JAMMED STARTER

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 132, 7 June 1930, Page 27

JAMMED STARTER

; A FOREMAN'S ADVICE ; The method of rocking a car to rc- \ lease a jammed starter is not favoured ; by the foreman of a garage in New ; South Wales. He gives the following reasons: —(1) Rocking the car in gear only digs the jammed teeth of the flywheel aud the Bondix or other, pinion deeper into each other. (2) The power used in rocking the car in gear also causes bending of the armature shaft of the starting motor. (3) Apart from the (1) and (2> results, it is possible if these units are extra strong to even crack tho starter housing,, as most of these where used are made of cast iron. He recommends another method. Assuming, ho savs, that the starter pinion Bendix has jammed with tho gear teeth of the flywheel:—(l) Switch off the ignition. (2) Insert starting handle in engine. (3) Bring handle to downward position, that is, past, top dead centre (handles usually have two' or three positions in which they can be inserted). (4.) Give handle one smart kick with sole of foot downwards, and the starter is free. ''This method, he adds', from years of experience, averages nine out of ten- releases. e For the tenth, or obstinate, case, release the starter, holding bolts about one-eighth of an inch (say four turns); give the starter a slight shake in its mounting; tighten the bolts. and try the starting handle to move the engine. If this fails, entirely remove the starter, being careful to insulato or disconnect the main lead or cable at the battery first, as some cars have their starter switch as a unit with the starter. CAUSE AND EFFECT Every now and again what passes for the effect of trouble is, in reality, its i cause. ..-..•■ ' Take, for instance, the; ease of an engine that jerks annoyhigly ivhej- tho driver, tries to ruiv at low speeds in high gear. . One of the first things he notices is that the action of. the engine seems to mako' the universal joints of the drive line rattle. Somehow or other it revcr seems to occur to him that the univci-suls themselves may be the cause 'of the engine not runing smoothly." If an engine is not firing eveutly, for any one of a number of causes, the drive line, including universals and pinion, are sure to suffer. Tiicy will oven knock and rattle. But if they are worn or loose enough for this it sometimes happens that they are the cause of making tho engine behave as it docs. Many times it is a question whether the, engine overheats the radiator or vice versa. A DANGEROUS PRACTICE AVith tho slogan "Cutting in is a. driving sin" the California Committee on Public Safety conducted an educational campaign during the early part of last month, with the co-operation of the Press, radio stations, service clubs, and theatres. Emphasis was laid on the foolishness and dangerous nature of tho practice of cutting in sharply ahead of other cars on the road. "If the other driver is not quick enough to swerve aside or apply brakes, the 'euttcr-hi,' in all probability, will bo involved in an accident for which he or she will bo responsible. Even if this is not tho result, tho act of cutting-in is discourteous to other motorists. Often it results in the other ear being swerved to a collision with cars or objects alongside tho road."

Tho legal department of tho California State Automobile Association pointed out, that the State law regarding overtaking a vehielo says simply: "Any vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at least two feet to the left thereof, and. shall not agaiu be driven to the right side of the highway until reasonably clear of such overtaken vehicle." (N.B. —Their rule of the road is the opposite to ours.) HORN AGAINST THIEVES On ears fitted with coil ignition, a simple method of detecting attempted theft is to fit a two-way switch in tho lead between tho ignition switch and tho coil, tho oxtra terminal being wired to the electric horn. The two-way switch is fitted in a concealed position, and when tho car is left unattended tho switch arm is moved over to the horn circuit. Thus the ignition system is isolated, and when the ignition switch is turned to tho "on" position tho horn will sound. It is unlikely that a thief will stop to investigate the phenomenon!