The modern gasoline automobile; its design, construction, operation and maintenance; a practical comprehensive treatise explaining all principles pertaining to gasoline automobiles and their component parts ..

Front matter

THE MODERN

Gasoline Automobile

ITS DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

Preface To 1921 Edition

The favorable reception of this treatise by the motoring public has been gratifying, to say the least, and in presenting the ninth edition of this work to the motoring fraternity the autlior wishes to thank those readers and reviewers who have made suggestions for improving or enlarging the scope of the exposition. The improvements in the automobile during the seven years this work has been on the market have been more in the nature of refinement of body lines and improvement of mechanical detail than any radical change in principles or basic design. The most pronounced tendency is the adoption of eight and twelve-cylinder V motors, such as used in aeroplanes, to automobile propulsion, but this is not general. All latest engine types and auxiliaries are described in this edition.

While the major portion of the 1919 edition of this work remains unchanged, owing to the highly developed state of the art at the time it was prepared, it has been found desirable to include much additional matter in this latest edition in order to keep pace with the progress of the industry. The entire work has been thoroughly revised and a number of corrections made in the text. Much supplementary matter has been added relating to ignition, the action of generators and basic principles on which they operate, so this subject should be more easy of comprehension. Entirely new material has been written on tractors in three- and four-wheel forms, cyclecars and agricultural tractors or automobile plows; combination gasoline-electric drive, front-wheel and four-wheel drive and steer systems, and other important developments in power-propelled vehicles. The discussion of power transmission methods has been augmented by consideration of the spiral bevel gear and two-speed direct drive rear axle, as well as several forms of worm gear drive. The subject of

Preface to 1921 Edition electrical motor starting systems lias been considered at length and leading s3^stems and their components described. A discussion on ball and roller bearings, their maintenance and installation, has also been included, and a number of other features of timely interest, such as latest types of gasoline and kerosene carburetors, cyclecar power plants, the slide valve motor, detachable wire wheels, etc. have been added to bring the work thoroughly up to date. Many • new illustrations have been made to illustrate the matter and the treatment of some of the subjects changed to some extent upon the advice of various educators to permit the work to be used to somewhat better advantage in teaching classes in engineering in various technical schools that have adopted this work as a text-book on elementary automobile engineering.

Victor W. Page.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In greatly increasing the scope of this work to make it of greater value as a text-book on modern automobile construction and design practice^, the writer has followed the suggestions of many teachers who utilize this volume as a text-book and it is but fitting to express his appreciation of the kindly and constructive criticism that has been offered. Much material has been added to this new edition and an effort has been made to consider industrial vehicles more in detail than in previous impressions. An acknowledgment is due to the publishers of the ^fi\utomobile/’ ^^Motor Age,” ^^Horseless Age” and ^Tommercial Vehicle” because of frequent reference to these publica- . tions in preparing this new edition.

The Author.

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Chapter I Motor-car Types, Their Parts And Functions

Defining Trend of Modern Practice — Explaining Components of Motor Cars and Considering Functions of Each Group of Mechanism —

Parts of Typical Pleasure Car Chassis — Assembling Typical Chassis — Arrangement of Truck Parts — Wind Resistance and Body Design — Classification of Motor Car Types — Standard Body Nomenclature— General Trend in Pleasure Car Bodies — Detachable and Permanent Top Types — Four-Passenger Roadsters — New Body Designs and Seating Arrangements — Body Dimension Data — Motor Truck Design Tendencies — Three-Wheel Tractor — Four-Wheel Tractors — Trailer Types — Two-Wheel and Four- Wheel-Drive Trucks — Light Cars and Cyclecars — Agricultural Tractors and Truck Tractors — Automobile Plow — Farm Tractors — Armored Automobiles — Mobile Repair Shops — Ford Truck Conversion Sets — Combination Gasoline-Electric Car — Drawbar Pull of Motor Trucks — How to Use Chart — Grade Determination 17-116

