LAND AND WATER 
March 20, 1915 
AN APPEAL 
Our " Land and Water " Ambulance Scheme 
By ATHERTON FLEMING 
I 
N mv last week's article I endeavoured, to the 
best 'of my ability, to impress upon the readers of 
this journal tlu- absolute necessity for an adequate 
supply of motor ambulances at the front. We cannot 
have too many 
too few. It is the 
privilege of those 
who cannot, for 
many reasons 
take their share 
of the actual 
fighting to help 
in every way 
possible those 
who can, and 
surely there is 
n o better way 
to do so than to 
send a properly 
equipped motor 
ambulance to 
take the place 
of one which 
has already 
done its w o r k 
and is getting 
rather "crocked." 
Now is the time 
when many of 
those ambulances 
which have been 
doing yeoman 
work for the 
past few months 
are beginning to 
feel the strain 
We cannot take the risk of having 
must suffer. It is the intention of tlje proprietors 
of this journal to open a subscription list with tlie 
idea of replacing one, at any rate-more than one if 
funds will allow. In order to do this the sum of £500 is 
needed. The cause is a good one. the sum required 
is not large, 
and I am sun: 
the readers of 
L .^ N D AND 
Water are 
sufficiently gen- 
erous to enable 
the scheme t o 
be carried 
through success- 
fully. No sub- 
script ion will 
be too small ; 
the modest 
sum of one 
shilling from each 
reader would 
b e sufficient t o 
supply a fleet 
o f ambulances. 
One ambulance 
only is asked 
for, for the 
initial effort. 
Please help to 
the best of your 
ability. Full 
particulars of 
the scheme 
will be given 
in our next 
A RELIC FROM THE FRO^;T ,._.,.., ., 
been blinded 
Ind they wUl"" have to be replaced at once, or our wounded issue, and the subscription list will tl-.en be opened. 
ENGINE ** LAZINESS" 
WHETHER the car be a four-cylinder, high-powered one or 
merely a 5 h.p. single-cyUnder, it is equally liable to the in- 
disposition known as loss o£ power — a form of laziness, if 
you choose to call it so, but one for which there is always a cause ; 
and this, if diagnosed, can be treated, and, what is more, cured. 
The causes which bring loss of power can be considered under three 
headings : (i) poor compression ; (2) poor ignition ; and (3) poor 
water circulation. 
Poor compression may be due to leakage at either the inlet or 
exhaust valves, sparking plug, compression chamber (if it be a detach- 
able one), or the piston rings. If a Uttle soap or oil is placed round 
a suspected joint and the engine started up, escape of bubbles will 
reveal the position of the leak, and when found it can be remedied. 
If a sparking plug porcelain is broken a new plug is necessary ; if the 
inlet valve or plug joint " blows " a new washer is required. Copper 
and asbestos ones are now made of all sizes and shapes, but, failing 
a suitable one, a grommet of asbestos cord rubbed up with a little red 
lead will always make a gas-tight joint. Inspection will reveal if the 
valves are true ; if not, and they are pitted, they require grinding, 
so that the valve fits on its seat perfectly. This can be proved by 
taking out the valve and marking the seat in a few places with chalk, 
then replace the valve and press it well home. Move it round with 
a screw-driver, then lift it out, and if the fit is correct it will at once 
be seen. Gumming of the piston rings may be a cause of their not 
holding the compression. PulUng the engine round after injecting 
a httle paraffin through the compression cocks is the treatment. 
Scoring of the cylinder or worn piston rings are the last and, I believe, 
least frequent causes in this class. Treatment will depend on the 
extent of the damage ; new piston rings may be needed, or if the liner 
is badly scored it may need relapping, and, if much is so removed, 
a new piston, as well as rings. With proper lubrication, however, a 
car should run for three or four years on the set of rings, and the 
cylinder should not require lapping in double that time ; but this all 
depends on proper and sulTicient oiling. 
Poor ignition may be due to the plug, coil, accumulators or 
contacts. If the plug is sooted it should be taken out and cleaned or 
a new one put in. If the platinum points on the coil trembler have 
worn irregularly remove the screw and trembler blade, and with a 
very fine file dress them so that they are square with one another ; 
then replace, and, with the contact-maker at contact, adjust the 
trembler to give a good " buzz." If the accumulators are run down 
get them recharged, and if away from home borrow a fresh set. If 
none can be obtained it may be possible to get home by adjusting 
the sparking plug points a little nearer to one another. The usual 
place where contact trouble occurs is at the contact-maker ; the 
fibre wheel may be worn out of truth with the wipe, or the latter may 
itself be irregularly worn. A new wipe can be fitted or the old one 
can be filed true. If the fibre ring is much worn it will need spinning 
in the lathe, but on the road the wipe can be usually adjusted so as 
to get the engine to take one home with a good pull. Often the spring 
that keeps the wipe in contact merely wants bending or pulling out 
so as to cause it to press more firmly against the ring. Mud or oil 
on this part is a frequent cause of stoppage, but occasional cleansing 
will prevent this. Loose terminals or partly-broken wires, too, may 
be the cause of poor ignition, also imperfect insulation of the leads. 
The latter at the accumulators often corrode ; after attaching them 
it is well to smear on a little grease, which will prevent the acid, which 
often slightly escapes, from attacking them. All exposed wires 
should also be well insulated. I believe in putting them througl 
rubber tubing and then lead gas piping, and using tinned copper wire 
covered with vulcanised rubber. This may be dearer, but it obviates 
all possibility of a " short." 
If the water circulation is imperfect the engine will heat, the cylinder 
oil may then burn, and the rings, among other possibilities, not hold 
compression ; in addition, the cylinder will be so hot and the gas will 
expand so much that a full charge cannot enter, and what does, as a 
result of the excessive heat, will explode prior to full compression, so it is 
as well to see to the pump and also that the water tank contains water. 
374 
