MOTORING

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 21 October 1927, Page 17

MOTORING

LUBRICATION OF CARS.

AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT. MOTOR DEVELOPMENT. The modern trend of automobile- design has been towards relieving the. user of all work or adjustment which could ljo done automatically. Tlio idea underlying motor-car development is to make motoring easy and time-sav-ing. The. machine itself has been developed along the line of being selflubricating and almost self-adjusting. All unnecessary mechanism has been eliminated, and the vehicle, has been made as sell-maintaining as possible. Probably t-Jio extensive uso of tlio motor vehicle by women and the wide adaptation of it by the owner-driver, who cannot afford a chauffeur and whoso business leaves him little time for giving attention to the ear, have been the causes which have led the designers and manufacturers to devote so much attention to details which, in earlier days, were not considered important. Chassis lubrication has now been recognised as being so important a matter that, it is receiving unusual attention at the hands of those who are interested in catering for the modern user of self-propelled vehicles. It is obvious that the greasing of all the transmission and suspension mechanisms of the car—often (generally) concealed behind and below valances and running-boards—is not a job suitable for tho woman driver. Neither is it a job which should bo imposed upon tho much-occupied business or professional man who wants his car ready and fully equipped for the road at all times. From the maker's point of view, again, the simplifying of this lubrication problem makes for longer life and wear, and better and more efficient operation, and must add to the reputation of the firm who completely provide for it. Various forms of automatic chassis lubrication are now on tlio market They are also installed in a large number of well-known cars, and, will be found in large numbers as the importance of tho matter becomes more evident to motorists and to makers. All motorists will bo glad to see the developments in this direction and undoubtedly they will have tho effect of increasing tho popularity of motoring by removing a very real objection which many people have to the time and expense attendant upon the proper care of the car in the vital matter of lubrication, and in getting longer life and better service for the capital laid out upon the vehicle.

SMOKING IN GARAGES. A DANGEROUS CUSTOM. The custom that obtains in some garages of allowing mechanics to smoke while on duty was mentioned by "Roadster" yesterday to a number of garage proprietors. One proprietor said that while he understood that in some garages the practice of smoking on duty was,not objected to ho never allowed it on his premises. The principal reason for such a restriction, was that ho considered smoking dangerous where there was petrol about, and he did not intend to run a risk of having his garage burned down because of an employee's carelessness in this connexion. Any man so offending ivould bo liable to instant dismissal. There was another point to be considered in this respect, and that was that customers did not like to see a ineehanio attending to their cars while smoking. There was another disadvantage; this was that when a mechanic had a cigarette in his mouth the smoke often got in his eyes and prevented him from carrying out his work properly. • Another man spoken to concerning the matter said that trusted mechanics were not prohibited from smoking while they were carrying out their duties, it* being left to their common sense not to indulge in a cigarette where there was a likelihood of an.explosion. Ho added that lie had never heard of an accident occurring in a Christchurch garage through the practice. A third man, not, however, a garage proprietor, said that ho did not consider there was much danger to be feared from tobacco ash, although the position was different where a naked light was concerned. On a cold day, he said, if a lighted match be dropped into bonzino the match will be extinguished just as if it were immersed in water, but, of course, if the day be warm the position would bo entirely different for the reason that in such circumstances vapour is present, in which caso an explosion would undoubtedly tako place. "It is a good rule however," he said, "not to take any risks whero petrol is concerned, owing to tho likelihood of fumes being present at any time."

BY "ROADSTER."

CURING ROAD HOGS. LIMIT TO MOTOR SPEEDS. v rßOi! O'J a OTV CORRE?tO>'PEKT.) SYDNEY, October 13. A wrii.-T in .mo of the newspapers * MM.pl- method of dealing effective!v wiiii what are termed i' oad The rciucdv, he says, He* not in the punishment uf motorists, who U;™« htllo or no R>pLM:t, for other people » lives, but unh the manufacturers ot motor-cars. Cars, it is suggested, should he geared in such a way ttiai it would bo impossible for drivers to annihilate space and also hie itseir. Tho contention is that, oven in t-nes>e days of liurrv and bustlo, there is no reason for speed beyond say 3o miles an hour, and that beyond that spceil few men have effective control over their cars-. As the matter, however, is one peculiarly for tho Legislatures ot other countries, tho suggestion that a law should ho enacted, forcing manufacturers in cut down tho speed of all motor-cars, is likely to fall on deat ears.

