TROUBLE AFTER THE STORM. 



to se-^ if the tires hold up and that there 

 are no small punctures or any leaks in the 

 valves. 



If the tires hold air perfectly, and no re- 

 pairing or renewal of any of the parts seems 

 necessary, look at the tires on the rear driv- 

 ing wheels ; the two rear tires have to hold 

 up the greater proportion of the combined 

 live weight and dead weight of the car as 

 well as transmitting all of the power, and 

 consequently they have to do by far the 

 greater share of the work. 



Nowadays practically all touring cars use 

 double tube tires of the same size on all four 

 wheels so that in starting out for a trip of 

 any length, it is necessary to take along only 

 one extra tire and one or more inner tubes. 

 This extra tire will fit any of the four wheels. 



If in examining the rear tires, you find they 

 are in pretty bad shape and show effects of 

 hard usage, it will be well to transfer them 

 to the front wheels and vice versa. You 

 will find this change is well worth the trouble, 

 and it is to be recommended for single-tube 

 tires as well as double-tube tires. 



BEWARE THE REPAIR MAN. 

 If, however, your case falls in a different 

 category, and you find the car will not only 

 run well but there is work galore for the 



repair man, an entirely different procedure 

 is to be recommended. 



Commence the inspection of the car with 

 a blank-book in your hand, and note down 

 carefully everything that is not right. If you 

 find there is considerable lost motion to be 

 taken up in the engine, make a note of 

 that. If the ignition system wants a thorough 

 overhauling; if there is a pound in the engine 

 or a knock in the transmission gear ; if your 

 coil has gone bad or the carburetor is out of 

 adjustment, and the whole car resembles a 

 Pandora's Box of difficulties and troubles, 

 of course you have got to consult the repair 

 man and be prepared to spend some money to 

 put the car in good order. But don't do 

 anything until you have gone over the car 

 yourself very carefully, noted the condition 

 of everything as well as you can, and, in 

 short, made as careful an examination as 

 you know how. 



Get bids on everything in so far as you can ; 

 do not deliver the car to the repair man with 

 a hurried : "Put it in shape as soon as you 

 can," but advise him just what is the mat- 

 ter, and furthermore what doesn't, in your 

 opinion, require any attention. The average 

 repair man cannot tell you what the cost 

 will be beyond a rough approximation unless 

 you give him some facts on which to make 

 an intelligent bid. The automobile repair 



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