Chapter II Modern Engine Types And Their Operating Principles

Forms of Power Plants Commonly Used — How Power is Generated —

How Gasoline Engine Works — Comparing Cannon and Gas Engine — Four-Cycle Engine Action — Internal Combustion Motor Parts and Functions — Low Speed Single Cylinder Auto Engine — High Speed Single Cylinder Engine — Sequence of Cycles in One- and Two-Cylinder Engines — Sequence of Cycles in Multiple Cylinder Engines — Actual Duration of Different Strokes — Typical Engine Types Described — Two-Cylinder Opposed Motor — Four-Cylinder Engines — Features of Knight Slide Valve Motor — How Knight Motor Works — Sleeve Valve Action — Eight-Cylinder V Engine — Torque of Various Engine Types — Eight-Cylinder Advantages — Twelve-Cylinder Engines — Operating Principles of Two-Cycle Engines— Two-Port Two-Cycle Engine Action — Three-Port Two Cycle Engines — Differential Piston Two-Cycle Engines — Why Tv/o-Cycle Engine is Not Used in Modern Automobiles — Amplex Two-Cycle Engine — Legros Two-Cycle Engine — Cote Two-Cycle Engine — Rayner Two-Cycle Engine — Power Plant Installation — Three- and Four-Point Support — Unit Power Plants — ^Motor Location — 1917 Automobile 'Engine Practice — Typical Modern Engines — Power Plant Equipment of Various Cars — Horsepower Table — Cyclecar Engines — Diesel Engines for Automobile Work — Constant Pressure Cycle Possibilities 117-213

Chapter III Cylinder Construction And Valve Systems

Method of Cylinder Construction — Individual Cylinder Castings — Block Casting Advantages — Removable Head Construction — Water Jackets Cast Integral — Influence on Crank Shaft Design — Combustion Chamber Design — Bore and Stroke Ratio — Meaning of Piston Speed — Advantages of Off-set Cylinders — Influence of Cylinder Construction on Engine Design — Valve Location of Vital Import — “T”

Head Construction — “L” Head Construction — Valve-in-the-Head T}"pes — Concentric Valves — Valve Design and Construction — Composite Construction — Valve Operation — Cam Forms — Valve Lift Plungers — Valve Operating Means — Valve Placing Methods Reviewed— Methods of Driving Cam Shaft — Silent Chain Drive —

New Valve Operating Systems — Overhead Camshafts — Positively Closed Valves — Valves Operated by Drum Cams — Why Four Valves Per Cylinder Give More Power — Novel Sixteen Valve Designs — Unconventional Valve Arrangement — Piston and Rotary Valve Motors — Slide Valve Motors — Miesse Engine — Itala Rotary Valve Motor — Reynold’s Rotary Valve Design — Miscellaneous Rotary Valve Forms — Rotary Cone Valve of Carbon — Sphinx Ring Valve Motor — Darracq Rotary Distributor Motor — Hewitt Piston Valve Motor — Fisher Slide Valve Motor — Valve Timing — Blowing Back — Exhaust Closing, Inlet Opening — Closing the Inlet Valve — Time of Ignition — Typical Timing Diagrams 214-303

Chapter IV Pistons, Crankshaft And Crankcase Parts

Constructional Details of Pistons — Piston Forms — Wrist Pin Retention ^Methods — Piston Ring Construction — Leak-Proof Rings — Aluminum Cylinders and Pistons — Connecting Rod Forms — Connecting Rods for “V” Engines — Cam Shaft Forms — Crankshaft Types Outlined— Built-up Crankshaft — Ball Bearing Crankshafts — Counterweighted Crankshafts — Lanchester-Packard Vibration Damper —

Fly Wheel Construction and Retention — Positive Fly Wheel Retention Important — Fly Wheel Marks — Engine Base Construction — Barrel Type Crankcase — Steel Engine Cylinders . . . 304-348

Chapter V Fuels, Fuel Supply And Carburetor Action

Liquid Fuels and Distillates of Crude Petroleum — Gasoline— Kerosene — Benzol and Its Properties — Special Vaporizers Needed for Kerosene — Advantages and Disadvantages of Alcohol — Alcohol-Benzol Fuel — Taylor-White Process — Solid Gasoline as a Fuel — Principles of Carburetion Outlined — Air Needed to Burn Gasoline — Vliat a Carburetor Should Do — Liquid Storage and Supply — Storage in Cowl Tank — Rear Tank Location — Fuel Tank Location — Advantages Summarized — Stewart Vacuum Fuel Feed — Air Stoves — Church Fuel Feed — Carter Diaphragm Pump — Early Vaporizer Forms — Wick Surface Vaporizer — Bubbling Type Vaporizer — Spraying Type Carburetors — Mixing Valves — Lanchester Wick Feed Carburetor — Development of Float Feed Carburetor — Maybach’s Early Design — Elements of Carburetor Design — Venturi Type Mixing Chamber — Concentric Float and Mixing Chambers — Problem of Float Bowl Design — Gasoline Spray Nozzle Forms — Typical Auxiliary Air Valves — Methods of Gas Supply Regulation — Centrifugal Governors — Hydraulic Governor — ^Kramer Governor 349-391

