| Lights burn with black spot in center | Globe out of adjustment | Turn back into socket firmly |