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When the cylinder head of a car is removed for valve grinding and carbon removal, the gasket is frequently bent, dented or otherwise mutilated. Efforts to straighten it are not often successful, because the copper is usually brittle and hardened from use. This is also the case with the copper-asbestos gaskets used for the water connections, manifolds and valve seats. If installed with sharp bends and kinks in them, they are almost certain to leak. To renew the old gaskets, they are placed in the flame of a gas heater until they are quite red and then plunged in cold water. The copper is made plastic by this treatment, and, when the gasket is bolted down, it spreads and makes a tight seal.

 



In vulcanizing small patches on inner tubes with an electric or gasoline vulcanizer, a Wisconsin repairman claims that the portion of the tube covered by the patch is apt to become overcooked or burned, and thereby weakened. To overcome this trouble, he uses four strips of asbestos paper over the tube. as shown in the illustration, leaving only the patch exposed to the full heat of the vulcanizing plate.

 



The crane shown in the accompanying drawing has a wide range of travel and is capable of transferring heavy units from the bench to the machines and to the several cars being repaired. It uses the same track as employed to support the hanging doors at the front of the garage. The provision of such a track around the four walls, is the main support for the crane. A double hanger with swivel rollers allows the crane to travel along the continuous runway. The corners are traversed on a curved track, similar to the track on which the door is supported when swung from the front to the side. A cross rail extends from these hangers and rests on a vertical support of pipe, provided with a fixed roller at the bottom. The hoist is carried by a trolley on the cross rail, which permits placing the hoist directly above the load. While every advantage of a crane is provided, the single leg, reaching to the floor, does not encroach on the available floor space, as is usually the case with four-legged portable cranes.

¶ Insert a scratch awl in common hard soap for hardening, and it will need no drawing after the plunge.