While being operated in a section of country remote from any
repair shop or source of machine supplies, a tractor engine burned
out a main-shaft bearing. Without some sort of an emergency repair,
the machine could not be driven and to have fitted a new bearing
without having the machine in a repair shop would have been
practically impossible. As an experiment, a bearing was made from a
piece of hard maple. It was boiled in cylinder oil for several
hours to impregnate the wood thoroughly and was then placed in the
machine. With the wooden bearing, the machine was run slowly and
with an abundance of oil until it became apparent that the wood was
developing no signs of heating. The tractor was put to work with
this makeshift repair and gave satisfactory service until it could
be taken to a shop for a more permanent job.
By priming with ether instead of with gasoline it is possible to
start
heavy motors on the first quarter-turn. The ether should be used
sparingly and in the usual manner. This method was employed with
success on the engine of a large truck that would not start by
spinning it.
A compound with which engines or other oily machinery may be
cleaned thoroughly is made as fallows:
To one gallon of water add one-fourth pound of borax and
one-half pint of lard oil. Mix them thoroughly, forming an
emulsion. Rub the painted surfaces with the compound applied on
waste or soft cloth and with a clean cloth remove it before it
dries.
Occasionally a valve i up will stick and refuse to yield to
ordinary efforts to remove it. In such a case it will be found
advisable to run the engine for a few minutes until the cap becomes
quite well heated. A little cold water poured in the slight recess
of the cap while it is still hot will cause a sudden contraction
sufficient to allow the valve cap to be unscrewed.
