1917 Cadillac - GM Heritage Center

10 ADJUSTMENTS
ADJUSTMENTS 11
LUBRICATION OF TIRE PUMP
One filling of the pump will provide sufficient lubrication for inflating four or
five tires, providing they are all inflated within one week. If a week or more elapses
between the time the pump is used until it is used again, it should be lubricated before
it is used.
To lubricate the pump, proceed as follows:
First run the pump for several seconds with the cap screwed tightly on the connection
to which the hose is attached when inflating tires. This will force back into
the crank case of the pump any oil which may have collected in the oil separating chamber
"B." Then stop the pump, remove the plug in the lower right hand side of the crank
case of the pump and fill with oil until it overflows.
Cadillac Rear Axle and Transmission Lubricant is strongly recommended for this
purpose. In its absence, the use of a good quality of steam cylinder oil is recommended.
NOTE—You should bear in mind that it is just as essential to lubricate the air
pump as the engine, and that the pump will not stand up and give good service unless
it receives proper lubrication.
ADJUSTMENT OF TIRE PUMP
A safety valve "A" operating at a predetermined pressure, is located at the lower
end of the oil separating chamber "B." To alter the pressure at which the safety
valve operates, loosen the lock nut "C" and with a screw driver change the adjustment
of the screw "D." To increase the pressure at which the valve operates, screw
it in. To decrease the pressure, screw it out. Be sure to lock the adjustment with
the nut "C" after making the adjustment.
Four and a half inch tires, which are standard on the Cadillac, should be inflated
to seventy-five pounds pressure.
TO TIME THE ENGINE VALVES
As all valves are timed before the car leaves the factory, these instructions will
be found adequate for such slight adjustments as may possibly, from time to time,
be advisable.
The adjustments of the intake ana exhaust valves are made by means of screws
in the cam slides. Turning an adjusting screw to the left (screwing it out) decreases
the clearance between the end of the valve stem and the adjusting screw in the cam
slide. Turning it to the right (screwing it down) increases the clearance.
IMPORTANT NOTICE—Due to the shape of the cams in Cadillac Eight-
Cylinder engines, it is necessary to have the cams in certain positions to properly time
the valves.
To place a cam in the proper position to time the valve operated by that cam proceed
as follows:
Open the relief cocks on the cylinders and crank the engine by hand until the valve
that you are timing has just seated. Then turn the engine further by hand in the same
direction 1¾ inches on the fly wheel. The cam is then in the correct position for timing
the valve.
When the cam is in the proper position, the clearance between the end of the valve
stem and adjusting screw in the cam slide should be from .002 to .003 of an inch when
the engine is cold.
Each valve should be timed in this manner.
REAR AXLE
The rear axle of the Cadillac is of the full floating type. The wheels rotate on
the axle housing. The axle shafts do not carry the weight of the car, but simply
transmit the power from the differential to rotate the wheels.
The level of the oil in the differential housing should be up to the filling plug.
The best lubricant for the rear axle is Cadillac Rear Axle and Transmission
Lubricant. In its absence, we recommend a mixture of steam cylinder oil and a small
amount of cup grease mixed to such a consistency that the mixture flows easily.
CAUTION IN ADJUSTING TIMKEN BEARINGS
When adjusting Timken bearings, great care must be exercised not to get them
too tight. These bearings will revolve even when adjusted very tightly, but that
condition is sure to prove disastrous. They should be adjusted so that a very slight
amount of play or looseness may be discerned. If after a bearing has been adjusted
to a point that is apparently correct, the slots in the locking nut do not match up with
the Cotter pin holes, or if the slots in the adjusting collar do not match with the locking
plates, it is best to back off on the adjustment (loosen it) to tne next cotter pin hole
or slot rather than adjust the bearing a little tighter. It is far better to have a bearing
a trifle loose than too tight.
TO REMOVE AND REPLACE REAR WHEELS AND
ADJUST BEARINGS
Remove the screw which holds the hub cap and then unscrew the hub cap.
Withdraw the axle shaft.
Jack up the axle, so that the wheel will clear the floor.
Remove the two adjusting nuts and the lock washer.
The wheel can now be taken off.
Before putting the wheel on again, see that the bearings are clean and filled with
light grease which is free from grit and dirt.
In putting the wheel on again, set the adjusting nuts very carefully so that the
bearings will not be too tight, and see that the lock washer is between the two nuts.
Also be sure that the outer nut is pulled up tightly against tne washer, so that the
adjustment will be held. Both the front and rear wheels should be removed every
3,000 or 4,000 miles, or at least once a year, to examine the bearings and see that they
are kept properly filled with light grease. A few drops of lubricating oil should also
be put in occasionally through the oil hole in the hub.
TO REMOVE AND REPLACE REAR AXLE
Disconnect all brake rods at rear axle.
Disconnect rear universal joint at flange.
Remove all nuts which retain the spring clips.
Disconnect front end of torque member at cross member by removing bolt.
Jack up rear end of car by placing jacks under the rear springs just forward of
axle to suspend the rear of the car.
Block up rear end of frame so that it cannot sway.
Roll axle and torque tube from under car.
To install axle, reverse the order of the above operations.