A. The Ford is the simplest of all cars. Most of the ordinary adjustments an owner will soon learn to make for himself. But we must strongly recommend that when it becomes necessary to employ the services of a mechanic, the car be taken to a Ford mechanic—one of our own representatives who thoroughly understands the car—and who will have no motive for running up useless repair bills. The entire Ford organization is interested in keeping every individual Ford car in constant operation, at the lowest possible cost. We have known of much damage done to many cars by unskilled repair men.
Q. What attention does the car need?
A. Remember that a new machine requires more careful attention during the first few days it is being driven than after the parts have become thoroughly “worked in.” The car which is driven slowly and carefully when new usually gives the most satisfactory service in the end. Never start out with your car until you are sure that it has plenty of oil and water. Frequently inspect the running gear. See that no unnecessary play exists in either front or rear wheels, and that all bolts and nuts are tight. Make a practice of taking care of every repair or adjustment as soon as its necessity is discovered. This attention requires but little time and may avoid delay or possible accident on the road. We aim to deliver the car in proper mechanical adjustment. Afterwards it is plainly the duty of the driver to keep it in that condition.
II
THE FORD ENGINE
Q. What is the principle of the gasoline driven engine?
A. Gasoline when mixed with air and compressed is highly explosive. An explosion is a violent expansion caused by instantaneous combustion of confined gases. In the gasoline engine the mixture is drawn into the cylinder, where it is compressed by an advancing piston and then exploded by an electric spark, which sends the piston violently downward, and through the connecting rod imparts a rotary motion to the crank shaft. (See [cut No. 147].)
Q. What are functions of the pistons?
A. On the downward stroke the suction of the piston draws the fresh gas from the carburetor, through the inlet pipe and valve, into the cylinder. The upward movement of the piston compresses the gas into a very small space, between the top of the piston and the depression in the cylinder head, known as the “combustion chamber.” (The compressed gases inert a pressure of approximately 60 pounds to the square inch.) At this point the electric spark, generated by the magneto, explodes the gas-driving piston downward, thus producing the power which turns the crank shaft. On the next stroke upward the piston drives the exploded gas out through the exhaust valve and pipe to the muffler. The accompanying cut shows clearly the relative positions of the pistons and valves during the different strokes.
Q. How is the connecting rod removed?
A. It is a vanadium steel rod connecting piston and crank shaft. Should the babbitt bearing become worn, or burned out through lack of oil, a knocking in the engine will result, in which case the entire connecting rod should be replaced. To make this replacement, (1) drain oil from crank case; (2) take off cylinder head; (3) remove detachable plate on bottom of crank case; (4) disconnect connecting rod from crank shaft; (5) take piston and rod out through top of cylinder.