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MOTORS & MOTORING

$ IBt Clutoh.: Air-cooled Engines. I Although air cooling as opposed' to water cooling has its attractions, to apply it to powerful motor-car engines is certainly a pretty bold step. An American' correspondent writes an interesting account of how the step has been taken by an American firm. It has already turned out a considerable number of air-cooled six-cylinder cars, and many of them may be seen running about in their district and giving good results undor gioat variations of atmospheric temperature. It is not surprising to learn that the air cooling is not carried out in quite.the simple manner that is associated with motor-cycle engines. The radiating fins of each cylinder are surrounded''by a light sheetmetal jacket. From about the middle ot these jackets there springs a horizontal diaphragm which surrounds all the jackets. The general arrangement, in fact, is like that of six tubes passing through a tube plate situated in ! the middle of their lengthy The outer ; contour of the diaphragm just fits tho space enclosed by tho bonnet, and so divides this space into an upper and lower chamber. The air draught through the jackets is induced by a suction fan embodied in tho flywheel. The air enters through a grill in the front of tho bonnet above the diaphragm and passes through the jackets into the lower chamber and thence through the fan. Some 2200 cubic feet of air is drawn through per minute when the engine is under full load, and experience with tho car apparently has ■demonstrated that this, -while carrying nway enough heat to avoid seizure of the working parts, allows the engine, to give its best efficiency. In fact, it is said that a temperature of 350 degrees can be maintained without endangering reliability. Where to Locate Noises. The last thing to suspect is your engine, granted, of course, proper _ care and'treatment. If tho rumble is internal, suspect your transmission rather than your engine. If you want to see whether your'running noises are internal or external, let the car rip down a- steopish hill with .the clutch out and the currentswitched off. The engine will then stop turning, and the transmission • will, of course, be idlo. Chassis and body rattles will then declare themselves. It Is of no,use running her quietly down a slight slope, for your speed will not, in such conditions, be sufficient to provoke the rattles. It is related that a certain jrofonst once argued that a general rumble which appeared on his car nevev occurred ivhen he let her. run free down hill, and that either tho engine or the transmission must, therefore, bo at the bottom of it. When the trouble was investigated, however, it was found that he, being a cautious man, ran downhill quietly at about "20 miles an hour. Going down the next hill the cat was ; run at 30 miles an hour, with tho engino resting and transmission idling, as described above. Thou the old rumbles began. The fact was, of courso, that it was only at a good speed that I the noises occurred—somewhere above 25 miles an hour. The motorist in question had put them down to. high engine speed, and argued loose bearings somewhere. (Ho had just had his engme taken down and nothing done to It, the mechanic's diagnosis being that thero was nothing the matter with it. He was accordingly much disappointed when he found olil rumbles returning after he had paid an unnecessary bill) In this case all the rumble disappeared upon replacement of bushings and tightening of the ball joints, brake pullrod connections, and back-brake cams. Cost of that job was less than 15s. The ; bill for 1 taking down the engine was nearly £3—and nothing don»! Motor Cyoles In America. According to the American motor papers there is a big boom in motorcycles in both the United States and Canada. Although the 'side-car attachment was adopted only three years ago in the States, long after it had become popular in Great Britain, it is to-day almost a craze with tho Yankees. American ' side-carists are not merely fair-weather riders., They are, in fact, quite accustomed to driving -over snow, and get along very well by putting chains on the rear wheels. Electric lighting for motor-cyclists, has become almost universal in. _ America; and is regarded as a necessity with high-priced machines. Side-carriers.arc being used by tradespeople there, to. a far greater extent than in other countries, while tho U.S.A. Mail Department is extensively adopting them. Also, the police use a great number of solo machines, and each member of the force in the motor-cycle branch must be able to drive at 75 m;p.h. to qualify. They are used for chasing cars that are driving at excessive speed, It is stated that' one company is putting on the market a side-car with a double telescopic axle, which can be pulled out so that the wheel gauge is increased. This model, it is said, is intended for the British overseas Dominions whore' the roads aro indifferent; it will allow of the axle being elongated sufficiently so that ti/o wheels will run in the worn tracks. Hora and There. Lighting-up time for motor-cars and, motor-cycles: To-day, 5.28 p.m..; next Friday, 5.16 p.m.

At tho last meeting of the Executive of the Wairarapa Automobile Association there was lengthy discussion oyer a proposal to import a large consignment of petrol in order to combat the high prices now being charged. Ultimately the secretary was instructed to obtain quotations. An opinion waa expressed by several speakers that the nationalisation of the oil; wells in Now Zealand is desirable.

Always keep on hand a supply o! valve washers and rubber-headed plungers. When i a rubber washer has been in use for six mouths it is quicker and cheaper to replace it by a new one, rather'than try to make it serve again. If the rubber-headed plunger refuses to seat properly, take it out and clean the vahe seating with a piece of emery cloth folded to a pencil point. This surface is apt to became coated vith a scale, which makes it impossible for an air-tight joint to be formed.

Detachable oyfinder heads now are quite generally used, and it is very impcrtant in connection with them that they are kept tight against leakage at the joint with the main cylinder casting. A striking loss of power in a certain engine was puzzling l.ntil a thorough inspection revealed that some of the head holts were loose, allowing some of tho compression pressure to escape. There also- are many instances of careless tightening of heads and cylinder lilocks which have resulted in cracking the casting. This is due to drawing down ono bolt or series of bolts too tightly before equalising the strain by tightening others in another part of the casting. The object is io pull the casting down uniformly without any tendency; to bend or distort the niece. '' Motorists wlio are anxious to save running expenses should bear in mind that the rate at which the car or motorcycle is driven is one of tho important determining factors. Tho most economical speed both as regards petrol consumption and tires is about 20 miles an hour. Above this the figure rises, especially as regards tires. Tho increase is slow at first, but after 25 miles an hour becomes much more rapid. Heat is especially injurious _lo the tires, and the economical motorists should occasionally test them by hand. If be finds that the.y are unduly hot he mav take it ng 9 warning that lie'lia« betii driv < ing too fast to suit his pockek

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160414.2.60

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 14 April 1916, Page 9

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,272

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 14 April 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 14 April 1916, Page 9

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