FUNCTION OF SELF-STARTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 March 1928, Page 15

FUNCTION OF SELF-STARTER.

HOW IT IS ABUSED. The fact that there is considerable misusage of the starter will be obvious to those who are observant as regards novice-owned cars. It is not unusual to hear a starter kept continuously engaged without effecting a start until it almost comes to a stop. a sure sign tliat, for the time being, the battery has been exhausted. The only conclusion as regards this practice is that the car i.s being handled by a very inexperienced, if not a care less, owner, who is not conversant with the elementary principles of starting. The term “starter” should not lie taken too literally, as strictly speaking the function of the starter i.s to give initial rotation to the engine. If an engine will not start in a matter ,of a few seconds—say, 15 seconds at the outside—it may reasonably he

concluded that the starting conditions are unfavourable, and it is merely straining the battery hv an excessive discharge and causing wear to the starter gear. The mechanical parts have necessarily to be of small dimensions and well made, as the gear is not designed to withstand the severe ill-usage it, may receive in persistent attempts to start an engine tliat cannot start. Generally, the fault can he quickly nnt right at the carburetter. Another fact, to keep in mind is that the running down of the battery is certain for a time to have- an adverse effect on the lighting, -as a considerable amount of recharging will lie necessary to restore the voltage to normal.

CARBURETTOR WATER. 'l’llere is a difference between water in the carburetter and water in the gas. it would .save many ear owners considerable trouble if they appreciated the distinction. There can lie water in the carburetter despite the use of the finest, grade of petrol. Also there ean he water in the petrol purchased at an unreliable filling station, yet. without disturbing the operation of the engine. Water collects in some carburet ter.s merely through condensation in the intake mainfold and the carburetter passages themselves. Gas filters keep out the water that has been picked up from a roadside pump, but they cannot stop this condensation. Just a drop of water at the bottom of the. high speed jet in the carburetter will cause trouble. More water collects if a car is used only for short runs.