Handling Soot in Antique Car Engines (honda mower parts)
By Peter Salmonford
In the course of running soot is formed in the engine, the quantity varying with the richness of the mixture and the facility for the lubricating oil to get past the piston. This carbonaceous deposit, combined with the non-inflammable constituents of road dust which are sucked through the carburetter, adheres to the cylinder walls and combustion head, causing falling off of power, and in time preignition. When the valve cap is removed it will be found that its underside is coated with soot, and sometimes even with a hard deposit, an indication of the state of the interior of the cylinder. To remove this carbon deposit, the usual procedure is to take off the cylinder so as to expose the parts and scratch off the deposit with a screwdriver or some similar instrument. From the tops of the piston the deposit can be cut away with a knife, and when removed the surfaces should be polished with fine emery cloth, as deposit adheres less easily to a polished surface. The deposit must be completely removed from all parts of the cylinder as well as the piston, a matter of some difficulty.
There have been one or two inventions evolved from time to time to remove the deposit without necessitating the dismantling of the engine. One of these is to insert a steel ball of about 5 inch diameter into the cylinder and then to run the engine, its action being to hammer the carbon deposit and so chip it off the surface. Another, and more promising, process consists in passing a stream of oxygen into the cylinder, lighting it, and so causing a chemical combination to take place between the carbon and the oxygen. As soon as all the carbon has combined the flame goes out, and it is known that the cylinder is clean. The writer has not tried either of these schemes, but mentions them as matters of interest. The ball process, however, would seem rather risky.
To keep an engine in good running order the valves, apart from grinding-in, require careful attention. In the olden days silence of running was not of great importance, but nowadays it is an essential, and to obtain it one of the most important points is to see that the clearance between the valve tappet and the bottom of the valve stem is small. As the engine runs it will be understood that the tappet rises rapidly and strikes the foot of the valve. If there is a large clearance between these two the impact between the tappet and the valve causes a clicking noise, which should be stopped by adjusting the tappet head close up to the valve stem. The usual distance or clearance is about 5 inches. The top of the tappet head is inlaid with fibre to reduce the noise, and in course of time this fibre becomes dented or recessed. The tappet should then be removed and its head filed flush so as to remove the indentation.
Peter Salmonford is a keen fan of cars, and likes to write about antique and modern vehcles. Take a look at his other articles on hydrogen conversion, the benefits of an electric car kit and using browns gas in your own car.
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Buying a Used Car Online
By Jay Gaulard
There are a couple of major benefits to buying a used car online. You do not have to spend hours going from one dealership to another. Even better, you will not have to deal with overly pushy salespeople attempting to sell you more than you can logically afford. You can always look through your local newspaper’s online automotive classified website.
Tip #1 - Before Buying a Used Auto
Before buying a used car online, learn everything you can about what it should and could include. Learn about both standard and optional automotive equipment and the fair market value for the used car. Also, consider your budget. Knowing how much you have available before you start looking will help narrow down your choices. You will also be less tempted by an unaffordable auto.
Examine exactly why you want to buy a used car. The way you will use it can have a big impact on what type of auto you purchase. If you need an automotive for family outings or carpooling, a 2-seater sports car will not work.
Tip #2 - Questions to Ask Auto Seller
Ask the seller the following questions before buying an automotive online:
* Why are they selling the car? Beware if their reason seems unreasonable.
* Do you have service records? Having the service records will let you know what required services have and have not been completed. This will help you determine possible costs after you have purchased the auto.
* Is the title in the seller’s name? It can be difficult and time consuming to get the title changed from a previous owner. Another possibility is that you or the seller may be unable to locate the previous owner
* Are there any liens attached?
* Can I have an independent mechanic physically inspect the used car?
* Can I test drive the used car before buying it?
Tip #3 - Pictures of the Used Auto
Whenever possible, check out the used car in person. Otherwise, ask for pictures of the vehicle from every angle possible (inside and out), including the engine. Although not a sure-fire way to verify if the seller is being completely honest, this can help you to avoid some surprises. Even with pictures, you still need to be careful. Read over the original description of the used car and verify that it matches the one in the photo.
Tip #4 - CarFax Automotive Report
Ask the seller for the vehicle identification number, which you will need to run a CarFax report. This is a necessary step to protect you from fraud. A CarFax report will show you most major completed repairs and whether the car has been involved in an accident. If the report shows the vehicle has been in a bad accident, but the seller says the car is in tip-top shape, consider buying a different vehicle.
Tip #5 - Automotive Pricing
Before shelling out money or agreeing to a sales price, visit the Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds website to find the fair market value of the auto. Do this after you have seen pictures of the car so that you can be accurate about the car’s condition. Keep in mind that the sales price listed online probably does not include sales tax, registration, financing fees, or licensing and title fees.
Tip #6 - Where to Buy a Used Auto
You have several options regarding where to buy a used car online. Try looking through online automotive classified ads or on dealer websites. Another possibility is visiting online auto auction sites. Whichever way you choose, always follow the previously provided tips before making a purchase.
For many reasons, buying a car online can be much trickier than buying one in person. This is especially true when you decide to buy a non-local car, as you normally will not be able to see the car in person before you get it. Following the tips above can do away with many of the pitfalls.
Jay Gaulard writes for a wide selection of websites on various topics. He is a veteran of the internet and has come to be respected in his many areas of expertise. This article was written on behalf of AutoLeeg, a popular car classifieds website.
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