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MOTORS & MOTORING

4 IBy Clutch.!

Cear Changing Device. A number of American cars are now provided with a semi-automatic gcarclmnging device. Tlio usual gear lover is eliminated, and nil tlio driver lias io do to eliango gear is to press a button — one for each speed and the reserve. While tlio driver has full ccftifcrol over the changing, tho actual operation is performod by electro-magnetic force, tlio current being supplied by the lighting accumulator. The system docs not ontail any complexity; in fact, both in principlo and construction it is particularly simple and gets as near to unto* malic gear changing as is practicable. Tho sliding of the gears is effected entirely by tho magnetic pull, exerted by a hollow coil of wire carrying a strong current upon n short iron bar technically termed tho "plunger," the coil being known as a "solenoid.'' If the plnnRor bo only partly within tho soil before the current is switched en, it will bo Bucked right in at the instant tho current passes round the coil, and the bar h ill adjust itself symmetrically to tho noil so that it projects equally from each ond. Tho prociso reason lor this highly iiilorostinj; and useful effect is not easily explainable, except by going into the subject, of lines of force, produced by tlio liolonoid: it will bo snlliciont to 6ay that the lines of force generated always tend to take the path of least resistance, and puss uuicli more readily through iron than through air. hence the iron bar is, so to spealc. soir.cd upon by tho lines mid pulled into such a position that will give the short est path from end to end of the coil. The operating plungei passes through the contro of each or two solenoids, and it. carries all arm with usual fork engaging a gear sleeve According as to whether current is sent Sto «il 1 or 2 so will the plmigci movo to left or right and engage the respective gears. By having two no to coils two more speeds can ua opeiated. The control buttons aro arranged upon a small box clamped to the steering column, just below tho wheel, so that the driver has them conveniently at hand. The electro-magnetism is mounted on top of the gearbox. Ihe control buttons act as selectors, for any particular near, the actual closing of tho energis. ing circuit being done by a, movement of the clutch pedal. Tho changing takes verv little current from the accuniuliv. tor; in fact, it is negligible, as a test with ail 80 ampere-hour 12-volo l> at terj showed that 134,490 changes could bo made without exhausting it. When to Lubricate. Most of the noises common to motorcars are tho result of insufficient lubri- 1 cation, which, permitting wear, gives audible evidence of neglect m pounding bearings, noisy gears, squeaky springs, i and a general rattling symphony over the whole car. Noises may be divided into two i classes—those due to looso bolts or rivets, and those duo t<r worn surfaces. In tho first class como rattling . spring slips, body and hood squeaks, battery-box, or tool-box squeaks, de* mouutablo rim creaks, etc.- lhcse being clue-cither to carelessness inattention or severe strains resulting from accidents or Tough driving. In the class of noises due to worn surfaces \\ c hnd the motor knocks from loose healings, gear noises in motor, transmission _ or rear axle, thrashing chains, _ spring squeaks, etc. Most of these noises being preventable or reducible to a minimum by proper jvttention to tho lubrication of the vehicle. The first tiling to do in buying a new car is to make suro that' the motor lubricating system _ is functioning properly, and is supplied with the correct oil, then see that the transmission and rear axlo systems aro well filled with the oil or grease recommended. Attend_ to the filling of all grease cups. packing of the wheel bearings—in fact, see. that all parts are somewhat over-lubricated during the first thousand miles of use. Also drive this first thousand miles carefully, to give all parts a chance to take on perfect working surfaces. At the end of tho first 500 miles it is best to take a half-day and systematically go over the car from one end to the other, tightening all bolts and making sura that everything is as it should be. _At this time it is advisable to use a spring loaf spreader and introduce a graphite grease between nil spring leaves, if this was not attended to on receiving tho car. Thereafter the springs should require lio thought for a year at least. _ At the end of the first thousand, miles again go over the car carefully, tight- , ening and lubricating as before. After this second going over, the car may be driven with little thought to anything oxcept to keep properly lubricated. The Motor Bill. Regret is expressed in the annual report of the Hawke's Bay Automobile Association that the Motor Bill, which was drafted some years ago, and submitted to tho New Zealand Association, is still delayed through Parliament being entirely occupied with war affairs. "Many districts," it is pointed out, "are calling out for legislation making it necessary that all persons driving motor-cars should bo licensed. Many aro also pressing for speed limits, but it cannot be too often pointed out that a fixed speed limit is not so useful as the present law, which requires that all drivers should be liable to penalties if they drivo at a speed which is excessive considering the traffic and all other circumstanies. The mam reason for this is that if a. driver is accused of going at an excessive speed, one will never find that tho bystanders can agree as to the rate at which he was proceeding, but they would probably all agree as to whether, considering all the circumstances, he was driving at an excessive speed. It must ho recognised that there is great difficulty oven on tlio part of experienced drivers in judging witli any accuracy the rate of speed at which a passing veliic'c is moving. Motor Accidents In the United States. Is tho deadliness of the automobile increasing or 'decreasing? This question seems to bo answered in a very conclusive manner by the United States Bureau of the Census, ill. making public some preliminary mortality _ statistics for the year 1914, which indicate that during tho five years from 190'J to 1914, the number of automobiles in use in the United States increased more than twice as rapidly as tho number of fatalities caused by them. According to figures compiled by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, of New York city, from State registration reports, due allowance being made for duplicate registrations, a live-year increaso of 775 per cent, in the number of machines has been accompanied by ail increase of 315 per cent, in automobile fatalities; and a one-year increase of 38 per cent, in n-umbor of machines lias been accompanied by an increase of 12 per cent, in fatalities. One causo of this decrease in the dcstructiveness of the automobile is undoubtedly to be found in a reduction in average aiuiual iniloago per machine; but, after due weight is given this factor, and a suitable margin is allowed for possible jrror resulting from inaccuracy in tho estimated portion of tlio • automobile statistics, tho figures still appear to furnish ample justification for the conclusion that the automobile today is being driven with more care and more regard for public safety than it was a few years ago. Here and There. Lighting-lip time for motor-ears and motor-cycles To-day, 6.29 p.m. Next Friday, 6.17 p.m. , A simple and inexpensive method of ■ protecting the plated parts of a cycle or motor-cycle—and for that matter anamelled parts that have become chio-

pcfi—is lo apply n orjlinary cwirli varnish. H ; in il most- olhwliui prolrnlion, and although it. inny ueprivo i'ho parts o! iluJir pnslino l)iilliaiu'V, Mhto is no ImiUw way ol iujr oil' (ho od'ocUs ol'. tlin (latnpue.sH. lo ensuro quick drying, Jo pf' rout. ol ici'flliino should bo mixod will) vniuish. Tim applioalions of the* olivine currout to tllO llUkli'l'll CIVl' HTI! extlMldlllg. Tho lulest use is depicted in an Amcnnin I Mimical jml)lii::iLinn. It. consists ol' i\ healing foil of largo «vnl sliujifi ajlixed lo the wimkcrnoii mi. ii .suitable posit inn lor tlw driver lo sight through. ll' rain or snow is encountered tlio current is switched on to the Mill and the bout generated keens the glass surtace enclosed by it dry and clear; and thus avoids tlio ineouveiMcnco ol having to lie frequently cleaning t.li« glass with a squeegee or similar means. It is reported from Stockholm that owing 1.0 tlm great shortage of rubber I'll (ienn.'iiiy, nearly all tho taxicabs in llerlin are now running on stool tyres. Many of tho (lonium motor vehiclesi now in uso ut tho front arc similarly litted i>[>.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160310.2.66

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 9

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,490

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2716, 10 March 1916, Page 9

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