Chapter VI Typical Carburetors And Fuel System Auxiliaries

Construction of Modern Carburetors— Schebler Model E — New Sthebler Metering Pin Type — Kingston — Ford Carburetor — Holley Carburetors— ^Mercedes — Stromberg One-Nozzle Type — Compound Nozzle Zenith Carburetor — Duplex Carburetor — Stromberg Type ‘‘M.B.” Carburetor — Claudel — Stewart Metering Pin Type — Scott-Robin- ^

son — Rayfield Mixed Type — Multiple Nozzle Vaporizers — Stromberg Two-Jet Type — Novel F. I. A. T. Design — Sauer Economy — Tillotson Two- Jet Type — Ball and Ball Two-Stage Carburetor— Marvel- Buick Carburetor — Krice Annular Spray Carburetor — Master Multiple Jet Form — Utility of Gasoline Strainers — How Kerosene May be Utilized — Holley Kerosene Carburetors — Compound Manifolds— Supplying Kerosene by Direct Injection — Vaporizer Using Water Spray — Bi-fuel Carburetors — Bennett Kerosene Carburetor — Good Kerosene Vaporizer — Partial Combustion Type Carburetor — Fuel Mixing Valve — A Camphor Vaporizer — Pre-heating Fuel —

Air Cleaner — Primers for Easy Starting — Vapor Humidifiers —

Fuel Economizing Devices — How High Altitude Affects Power — ■

The Diesel System — Intake Manifold Construction — Compensating for Varying Atmospheric Conditions — Disposition of Exhaust Gases — Exhaust Silencers — Ejector Type Exhaust Manifold — Utility of Cut-out Valve Explained — Multiple Exhaust System Advantages 392-482

Chapter VII Modern Electrical Ignition Systems

Automobile Power Plant Ignition Systems Outlined — Chemical Current Producers — Mechanical Generators of Electricity — Essentials of Battery Ignition Systems — Functions of Timers and Distributors — Operating Principles of Induction Coil — Spark Plug Construction and Action Defined — Advantages of Two-Spark Ignition — Typical Battery Ignition Groups — Low-tension Ignition Systems — High-tension Magneto Forms — Typical Double Ignition Systems . 483-571

Chapter VIII Lubrication And Engine Cooling Systems

Reason for Lubrication of Mechanism — Definition of Friction — Theory of Lubrication — Requirements of Engine Oils — Derivation of Lubricants— Classification of Lubricants — Correct Oil Body of Vital Importance— How Viscosity is Tested — Oil Destruction Due to Exposure to Heat — Sight-Feed Oil Cups — Gravity Feed Systems — Mechanical Oiling Methods — Oil Pump Forms — Oil Distribution Methods — Oil Supply by Constant Level Splash System — Saxon Air Lock System — Hupmobile Flywheel Oil Distribution — Distributing Lubricant by Pressure — Function of Oil Pressure Gauge — Regulating Oil Pressure — 1917 Pierce- Arrow System — Oiling V Engines — Individual Pump Oilers — Lubrication Don’ts — Why Cooling Systems are Necessary — Cooling Systems Generally Applied — Cooling by Positive Water Circulation — Cooling Action of Radiator — Water-Circulating Pumps — Water Circulation by Natural System — Radiator Location — Cooling Fan Construction — Radiator With Air Shutters — Thermostatic Temperature Regulators — Radiator Construction — Solderless Radiator for Trucks — Direct Air Cooling Methods — Utility of Auxiliary Exhaust Valves — Air Cooled Two-cycle Engine — Blower Cooled Engines 572-630

Chapter IX Clutches And Changed Speed Gearing

Utility of Clutch and Gearset Defined — Why Clutch is Necessary — Clutch Forms and Their Requirements — How Friction Clutches Transmit Power — Materials Employed to Increase Friction — Forms of Cone Clutches — How Leather Facing is Attached — Securing Easy Engagement— Three-and Five-Plate Clutches — Features of Multiple Disk Clutches — Why Change Speed Gearing is Necessary — Face Friction Gearing — Planetary Gearing — Individual Clutch Trans- Mission — Gearbox Using Silent Chains — How Sliding Gearsets Operate — Progressive Shift — Selective Gear Shift — Four Speed Gearboxes — Change Speed Gear Installation — Unit Power Plant — Combined With Countershaft — Transmission Gear for Four-Wheel Drive — Gas-Electric Systems — Hoadley System — Couple Gear System— Entz Electric Transmission — Magnetic Centrifugal Clutch System — Vulcan Electric Gearshift 631-710

