SHORT CIRCUITS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 368, 1 November 1932, Page 2

SHORT CIRCUITS

Here is an excellent way of overcoming a seized piston.( '-Pour petrol' and oil (or kerose'ne) on 'the top of the piston and put hot water in the water-jackets. Engage the s'tartinghandle and place the jack under it so thdt 'worlring 't-hb pack-will raise the car off the springs. The whole of this weight'-is actually •being carried by the- seized piston, and as - soon as "the petrol, oil and hot" water start to work, the weight will free "the piston. * .* ' The first thing to do when lookihg for a missing spark plug- is to examine the ignition by releasing the wire to each' 'plug indivi'dually,' runniiig the engine sloHvly and seeing if sparks are formed when- the wire is about- 3-16th of an inch away from the terminal. If the ignition is caiTeet a spai-k apjjears ' Without a miss':at each' plug terminal. Then place the metal part of a wood-handled screwdriver on the terminal and the ' engine. 'If the 'engine runs as formerly the plug is faulty; if th'e engine misses more, the plug is a good one. * * * * . if plugs which have been screwfed strictly 'to' the 'stahdhrdi-gduge thread are forced in with a heavy spannef they may "seize" in the enginei- When. this happens 'ease the threlads hy means of an improvised -diei5 Stectfr* a -steel nut of -the- correct pitch'-'aud diameter of the thread of the plug; after slottirig'-It with a saw, put in the vice so that the slot can be closed up slightly. Then apply some fine emery and oil to the thread and work the plug ihto th'e 'riut with a to-and fro movement untib it is eased 'sufficeintly to screw in the cylinder without using force. * * Should the fan or speedometer belt break and you have no tools with' which to make a permanent repairj this idea 'will get yCU- home'r'Pierce each of the ends in two places about a quarter of an-inch from- the break; Push pieces of wire (a hairpin wheri strengthened is ideal) through thd hol'es and twist th'e' end" togdther to draw trie bfelt- tight. See that thd ends oi the wire are on the side away from the -pulley. Then press the wire into the leather. ♦ * • ♦ By soaking the porcelain section of sparking plUgs in a solution of carbon- disulphide '(obtainable- ■ • from any chemist) they will bC'cleansed of lall carbon. The solution dissolveS th'e carbon,^ leaving ! the poroelairi bright. This method can be used -for fixea,.aS'1wbH as demo'uritable plii^s! In the former case, soak the whole P'lug in the solution. " at