TYRE INFLATION. INTERESTING TEST. The importance of proper inflation of ivres in order to get the maximum oi service was shown by a recent test conducted by a largo tyro manufacturing 'Toreriii'* practically all standard make" ot f tyre l s and tubes, the.tests. revealed that under-mnatiou exists to a Lrrr degree than is general y recognised and that it is brought about Jointly by lack of attention to valves, valvo insides, and valve caps. Out of a total of 1087 tyres tested (says the "Goodyear News ). 37 per cerit. were being dnvcu ""deiwnflated, and so shortcni.l3 their mileage. Among 581 tyres whoro the valves were checked. 8(5 per cent, wero found to be leaking, due to not being screwed in tightly or having become defective. Of course, the most important thing is to seo that tvres are inflated to the recommended prcssuro at all times. The motorists should have regular periods for this. Nest in importance is the taking of precautionary measures to keep the air from escaping. When it is considered that an auto tube requires a good tight scaling cap to prevent it from losing air, the importance of making periodical checks to determine whether the valve equipment is functioning as it should is fully realised. Avoid TJnder-Inflation. The valve, it was pointed out, is a delicate piece of mechanism, and small particles of dust or grease, which can easily enter at times when the tyre is being inflated, will cause it to leak. The nap or seal, which acts as a secondary safeguard, is removed comparatively often in the life of a tyre, thus increasing the hazard of picking up such particles. Careful and regular inspection should be made to see that the valve equipment is giving tlm maximum of important service. Motorists also should make sure that they understand the application of the various types ot valves. Of the tyres examined, 15 per cent, were found to be leaking simply because the valve can was not screwed down tightly enough. Another 16 per cent, of the tyres examined had no rnlve or dust caps on at all. It is pointed out that under-inflation is more serious in the case of the balloon tyre, in shortening the life of the tyre, than it is with high pressure tyres. UNLAWFUL USE OF CARS. MAXIMUM PENALTIES INFLICTED. Replying to the South Island Motor Union's request that heavier penaltics should be imposed on those convicted .of unlawfully using other people's cars the Minister for Justice (Hon. Mr Eollcston) has written as follows: "I might point out that it is only within the last few weeks that Magistrates have imposed the maximum penalty for this offence, and it is hoped that this will have some effect in checking the practice of which you complain."

MOTOR-CYCLING. SALES FOR SEPTEMBER.

Notes. With regard to the resolution carried at a public meeting recently held under the auspices of the Pioneer Sports Club protesting against the prohibition of pillion riding on motor-cycles, the Town Clerk (Mr J. S. Neville) has informed the secretary of the club (Mr V. W. Maples) that'fhe matter will be brought before the next meeting of ihc Council, after which the club will be notified when a deputation can be received to set out the position. A Colliinonto] scientist,' it is reported, has perfected a method of extracting petrol from the air by means of a chemical absorbent! The idea offers great possibilities. The petrol tank niav become a mere wasteful superfluity. All that mar In- necessary will be to attach a piece of the absorbent to the carburettor. It is an casv matter to remove a tvre from a rim that has been shellacked. Clean the tyro rims and paint them with shellac. Allow them to drv very thoroughly before replacing the tyres. It is surprisinc J lo ]* easily tyres are removed after this _i"> done. Or paint the rims with a thin film of graphite, and the results TV-m be equally as satisfactory.

Total Percentage Make. Registrations. of Total. B.S.A. .. 53 14.2 Douglas .. 47 12.6 Triumph ,.. 'tO 10.7 A.J.S. .. .TS 10.4 Indian fi" 0.9 Harlcy .. 20 7.8 Raleigh .. 20 5.5 Norton .. ' 15 4.0 New Hudson .. 14 3.8 Enfield 0 2.5 Matchless s 2.3 F. Barnett 7 1.8 Sun fi • 1.4 Rudge 4 1.1 Excelsior • • - .5 Others .. 43 11.5 Total '.. 371 100.0