Chapter X The Chassis And Its Components

Frame Design and Construction — Underslung Frames — Materials Employed in Frame Construction — Tubing — Wood — Steel — Typical Steel Pressed Frames — Raised Frame Side ^lembers — Cambered Frames — Brush Frame — Suspension of Motor Vehicles — Design of

Leaf Springs — Common Forms of Springs — Semi-Elliptic Springs —

Full Elliptic — Three-quarter Elliptic — Cantilever Springs — Unusual Spring Designs — Quarter Elliptic Springs — Double Springs — Springs Without Shackles — Spring Attachment — Modern Chassis Designs — Adjustable Clutch and Brake Pedals — Universal Joint Types — Spring Plate Universal Coupling — Why Fabric Couplings are Preferred to Steel — How Automobiles are Steered — Steering Gears — Worm and Worm Wheel Reduction — Nut and Rack Types — Lubricants for Chassis Parts — Suggestions for Oiling . . 711-754

Chapter XI Front And Rear Axles And Brakes

Front Axle Types — Steering Knuckle Forms — Power Transmission System— Chain Drive — Bevel Gear Drive — Trend of 1917 Motor Truck Driving Systems — Worm Gear Drive — Internal Drive Axles — Rear Axle Forms — Live Rear Axle — Stationery Axle — Rear Axle Nomenclature— Semi-Floating Axle — Three-Quarter Floating Axle — Full-Floating Axle — Purpose of Differential Gear — Differential Gear Action — Differential Substitutes — Positive Drive Differential — Typical Worm Gear Drive Assembly — Skew Bevel Drive Gearing — Two Speed Direct Drive Axle — Differential Locks — Single Chain Drive — Four Wheel Drive and Steer System — Front Wheel Drive System — Utility of Motor Car Brake-s — Forms of Motor Car Brakes — Internal Brakes — External Brakes — Multiple Disc Brake — Front Wheel Brakes — Vacuum Operated Brake — Hydraulic Brake — Anti- Friction Bearings — Ball Bearing Types — Roller Bearing Types 755-829

Chapter XII Wheels, Rims And Tires

Wood and Wire Wheels Compared — Resilient or Spring Wheels — Steel Disc Wheels — Advantages of Pneumatic Tires — Pneumatic Tire Construction Outlined — Forms of Tire Treads — Tire Protectors and Non-Skid Attachments — Demountable Rim Forms — Features of Cushion Tires — Solid Tire Types — Tools and Supplies for Tire Restoration— Faults of Tires and Their Elimination — Apparatus for Tire Repairing 830-882

Chapter XIII Automobile Starting And Lighting Systems

Self-starters for Gasoline Engines — Types of Starters — Features of Ignition Starters — Compressed Air Starting Systems — Electric Starting Systems — One Unit System — Two Unit Systems — Function of Generator — Types of Generators — Storage Batteries — Automatic Controls — Circuit Breaker — Governors — Ampere Meter — Auto-Lite Starting System — Delco Starting System — Typical Starting Motors — Automatic Pinion Shift — Overrunning Clutches

12 Contents

— Electric Lighting Systems — Bulbs and Lamp Forms — Combination Lamps — Xovelties in Electric Lamps — Kemco Fan Generator — Care of the Storage Battery — Battery Charging Methods — Inspection and Care of Generator and Starting Motor — Lamp Troubles and Their Causes 883-925

CHAPTER XIV’

MOTOR CAR EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES

Gas-Lighting Appliances and Their LTse — Wind-Shield Forms — Shock Absorbers — Bumpers — Speedometers and Mileage Indicators — Tool Equipment for Ordinary Repairs — Miscellaneous Supplies of Value to the Motorist — How Supplies are Carried .... 926-955

Chapter XV How To Drive And Care For An Automobile

Operating Advice and Explanation of Automobile Control Methods — Utility of Spark and Throttle Levers — Obtaining Various Speed Ratios with Friction Transmission — How Planetary Gearsets are Controlled — Shifting Sliding Gears by Progressive and Selective Systems — Standard Automobile Control Sj’stems Described in Detail— Maintenance Hints of Value — Suggestions for Oiling — Winter Care of Automobiles . . . 956-985

Chapter XVI Practical Hints For Locating Engine Troubles

Practical Hints to Assist in Locating Power-Plant Troubles — Systematic Detection of Conditions to which Imperfect Operation Can Be Ascribed — Faults in the Ignition System — Derangements ol the Carburetion Group and Their Symptoms — Cooling and Lubrication Group Troubles 986-997

