MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2883, 22 September 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

IJBv Clutch.l

Handling New Gars. When a now car has been delivered and placed in the garage, and whon it has been admired and tested in all sorts of ways, tlion a careful and com-mon-sonse inspection and examination and tho uso' of a wrench or two and a little oil and grease may save you many future troubles, and also teach a groat deal in regard to tho mechanism of the car. In tho first place every bolt and nut on 'the car should bo gone over with a little geutlo pressure, to scethat all are tight, and this is especially true of manifold and carburetter couplings, where the least air leak will make for poor carburetion and mistiring. This tightening of parts should be done every week for tho first four. Tho second job should bo . to read the instructions on lubrication given with each car, and aftor familiarising oneself with the position of greaso cups, oil holes, etc., ascertain that they contain tho proper quantity of oil and grease, as the case may bo. . This method not only insures the ownor against a scored bearing or a worn part, but also teaches right at the beginning as to tho wheroabouts of tho various oiling doviccs, and inoidentally he is learning by observation 'as to where and what the internal mechanism of the car looks like. Now, having reached tho point where tho car is presumably oiled and tightened, tho noxt step is the proper driving of the samo. A new car is in precisely the same condition when delivered as a locomotive or other fine machinery, it needs careful limbering up if ono is to get the maximum of wear. A locomotive always gets this. It is hauled dead for a. while, and thon (*ots slow, careful driving till tho bearings are worn in, whilo the a much, . finer piece of machinery, is forced to _show its paces at tho very outset, with tho result ol'ttimes that its efficiency is impaired and curtailed to a greater extent than the ownor ever knows. A new car should be driven during its first thousand miles at a minimum tipeed, say, 15 to 25 miles per hour, if it shows signs of heating it should given an opportunity to cool before being driven further. The oiling of tlio car should be attended to with more than ordinary caro . during the early period of its use, grease cups turned down more frequently, and a larger amount of pistons and cylinders than will bo necessary after the bearings are worn in. Tlio oil in the crank case should be drained two or three time's in tlia COO miles, and replaced with fresh. One would be surprised at tho quantity of grit and dirt that will show in the oil whon drained off, which comes from the new bearings and pistons, wliioh are throwing off small particles of metal, left ill tho manufacturing of the car. Lastly, tho cleaning of tho body of tho, .car should bo of tho most careful type during Its early uso. Washing should be done with a simple flow of water, wftliout spray or force, or finish will bo marred,_ and tho longer you can drivo it without any cleaning, save dusting, the harder the varnish and hnish will bccomo. Detachable Wheels. A taxi-driver was recently observed struggling for fully half an hour with a stuck detachable wire wheel. Want of a little greaso caused all the trouble. Every motorist and drivor who handles a car. fitted with detachable wheels should make a point of removing them every 1000 miles or so, to grease the hubs well. If you do not, you are likoly to have a lot of trouble noxt time you havo to remove one, preparatory to replacement with the extra wheel. After tho studs or locking devices have been removed, detachable wheels ought to come off "like greased lightning," but they -will not do so unless you- provide tlje grease liberally and frequently. If rusted up, removal is a fearsome job—worse than re'moval of a stubborn covcr—and as wilder in rainy or muddy weather, readily finds its way into tho "works," occasional attention is absolutely necessary. If a wheel docs stick, there nro one or two tips for its removal. Tho wheel will generally como oft' more easily if it is simultaneously pulled outwards and upwards—not straight outwards. If it is a back wheel, insert a tyre lever in the crack between tho brake drum and tho hub, and hanimor it ivith tho idea of using tho tyro lever as' a lover, thus forcing tho wheel off. , Paraffin, applied to tho studs and the axle, loosens rust and grit, and makes a sturdy pull effectual. If, after removal of tho locking rings, roleasing catches, etc., you take off tho brass axle cap, and hammer on tho end of the axle proper (preferably interposing something to recoive tho direct impart of tho blows), the wheel will often spring towards you, (Tho wheol must, of course, have been previously jacked up off. the ground.) But all this trouble can be avoided .with certainty by the occasional use of a littlo grease. Hero and There. Motor cyclists will appreciate a handy littlo issued by the Dunlop Company, which not only contains an extended and illustrated list of the motor-cycle goods in which the firm deals-tyres, belts, repair outfits, and so forth—but in addition practical instructions on the caro and treatment of tyres, which deservo tho attention' of every motor cyclist who has an oyo to efficiency and economy. Thero is no doubt that a large proportion of the tyres in use are spoiled and prematurely dostroyed by ill-usage ' or neglect instead of being fairly worn out. In some cases, at least, want of kmvoledge is at tho root of tho trouble. •Tho booldet under notice sets out in few words, but comprehensively, all that motor cyclists need do to extend the working-life of their tyres to the maximum, and at tho same time secure satisfactory running, and an avoidance of tho tyre troubles that do so much to spoil the pleasure of a journey. A mucli-ncglcctcd part of the car is tho speedometer drive, which the_ average owner rarely inspects or lubricates, [f tho driving gears are lubricated once cach wcelj they will operato more quietly and for a longer period. ; A somewhat sensational attraction which was worked as a feature of an American motor show hold recently comprised a head-on collision between an Oldsmobilo and a JStudebalcer at thirty-live miles per hour. The cars wero started off on their own account, arid, the result awaited. Both cars were considerably smashed .forward, tTiougli, judging from a photograph, not so much as might bo expected. They' both caught fire, howover, and this presumably' gave an ample spectacular effect io satisfy sensation seekers. ' Owners of cars fitted with wlro wficels should inspect tlieni occasionally for looso spokes. While tho wheel is considered flexible enough to return to normal position after having boen struck, it often happens that an injury may cause one or more spokes to become "loose. Where enamel has cracked and fallen off, paint should bo applied to prevent rusting. . It has been unofficially stated m England that the recent advanco or tlio Allies oil tho Sommo front means an increased weekly consumption or over 1,000,000 gallons of pctroj. If this is so, then gigantic supplies of motor fuel will bo needed later on when the present lines are pushed back nearer the German frontier. With a view to building up the necessary reserves, it is anticipated that English motorists will have their supplies of petrol reduced by tfyo British Govorn-

tnent fully 75 per cent. Many doctors with large country practices have already had their supplies cut down to 2o gallons a month, whilst motorists in general are a long way worse oIF. _ lood fit for one man may bo injurious to another, and similarly oil for one type of motor may not bo suited for another engine. Oil is motor food In a sense, and great care should bo taken in selecting the grade. Tliero, is no such thing as ail oil that is too good. The better tho grade of oil you buy the cheaper it is in the end. Tour motor will operate best with a certain grade of oil, and if you do not know wha't that grade is, ask tho maker of the car or his agent. Lighting-up time: To-day, 6.63 p.m. Next Friday, 6.2 p.m.