Your Armstrong-Sidcleley-Its Care and Maintenance

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 220, 6 December 1927, Page 7

Your Armstrong-Sidcleley-Its Care and Maintenance

A SL A special 'feature to assist the oumer-driver to obtain the maximum results in performance by the proper care and treatment of his car.

.Accessibility is a feature of the Armgtr ong-Siddeley 14 h.p. car, and the detailed instruction book with every car is straightforward reading to ownerdrivers concerning this high-grade English car.

The carburation, lubrication, and cooling systems are so efficient that it is very seldom necessary to decarbonise the combustion chambers, distances of over 10,000 miles often being covered before the head need lie removed. The operation is then a perfectly straightforward task as the book explains. Hints jworth while are these:—When raising the head it is inadvisable to attempt to force a screwdriver or other sharp instrument between the head and cylinder platform, as this procedure, will almost certainly damage the copper and asbestos gasket. A tap with a wooden mallet on the side of the head should assist in breaking the joint. Another method is to crank the engine and allow the compression to raise the block. When the head has been replaced the corner nuts should be tightened equally gradually, the intermediate nuts following so «t* to distribute the pressure: evenly on the whole surface and ensure the making of a water and compression tight joint. When the engine has been run after a top overhaul, it may he possible feo tighten up the holding down nuts slightly. Lubrication is life to the motor-car. After the first 500-1000 miles run. the oil left in the sump should be drained off from the plug in the base chamber. The engine can then he re-charged with fresh oil, the old oil being drawn away. The cleaning out of the sump with paraffin preparatory to refilling with fresh oil is unnecessary and only tends to stir up or loosen the residue which would otherwise remain safely out of the way at the bottom of the sump. The oil filter which is discovered by removing the brass hexagon nut located ■midway along the offside of the crankcase, should be removed and cleaned after every 1000 miles. Care should he taken when replacing the gauge and nut to see that the latter fits over the rounded outer edge of the former. The oil pressure gauge should never fall below 101 b pressure at touring speeds, although it may do so when the engine is idling. If an owner desires to change over from the mineral to a vegetable oil or .Vice versa the whole lubrication system jshould be drained out before refilling. I Every 200 miles the cover enclosing (the overhead valve rockers should be removed, and the eight rocker bearings

and push rod cups should be uouchej with oil from the oil can. No harm can be done by allowing some of the oil to flood into the recesses on which t#he valve springs are mounted. If the lubrication of the rockers is neglected for a long time squeaking will take place. A sticking valve can be curved bv the aid of the oil can. Occasionally it is necessary to verify and adjust clearance between the valve stem and rocker arm. For this purpose a special gauge is provided in the tool kit, the correct clearance being .008 in.» Sticking valves arc sometimes indicated by misfiring or uneven running, troubles which are nearly always overcome by a dose of paraffin or lubricating oil. The only part of the magneto requiring lubrication is the distributor gear wheel bearing and eight drops of light oil poured into the oil well at the distributor end of the magneto every 2000 miles are sufficient. The sparking gaps of the plugs should be about o.4mm. In connection with the electric lighting dynamo the rear ball bearing is lubricated through the oil hole in the hexagon plug at the rear end of the dynamo; a few drops of oil every 1000 miles. Here are points summarised: Daily or every 200 miles: Replenish crankcase oil, lubricate valve rocker. At end of first 500-1000 miles: Draul off and refill sump. At end of each 1000 miles: Remove and clean oil filter gauge; give a few drops of oil to dynamo. At end of each 2000 miles: Remove bottom cap of petrol filter and clean out sediment. Annually or at end of each 10.000 miles: Clean out silencer. At the end of each 500 miles: Use oil gun on the connections fitted to the clutch spigot, each end of clutch shaft rear hub bearings, front huh bearings, swivel pins, cross steering rod pins, steering rod greasers, front brake universals and camshaft hearings, rear spring collars and shackle pin bearings. Using the oil gun fill up steering box with thick gear oil; using the oil gun lubricate the five holes in the pedal brackets and the two holes in throttle control tube brackets mounted on the dashboard. At the end of each 2000 miles verify the oil level in the gear box and back axle. Occasionally apply three or four drops of oil to the ball connections on control rods at the bottom of the ignition and throttle levers.