Chapter XVII Upkeep Of Chassis, Body And Upholstery

Keeping Up the Motor-Car Chassis — Common Defects of Clutches and Gearsets — Faults in Chain- and Shaft-Driving Systems — Troubles in Front and Rear Axles — Adjustment of Brakes — Care of Miscellaneous Chassis Components — Maintenance of Body Finish, Tops, and Upholstery 998-1011

GENERAL USTTEODUCTION

The modern motor car has reached that period in its development where one can safely say that it has become perfected to such an extent that further improvements must be in matters of detail only and not in alterations of essential components. It has been so widely adopted and is used in so many industrial applications that even the most conservative must admit the automobile has ceased to be an experiment and it is a reliable method of transportation that has demonstrated its worth conclusively.

It is said that there are over 8,500,000 motor vehicles in use in the leading countries of the world, and the yearly output of the world’s manufactures is approximated at about 1.750,000 cars per annum. Of this number 6,500,000 power-propelled vehicles are used in the United States and the 1919 output of domestic producers is estimated at nearly 1,500,000 automobiles. The enormous demand existing for this practical conveyance has impelled the manufacture of well-developed types of motor cars which can be sold at very moderate prices because they are produced in large numbers. This has resulted in a wide increase in the number of motorists and many who formerly could not afford the higher priced automobiles have become motor car operators because they can maintain the moderate priced cars at present obtainable without too great expense.

The ranks of motorists might be augmented by many who have the means to purchase but who believe that the maintenance cost would exceed that of a horse-drawn conveyance of equal capacity, and the natural impression which prevails that only those well versed mechanically can operate motor cars successfully can be dispelled only by a better understanding of motor car construction. When one takes cognizance of the many vehicles successfully operated by compara-

General Introduction lively inexperienced persons it is apparent that operating is not difficult, bnt it is the repairing and maintenance costs that deter many ■.from owning motor cars.

There has been no lack of instruction books or elementary treatise dealing with motor vehicle construction, maintenance or operation, but in these, for the most part, a common error has been made of assuming that the reader had more or less knowledge of mechanics. It is evident that any work which presupposes a certain amount of training on the part of the reader cannot be successfully employed in teaching the rudiments of any science. At the other hand, pamphlets which are too elementary in character cannot convey a practical working knowledge because so much is left for the motorist to learn after he has grasped the main principles underlying the design. Many business or professional men do not possess even an elementary knowledge of mechanical principles, and as this class forms the largest proportion of the motoring element, in defining the basic principles of an automobile, it is necessary to use simple exposition that oftentimes appears to be elementary to the student or engineer w^ell versed in the subject under discussion.

In the present work the writer will endeavor to define the essential elements of the modern gasoline motor car, and after explaining the basic principles upon which the successful use depends, it is proposed to describe actual forms and typical mechanisms so that their practical application and the relation the various parts bear to each other can be easily understood. It is obvious that familiarity with the machinery of an automobile will enable the operator to give intelligent attention which will insure the longest life and minimum operating expense.

It is believed that a systematic and logical arrangement of the subject will enable the reader to gain an understanding of the functions of each part, and the typical groups of mechanism illustrated

General Introduction and described should make for a better understanding of the various parts as they actually are in the leading automobiles. While it has been the practice in works of this character to include a general exposition of all types of self-propelled conveyances, including gasoline, steam, and electric automobiles, in the present instance, matter relating to the steam or electric motor car will not be given. The writer will discuss only those automobiles in which the gasoline engine or hydro-carbon motor is utilized as a prime mover.

The omission of the historical matter which usually prefaces a work of this character may be criticized as well as the elimination of many machine details that are commonly presented chiefly because of their value in showing progress made. As the science of automobile engineering has reached that point where radical departures from the conventional or standard construction are not considered with favor, it is safe to assume that the era of standardization and stability of design is at hand.

The repair hints and suggestions given for maintenance and equipments are based on a wide practical experience which dates since the inception of the industry as a designer, repairer, and operator of motor vehicles, and should be of exceptional value to those who have not had an opportunity to become familiar with automobiles but who can apply the experience of others to good advantage. More detailed information on automobile repairing may be secured from a special treatise that is a companion volume to this one, Automobile Repairing Made Easy.” Price $3.50, and published by the same publishers as this book. The hints given in this volume are only intended for the owner-operator, or chauffeur, not the expert repairman.

The Author.

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Modern Gasoline Automobile