Putnam's Automobile Handbook: The Care and Management of the Modern Motor-Car

by H. Clifford Brokaw; Charles A. Starr

The Running-Brake Pedal—The running brake is used for bringing the car to a standstill. It is operated by means of a pedal placed just back of the dash and to the right of the clutch pedal. To apply the brake, first release the clutch by pushing on the clutch pedal, then push down or forward on the brake pedal with the right foot gently but firmly until the car is stopped. After removing the foot from the brake pedal the brake will be released automatically by means of a spring. Use the brake gently to save discomfort to the passengers, wear on tires and the machine in general. Do not run close to the point where the stop is to be made and then jam the brake on hard, but begin to apply it early and bring the car to a standstill gradually.

The Emergency-Brake Lever—The emergency brakes are used chiefly after the car has been stopped and the operator wishes to leave it. They are applied by means of a lever operated by the right hand. This lever is usually placed just forward and to the right of the driver’s seat. It is fitted with a spring latch and when applied will lock on, and so is very convenient in stopping on a hill or when the car is left standing at the curb. The brake is applied by pulling back the lever. This brake can be used alone or in connection with the running brake for quick stops when necessary, but it should not be used for ordinary stopping as it is usually not designed for such work.

Gear-Shifting Lever—This lever is usually placed forward and to the right of the operator’s seat, and to the left of the emergency-brake lever. It is operated with the right hand. By shifting this lever which engages different sets of gears, the machine may be made to go forward at different speeds while the engine turns at a practically uniform speed. It also controls the reverse gear. When the car is standing, the lever should be left in neutral position. When in this position, even if the clutch is engaged, the machine will not move. To start the car, release emergency brake, release the clutch with left foot, grasp the gear-shifting lever with the right hand and shift from the neutral position to the first speed notch, accelerate slightly, then allow the clutch to engage slowly and the car will start. After the car has started, release the clutch again and shift the gear lever to the second speed notch and engage the clutch quickly but gently. Repeat this operation for third and fourth speeds. Always release clutch when shifting this lever. Whenever the car is brought to a standstill, put the lever in the neutral position before applying emergency brake.

Accelerator Pedal—This pedal operates the throttle on the carburetor and regulates the amount of gas going to the engine and thus controls the power which the motor develops. It is sometimes placed between the clutch and brake pedals, but usually to the right of the brake pedal and is operated by the right foot. More gas is permitted to enter the cylinders and therefore more power is obtained by pressing on it, and when released the throttle will be returned to its minimum position by means of a spring. Push on the pedal very slowly, for a slight movement greatly increases the power developed by the motor and a too sudden application of power will strain the whole machine. It should be pushed slightly when the clutch is engaged to increase the power of the motor, and should be released when the clutch is disengaged, so that the engine will not race. The Throttle Lever—This lever controls the throttle on the carburetor the same as the accelerator pedal but it has a spring latch, and when it is desirable to run the machine for some distance at a nearly constant speed, this lever may be used as it will stay where placed, thus relieving the right foot which would become tired of holding the accelerator pedal in one position for a long time. It is usually placed on the steering post above the steering wheel and is operated with the right hand. Do not advance throttle lever too quickly.

The Spark-Control Lever—It takes some time after the spark occurs for the gas to get thoroughly ignited and give power. It is therefore desirable to have the spark occur earlier when the engine is running fast, so that the gas may be thoroughly ignited at the beginning and deliver power for full length of the working stroke. This means that the spark when advanced actually occurs when the piston is still traveling up on the compression stroke and so gets the gas in the cylinder at its maximum pressure when the crank passes top dead center. When the motor is cranked in starting it is turned so slowly that to avoid a kick back the spark must be retarded so that it occurs after the crank has passed top dead center. The spark-control lever is connected with the spark-timing device, and so controls the time at which the spark occurs in the cylinder. It is usually placed on the steering column above the steering wheel, and is operated with the right hand. On some cars it is moved forward and on others backward to advance the spark. When the engine is cranked in starting, the spark should be fully retarded. After the motor has started it can usually be advanced about two-thirds, but there is no set rule for this. In general, advance as the motor (not the car) gains speed and retard as it slackens speed. Keep the spark advanced as far as possible at all times but retard it if the engine labors or knocks.

Ignition Switch—Usually placed on the dash. It is for the purpose of closing and opening the electric circuit and thus stopping the motor or allowing it to be started. It is generally provided with a removable plug or a key so that the car may be safely left at the curb. Be sure that switch is in “Off” position when the motor is stopped.

Steering Wheel—The steering wheel is usually placed on the left-hand side of the car directly in front of the operator’s seat. By its means the direction of the car is controlled. When moving forward, turning the wheel counter clockwise will cause the car to go to the left and turning it clockwise will cause the car to go to the right. It should be operated with the left hand only unless steering is very hard, when both hands may be used. Grasp the wheel firmly with one or both hands but not with a strong, nervous grip, as this becomes very tiresome. If the hand is kept always in one position on the wheel when only slight turns are desired, there will be no difficulty in knowing by its position when the front wheels are pointing straight ahead. When turning corners the position of the hand on the wheel may be changed and both hands should be used. Do not attempt to turn the steering wheel when the car is not moving as this throws a very great and entirely needless strain on the whole steering mechanism.

Priming Device or “Choke”—When the engine is cranked in starting, it is turned so slowly that the air going in through the carburetor has not sufficient velocity to draw the required amount of gasoline from the spray nozzle. The mixture that goes into the cylinder is therefore weak and cannot be exploded easily. To enrich the mixture, a valve is placed in the carburetor air passage, to choke off the air and feed more gasoline to the motor. This valve is operated by a lever or button usually found on the dash or attached to the steering column under the steering wheel. It is often combined with a device for making the mixture richer or leaner to take care of different weather conditions. Some engines will start nearly every time without priming the carburetor; others must be primed every time the engine is started. Do not prime to excess; as soon as the engine starts, return the lever or button to the running position.

The Gasoline Tank—The gasoline tank carries the fuel that is to be fed to the engine. It will sometimes be found under the front seats, and may be filled by removing the cushion. In this system the gasoline flows by gravity to the carburetor and a small hole about the size of a pin will be found in the filler cap to allow the air to enter as the gasoline leaves. This hole should be kept clean, because if the air cannot enter the gasoline will stop flowing to the carburetor and the engine will stop running. Some cars carry the gasoline tank on the rear of the chassis under the body and air pressure is kept on the gasoline to force it to the carburetor. This pressure is obtained by a hand pump placed on the dash, and is kept constant automatically. This system differs from all others in that there should be no hole in the filler cap of the tank and the gasket on the cap should be kept in good condition to prevent air leakage. A gauge will be found on the dash and by this means the pressure on the tank can be determined. Other cars with the tank under the rear end of the chassis have a system of drawing the gasoline by means of a vacuum, to a small tank located by the carburetor under the hood, from which it flows into the carburetor by gravity. Still other cars have a gasoline tank in the cowl of the dash from which the gasoline flows to the carburetor by gravity.

The Lubricator—The lubricating system is generally built into the crank case of the engine. The oil is supplied through a pipe or other opening found on the engine and a gauge or pet cock is provided to indicate the amount of oil in the motor. The system should be kept filled with a light to medium high-grade gas-engine oil. The lubricating system usually oils all internal parts of the engine only, the transmission, steering and differential gears being lubricated by heavy oil or grease placed in their respective housings, and all other parts of the car are taken care of by oil or grease cups. Any oil put into the engine should be carefully strained to remove dirt or grit.