Next, take a piece of sharp wire and remove all the dirt, gum, and hard grease from oil holes supplying clevis joints and plain bearings. Take up all play which is liable to produce noise and rattles with new bolts, pins and washers. Clean and fill all grease cups boring out the stem heads with a piece of wire.
(See chapter on [Washing], [Painting], and [Top and Body Care].)
CHAPTER XL
REPAIR EQUIPMENT
The necessary repair equipment should be divided into two sets, one to be carried with the car, which we will call road repair necessities, such as 25 ft. of 5⁄8″ manilla hemp rope, which will probably come in very handy and save the original cost many times in one year. Even with good roads and the general tendency toward improvements, there still remains a great many miles of bad road that becomes very troublesome with their customary chuck holes and slippery brims, which often lead a motorist to bring up in a ditch after a short rain storm. The advantages of this rope are explained in this way; should you slide into the ditch or get into a deep rut, the wheels will usually spin and you are helplessly stuck. A pull from a passing motorist, or farmer, will help you out of your difficulty. Should any part of your car break, or give out, any passing motorist or farmer will give you a tow to the nearest garage and thereby avoid delays.
Therefore, we will head our list of road repairs with: 25 ft. of 5⁄8″ manilla hemp rope, 2 inner tubes, 1 blowout patch, 1 outer shoe, 1 set of chains, 1 jack, 1 pump, 1 tire gauge, 1 tube repair outfit and patches, an extra spark plug, several cores and terminals, a few feet of primary and secondary wire, 1 box of assorted bolts, nuts, washers and cotter pins, 1 qt. can of lubricating oil, 1 complete set of good tools neatly packed in a small box and secured to the floor of the car under the rear seat by fastening both ends of a strap to the floor and placing a buckle in the center which will hold the box securely and avoid all noise.
Garage repair equipment should consist of the following: 1 set of tire jacks, 1 small vulcanizing set and supplies, 1 can of medium cup grease, 1 can or tank of lubricating oil, 1 small vise, 1 box of felt washers, 1 box of assorted cotter pins, 1 box of assorted nuts, 1 box of assorted lock washers, 1 box assorted cap screws and bolts, 1 set of assorted files, 1 hack saw, 1 Stilson wrench, 1 dope gun, 1 air pressure oil can, 1 valve lifter, several valve and assorted springs, 1 box of auto soap, 1 sponge and a good chamois skin.
This outfit should all be purchased at the same time and each supply and tool packed or placed in respective places, so that it will not be necessary to look far and wide when you wish to use some particular tool. With this equipment, and some knowledge and patience, the average man should be able to keep his car in excellent condition by doing his own adjusting and repairing.
CHAPTER XLI
CAR CLEANING, WASHING AND CARE
Body.—The body is the carrying part of the car and usually consists of an oak or ash frame covered with a thin sheet steel. It is bolted to the frame of the car, and aside from washing and cleaning and keeping the bolts tight to prevent squeaks, it requires no further care.
Body Washing.—When about to wash the body, soak the dirt off with a gentle open stream of cold water. That is, remove the nozzle from the hose, and do not rub. Remove mud before it gets dry and hard whenever possible. Grease can be removed with soap suds and a soft sponge. Use a neutral auto soap, and rub as little as possible. Rinse thoroughly with a gentle stream of cold water, and dry and polish with a clean piece of chamois skin. If the body has a dull appearance after washing, due to sun exposure or too frequent washing, apply a good body polish lightly and polish until thoroughly dry with a clean piece of gauze or cheese cloth.