Ogden Daily Standard | 1918-03-23 | Page 13 | Oil Your Springs in Wet Weather

OIL YOUR SPRIGS II WET WEATHER (By R. A. Lcavell.) Lubrication of springs requires more attention in the wet weather which is often encountered in winter and spring than at any other time, yet i it Is generally neglected at all times by tho car owner. A few owners take tho pains to fill and screw down tho grease cups which are provided to lubricate the pins which go through tho spring eyes, but Is seldom that any grease or oil finds its way between be-tween the spring leaves to prevent their becoming rusty, rough, and noisy. ' When a magazine is bent back and ' forth a certain sliding action takes place between tho leaves. If the pages of the magazine were glued together to-gether and allowed to dry the book would become as rigid as a-piece of board, because the leaves would not! slide one against tho other. Whenever the springs of a vehicle absorb shock as tho wheels pass over obstructions in tho road they must slide one against the other. If they are rusted and deeply pitted, instead of smooth and coated with grease, with graphite, or with oil, their action will be undully stiff. ' Tho car -will ride hard and there will be extra wear and tear on its mechanism and tires. Relieve tho springs of the weight of the car by placing a jack beneath the spring frame. The bolts should bo removed from the rebound clips before the jack is used. The leaves can then bo readily separated if a thin cold chisel or an all metal screw driver is driven between them and a paste made of very heavy oil or of grease and graphite can bo spread between them with an old knife. If the condition is extremoly rusty it Is advisable to add a few drops of oil bptween tho leaves before they arc allowed to come together, ns this will sortie In moro rapidly. If lubrication with graphite seems to require too much time and labor, fairly satisfactory .results can be obtained ob-tained if tho springs are first cleaned by wiping off along the edges with a cloth saturated with kerosene, and L.tnen.lubricated by running thin, lubri cating oil around the ends and along the edges of the springs between the leaves. Any machine oil which pours freely will have the ability to soak In freely, and will give satisfactory results re-sults until it has been absorbed by dust or drying mud. Exposed unpainted metal parts, such as turn buckles and adjusting yokes in the brake mechanism, the nuts and threaded portions on spring clips, nuts on bolt used to secure fenders to their supporting brackets, etc, i I should ,be given an occasional appli- ' I cation of oil to prevent their rusting I fast or should bo protected by a coat I of paint applied after they have been I tightened. I