There was not much deep sand, but roads were dry, dusty, and rough; in many localities hard clay with deep ruts and holes.
A six o'clock call and a seven o'clock breakfast gave time enough to inspect the machine.
The water-tank was leaking through a crack in the side, but not so badly that we could not go on to Cleveland, where repairs could be made more quickly.

A slight pounding which had developed was finally located in the pinion of a small gear-wheel that operated the exhaust-valve.
It is sometimes by no means easy to locate a pounding in a gasoline motor, and yet it must be found and stopped.

An expert from the factory once worked four days trying to locate a very loud and annoying pounding.

He, of course, looked immediately at the crank- and wrist-pins, taking up what little wear was perceptible, but the pounding remained; then eccentric strap, pump, and every bearing about the motor were gone over one by one, without success; the main shaft was lifted out, fly-wheel drawn off, a new key made; the wheel drawn on again tight, all with no effect upon the hard knock which came at each explosion.

At last the guess was made that possibly the piston was a trifle small for the cylinder; a new and slightly larger piston was put in and the noise ceased.