MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2829, 21 July 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[By Clutch.] Side-car Adjustment. Few motor-cyclists in this country who indulge in side-caring cive much thought to proper weight distribution in the sidecar. It is frequently the caso that difficulty with the steering is engendered in motor-cycles having side-cars attached, by carelessness ana inattention to the subject of weight distribution; a ■factor upon which depends to a, large extent the' satisfactory behaviour of the maehino in more than one direction. In most side-cars there is room to spare in the "toe" of the body; some, indeed— especially when' the passenger is shortlegged—having a considerable 6pace left clear at the front end, and advantage is taken of this very often for carrying weijhty objects such as full petrol cans, heavy , tool kits, jacks, and so on, the result naturally being to greatly increase the load conveyed at the forward end of the side-car. This is altogether wrong in principle, as any weight that can be saved at that end should most assuredly be avoided, on the ground that the . lighter 'Ehe load there carried the easier will the steering be, on account of the greater freedom from weight of the spring forks and front wheel of the motor-cycle. The endeavour should always be to .distribute the load so that as large a proportion of it as possible is located towards the rear of the combination. The after end of the machine is better able in any caso to sustain' increased loading, and the construction is better suited to take the weight there than in the front portion. It is bettjr to carry extra luggage or other objects on the carrier of the motor-cycle than in'the toe.-of the side-car, although it is true, of course, that'they will have less protection there. Weight on the carrier is beneficial in preventing undue vibration, as it tends to keep the back wheel down and the tractive powers of ■ the machine are improved by this action, bouncing of the wheel being avoided. The sidc-car body itself should always be fixed upon the chassis in a backward rather than a forward position. for-the same reason as that given above in shaking of the conveyance of separate weighty articles. The difference brought by moving a side-car body backward or forward a few inches on the frame is wonderful, and a machine 'that is an excellent steerer, or which on the contrary is faulty in this respect, can be completely altered by the expedient of changing the relative positions 'of body and frame.. The springing action is similarly, affected, and what is even more important, the stability of the combina-. tion' is directly governed by the weight distribution. It is highly important that as small a proportion of the total weight should bo allocated to the front, connecting mehibers between the machine and its attachment as possible. Some of the accidents that have occurred through front connections failing have undoubtedly had their origin in faulty weight distribution, which has thrown upon them a greater load than they could sustain, whilst at the same time being subjected to continuous and oftentimes sevore vibration. Since the. practice of duplicating the supporting members became common, such accidents are unlikely, but ev,en now it is none the less important from other points of view that the side-car and the frame of • the ■motor-cycle should be relieved as much as possible of weight at the forward end. The matter is one of considerable importance, and should be given proper attention in every, caso where faulty steering or other similar trouble becomes noticeable.

When You Get Your New Car Read the,instruction boot carefully. Familiarise yourself with the mechanism. Study the lubrication system in detail;, use good lubricants freely. . See that all moving parts, are properly supplied ivith lubricant. Do not exceed 25 miles per hour for first 500 miles. l)o not race the motor, and do not allow. it to labour,. Change' motor' oil after 200 miles', and thereafter every 500 mile?.. Turn up grease cups daily; refill when needed. Watch lubrication of steering system, universals, etc., daily., Apply -brakes, progressively and Btart and stop slowly. • ' Examine tyres"for cu.ts and misalignment every'"lso miles. • Avoid strong soaps in cleaning the car. Keep the. mechanism clean; wash underneath: ' Learii. to remove' Tims, operate top, etc. Try these, things. ■ Study the car, its parts, their operation and care. Here, and There. • It is very important that full bearings should have just the correct amount of play in theirVuns. If too much, there will be a blow of great force delivered when the wheel is thrust sideways, and this is tl)e usual cause of split balls. If not enough play there will be a grinding wear that will soon destroy the correct action. ; As a general rule there should be,just enough'play to produce a slight side motion to-the wheel when it hangs free. According to recent reports received from Paris, Georges Boillot, the famous French racing car driver, was killed during an air light. Boillot hod 6inco the autumn of last year been acting as an aeroplane pilot at tho French front; in March last ho was mentioned in the. Orders of tho Day and awarded the Military Cross for meritorious service. On May 15 ho was given the Legion of Honour for his air exploits at Verdun. Al-. though officially reported as "missing, 1 ' the French Press have published the following account of his death: "While flying at the front, he was attacked by iive .'Fokkers.' The Frenchman's • machine was swifter than any enemy aeroplane, but Boillot, disdaining flight, boldly bore down on his nearest opponent. A minute later the Fokker fell to the ground, and the' Frenchman prepared to give battle to his four other adversaries. At that moment a bullet from one of the German airmen struck the gallant French pilot in the chest, and he dropped to earth. The death of Georges Boillot, in tho service of his country, removes perhaps the cleverest road racing driver ever known in the liistorv' of automobilism." * ■ Lighting-u > - time: 'i'o-div, 1.45 p.m. •Next Friday, 4.52 p.m. Motor Power and Farming. At tho Hawke's Bay Patriotic Ploughing Competitions, held on Mr. A. Spiecs's ground at Loiiglunds, Hastings, last Wednesday, quite the most interesting event of the day was the exhibition of ploughing given by tho Tourists' Motor Co., of Hastings, with their "Holt Caterpillar Tractor." This up-to-date •machine..is adapted for. farmers .with large holdings who are faced with the scarcity of labour, and who do a large amount of cropping, etc. The "Caterpillar" demonstrating last Wednesday is 75 horse-power, and it can turn over with ease 15 furrows of any depth. It. is capable of ploughing from 35 to 40 acres per ; day, on any class of country—hills, swamp, virgin country, it matters not ■to the "Caterpillar," which quietly crawls along, surmounting obstacles which hold up horse and bullock teams. This invention, which has a drawbar pull equal to 35 horses, runs on a steel corrugated track, which it lays whilst moving, thus enabling it to cross swamps aud river-beds. The weight is so spread over the tracks that the machine can cross bridges forbiauen the ordinary traction engine." The - "Caterpillar" may also be used for log-hauling, stumping, harvesting, and general farm work. .The running cost is said to bo most economic, the engine being specially designed lo be driven by "Distillate" gasolene—a low-grade benzine, only half the cost of that commonly used. It is claimed that in ploughing, the tractor can turn over an acre to the gallon of ■'Distillate." Tho Hawke's Bay Tourist Motor Company claim that there is no limit to the general farming work tho "Caterpillar" can handle, and that no enterprising farmer should be without one. At present the only tractor in New Zealand is the one in Hawke's Bay. Later on, smaller models, are to be placed on tho maj'ket, which will be especially useful for orchard work. A number of other demonstrations are to be held over much rougher country, in order to fully test the "Holt Caterpillar" TractorPublished by Arrangement. " '