Page:Motors and motor-driving (1902).djvu/130

98 rubbing is equal at every point round, and that the pit marks are now absent. Should this be the case, the operation is concluded. If not, it must be continued, using a little more of the emery paste until the desired result is obtained. Every trace of emery must then be removed by means of rags or waste wetted with petroleum or oil, and on no account should any remain, for the reason that it might enter the cylinder, bearings, or some other part of the machinery, and set up a friction which is hard to remove, since emery particles will embed themselves in the hardest steel. The emery rags and other things which may be employed for grinding valves should be kept apart, to run no risk of emery dust entering any rubbing parts of the motor.

It is desirable that all benzine which is placed in the car, and all oil which is used, should be entered in a book, say once a week, in order to prevent extravagance and waste, and all storage tanks should have a gauge-glass marked in gallons or litres, in order that their contents may be observed. These gauge-glasses must of course have taps, or the breakage of a tube would empty the contents. The owner should once a month, or at any other suitable times, see by the book how much has been removed from the tanks, and by comparing this with what remains he will be able to judge how matters go.

It is desirable that any repairs, small or great, should be attended to at once. This is the only way to keep a car ready at all times for use. Every car on being delivered possesses certain faults which the owner should remedy. It is true that the faults are details, and consist of omissions by the makers on account of expense, in consequence of trade competition, which would make their car appear more expensive than that of some rival. The public as a rule would not appreciate the little advantages for the extra expense incurred, though the want of them is felt later on. It is impossible to detail the whole of the points, since every make of car varies to some extent, but the lines upon which the owner should proceed may be indicated.