1917 Cadillac - GM Heritage Center

100 ADJUSTMENTS
If the tires are not removed and the car is stored in a light place, it will
be well to cover the tires to protect them from the strong light, which has a
deteriorating effect on rubber.
The greatest injury that can be done to tires on a car stored for the winter
is to allow the weight of the car to rest on the tires. The car should be
blocked up, so that no weight is borne by the tires, and the tires should then
be deflated partially. This will relieve the tires of all strain, so that in the
spring they should be practically no worse for the winter's storage.
TIRE HOLDER
The tire holder is designed to carry two standard size tires inflated on
rims.
To remove the tire with rim, remove the lock and then unscrew the
clamp as far as it will go. Move the bottom of the tire back until it is entirely
free from the holder. The tire then may be removed by slightly lifting
it straight up.
To put a tire on the holder proceed in the reverse manner.
Care should be used not to allow the inner tire to strike the body of the
car when removing or replacing it.
SPRINGS
As a matter of life insurance for the springs, it is well to tighten all clip
nuts at the end of the first 1,000 miles of travel and at the end of every 2,000
miles of travel thereafter.
SPRING LUBRICATION
When springs are not lubricated, water works its way in between the
leaves and causes them to rust, often to such an extent that they become
almost like solid pieces. This causes them to lose much of their spring action.
It is recommended that the springs be lubricated once every 500 to 1,000
miles by painting the edges and ends of the spring leaves with cylinder oil.
A small, stiff brush should be used. After applying the oil to the springs, the
car should not be washed until it has been driven some distance to allow the
lubricant to work in between the leaves.
It is also a good plan, about once a year, to have all the springs taken
apart, the surfaces thoroughly cleaned and coated with a thick mixture of oil
and graphite.
TO ADJUST GABRIEL SNUBBERS
The snubbers should be readjusted after the first five hundred to eight
hundred miles of travel. Further adjustment should not soon be necessary.
When the snubbers are adjusted there should be no passengers in the car,
the radiator and gasoline tank should be full, the top up and there should
be two spare tires in the tire holder. If no spare tires are carried it is best
to have a light weight person sit in the middle of the rear seat during the
adjustment.
To adjust the snubbers, pull the belt out of the housing as far as possible.
Then allow two inches of the belt to return into the housing and insert
a wedge between the belt and the housing to prevent more of the belt from
being drawn in.
Remove the clamp on the belt at the axle and adjust the length of the
belt so that all slack is taken out between the snubber housing and the axle.
Replace the clamp, cut off the surplus belt and remove the wedge.