246 



CANADIAN FARM YEAR BOOK. 



Gasoline Engines. 



The modern gasoline engine owing 

 to its simplicity and ease of operation 

 is the most suitable form of power for 

 use on the farm. The actual cost of 

 operation on a fuel consumption basis 

 is greater than in a steam engine, but 

 this is more than overbalanced by the 

 fact that it requires a less experienced 

 operator and that when not in actual 

 operation it does not require a boiler 

 constantly attended, keeping a steam 

 pressure of 100 lbs. ready for use. 



Ignition. 



The igniting of the explosive mix- 

 ture in the cylinder is accomplished 

 in the modern engine by electrical 

 means. The current may 'be supplied 

 by batteries, dynamos or magnetos. 

 There are two kinds of electrical sys- 

 tems: low tension or make and break 

 and high tension or jump spark. Poor 

 ignition will cause irregular running 

 of the engine. . This may be caused by 

 broken or loose wire or connections. 

 In the make and break system care 

 should be taken to see that the points 

 of contact are clean and even, the 

 points must snap apart sharply, the 

 points must open the proper distance 

 to get the right spark, the insulation 

 or the terminals must be good, the 

 spark must ibe timed to occur at the 

 proper moment. In the jump spark 

 ignition, good wiring and conaection 

 are also important, the points on the 

 spark plug must be set at the proper 

 distance, and kept clean. K batteries 

 are used they should ibe tested occa- 

 sionally to see that they are not be- 

 coming exhausted. The magneto is 

 used to supply current when the en- 

 gine is running, producing electricity 

 in proportion to the speed of the en- 

 gine. A poor contact between friction 

 pulley and fly wheel, or a slipping ibelt 

 may mean n,ot enough electricity for 

 Ignition. Improper ignition will also 

 be caused by worn ibrushes, weak 

 brush springs, gummy oil or dirt on. 

 commutator, broken insulation around 

 screws that hold brush holders in 

 place and the too liberal use of oil or 

 the collection of grease and dirt. 



Compression. 



To get power an engine's cylinder 

 must be light. Poor compression 

 makes it hard to start an engine be- 

 cause the fuel charge must toe com- 



pressed to give a good explosfon 

 and the force of the explosion 

 should be expended on the top of the 

 piston, and not be lost or weakened 

 by getting out through leaky valves, 

 or past the piston rings. If a poor 

 grade of oil is used it will form a car- 

 bon deposit on the valve and valve 

 seats, and unless cleaned off with 

 kerosene will in time cause leaky 

 valves. 



Carburation. 



A proper mixture of fuel and air is 

 necessary for proper operation. Not 

 .enough "gas" will cause back fire and 

 too much "gas" will 'be evident iby a 

 black smoke coming from exhaust. 

 Dirt or water in the fuel will cause 

 trouble, and it is therefore advisable 

 to drain and clean the carburator fre- 

 quently. 



General Directions for Care and 

 Operation. 



The gasoline engine like all other 

 pieces of machinery will give the best 

 service if properly looked after, and 

 tended as carefully as you would tend 

 your live stock. The running of the 

 engine is controlled by the ignition, 

 compression and carburetioo. M 

 trouble occurs it is ^probably due to 

 the fault at one of these three points. 



In some cases the engine may run 

 with a pounding or knock. This will 

 be caused by loose connecting rod 

 bearings, -worn or brokea piston 

 rings, a loose" wrist pin in piston or 

 a loose fly wheel. A deep, heavy 

 pound may be caused 'by pre-ignition. 

 This should be immediately corrected 

 or breakages may occur. Pre-ignition 

 is caused by an overheated cylinder, 

 a cylinder foul with carbon deposits 

 from the oil, a short circuit due to 

 broken insulation on your wire, not 

 enough air in mixture, or too advanced 

 or "early" a spark. If after turning 

 your engine over it refuses to start 

 don't go after your engine with a 

 monkey wrench. More than likely 

 the trouble is so simple that it is not 

 even one listed in your directions. Is 

 your switch open? How about your 

 fuel? Your engine may be cold and 

 a little priming will enable a ^w ex- 

 plosions to warm up the cylinder. 

 Test your ignition, then your com- 

 pression, and by a process of elimina- 

 tion the difficulty will soou 1>e located. 



