Gear Shifting - Cadillac V-63 1923 Operator's Manual

10
OPERATION
If the engine does not start within thirty seconds, do not continue to
operate the starter, but permit the starter pedal to return to the normal
position and determine the cause. Be certain that the ignition is on,
that there is gasoline in the tank, and sufficient air pressure to force it to
the carburetor. The starter will crank the engine only; ignition and gas-
oline must be present before it will run.
Caution:—The action which causes the engine to "turn over" is produced
by a gear of the electric starting motor sliding into mesh with teeth on the fly
wheel of the engine. When pushing down on the starter button to throw these
gears into mesh, if it should so happen that they are in just such positions that
the ends of the teeth of the starter gear come against the ends of the teeth of the fly
wheel, instead of the teeth of one sliding between the teeth of the other, do not
use force. Simply permit the starter btitton to return to the normal position
and then push it down again. In the meantime, the gears will probably have
changed their relative positions sufficiently to permit the teeth to mesh.
Oil Pressure
Lubricating oil is fed under pressure to the main and connecting rod
bearings of the engine (see under "Engine Lubrication," page 32.) The
pressure of the oil is indicated by the pressure gauge on the instrument
board. (See Fig. 1.)
When the engine is not running, the hand of the oil pressure gauge
should remain at zero, but immediately the engine is started and while it
is in operation, pressure should be indicated. The pressure indicated
depends upon the speed of the engine and the viscosity of the oil.
If at any time while the engine is in operation, the hand of the oil
pressure gauge remains at zero, stop the engine at once and determine the
cause. Serious engine trouble is a result of continuing to run the engine
without oil pressure.
GEAR SHIFTING
Caution: Do not attempt to shift from neutral to any gear,
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or from one gear to any other without first disengaging the *•-''
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main engine clutch by pushing and holding down the clutch /O.
pedal (see Figure 1.) ^-
As the transmission is of the selective type, the opera-
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tor may shift from any gear to any other gear without
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shifting through a third gear.
Control Lever
Referring to Fig. 2, the ball at the top of the trans- Positions.
mission control or gear shifting lever is shown at " N " in
the neutral position, at " L " in the low gear position, at " I " in the interme-
diate gear position, at " H " in the high gear position, and at "R" in the
reverse gear position.
OPERATION
11
Starting the Car
To start the car, after starting the engine and unlocking the transmission
lock, push down on the left pedal, which is the clutch pedal, thereby re-
leasing the main engine clutch. Be sure the clutch pedal is pushed down
far enough to release the clutch completely. Then disengage the hand
brake by means of the hand lever—still holding the clutch pedal down.
(If the car is standing on a grade it will be necessary to hold it with the
foot brake until ready to start.) Next shift into low gear.
To do so, move the control lever as far to the left as possible and then
pull it back as far as it will go (Fig. 3.) Open the throttle slightly by means
of the accelerator pedal or throttle lever and permit the main clutch to en-
gage gradually, by allowing the pedal to come towards you slowly.
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Fig. S. Fig4.
Neutral to Low Low Gear to
Gear. Intermediate Gear.
If it should so happen that the gears which mesh to make low gear are in
positions such that the ends of the teeth of one gear come against the ends
of the teeth of the other gear instead of the teeth of one sliding between
the teeth of the other, do not force them but return the transmission control
lever to the neutral position, engage the clutch by allowing the clutch pedal
to come towards you, again release the clutch, then shift into low gear as
directed above.
After the car is under way in low gear, release the clutch and shift into
intermediate gear. To do this move the control lever back to the neutral
position, then to the right and push it forward as far as it will go (Fig. 4.)
Then permit the clutch to engage. In shifting from low to intermediate
gear, it is advisable to pause for a moment in the neutral position if there is
a tendency of the gears to clash.
After the car is under way in intermediate gear, shift into high gear.
To do this, simply release the clutch and then pull the control lever straight
back (Fig. 5.) Then permit the clutch to engage.