MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2895, 6 October 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

tßt Omjioh.l Irregularity of Running. Most .engines, when new, are quito' stiff to turn, in some cases so much so tliat it is impossible to "swing" the crank. It is then advisable every morning to pour about a thimbleful of paraffin- into each cylinder. Tlub will be found to dissolve the adhesivo oil between the piston and the oylinder wall, and to enable one to swing the oranlc with oaso. This treatment also keeps the piston rings from becoming "gummed up" and is conducive to better compression. Nothing is more aggravating to a motorist who ia a "friend of his car" than irregular running of the engine, and, conscientious as ho may be in looking after his "faithful carrier," he may leave some details a little too long and suddenly be visited by a spluttering and a-'.'missing." Experience teaches one what to look for in these circumstances, but as a guide to those who aro gaining this experience it may bo broadly stated that all irregularities of firing come under three headings, viz., ignition, carhuration, or valves. There are other oauses, rare enough it is true,' hut more about them later. It is the sounds, or absence.of sounds, that accompany the "miss" that help to tell' of the causa. If, whilst driving along, a jerkiuess of running is noticed, unattended by any other sound except tho clang of the transmission, tho odds are on the cause being faulty ignition, and an oiled-up plug is most probably the offender. Quito often this is noticed after haying stopped for, a time, the reason being that when running a certain amount of oil gets splashed inside tho sparking plug and remains, in a thin film, all over. When the ongine ceases to run this oil gradually falls down to the lower extremity of the plug and makes a bridge across tho points. Failing to find an oily plug, do not leave the ignition circuit, but look at the wires. One may be broken, a bare-part may bo touching some part of the engine, or even one of the connections may bo loose arid oily; Also a ..distributor brush may be stuck down, tho rocking arm in the magneto, may not be operating properly, and not infrequently it occurs that the sparking plug is "shorting" inside itsolf.---.--If your engine,, otherwise running well, suddenly "misses" and at the same time, iiros into the exhaust box with a loud report whioh cannot fail to be heard, first look at.the exhaust valves. Find out which oylinder is "missing," and remove the exhaust valve of that 'cylinder. You will, very likely find, the'stem quite gummy with partially burnt oil, or quite, bright as .if it had been rubbing kard. " In ;tho first case the cure is obvious—clean the stem and also tho inside of the valve guide. In the. latter case the valve stem is probably too tight a fit in its guide, and a little may bo eased off with some emery cloth. A third case may be found-to bo that a particle of carbon or foreign matter is embedded in the', seat of itlio valve, preventing it from shutting down properly. If side of the valve seating appears clean ■and,tho other black, it is a suro sign that either the facing on the valvo or tho seating in the cylinder is not true. That on the valve may be rectified in a lathe, hut that in the cylinder must be rofaced by the aid of a special cutter having a stem attached to fit in the valve guide. ...

Curing Stiff Springs. If lubricant is applied to a neglected spring at tho end where it is_ Free to move," stiffness'of tho spring will .times be cured, but a tondency to. . break will bo developed. The best things •to do with stiff springs is to separate '.tbo.'. leaves/with ; ,a ■ sp.riijg ir le.af, oi>oner, •and insert graphito spring lubricant,. one form ;pf which is sold in' sheets for 'placing between! tho leaves. It tho springs are. weak: and have to bo replaced frequently, no doubt a spare set will be carried v It is a good plan to prepare the springs for use beforohand. Tho leaves should be opened and very thoroughly greased with a graphite and oil mixture, such as is sold as chain lubricant. Then the springs should be wound from end to end with ono length of blind cord, the whole being given' a coat of sheilac and allowed fo dry thoroughly.' The result will be a spring ■with a certain amount of movonient, which will give it flexibility, but the cord will effectually damp out excessive play and prevent breakage. '■Trouble'from frequent spring breakages, hak often been completely cured in this wa y-'■ '■~'.., .v '■■''..' Here and There.. Good stout coconut matting will always render a car more cosy, and it is surprising what a large: amount of vibration, it absorbs wbich would;otherwise ; come'up'to the feet. : If a dickey seat be in.use, another mat for the floor of the boot will add to the comfort of. tho rear passenger, as, if she is a lady, it is rather unpleasant for her to drum her feet on; a lyooden. floor. Unsightly and dirty footboards can also be prevented by a small coco-fibre mat opposite the door.Some further hints, on cleaning the car:—ln washing'the car, do not allow water from a hose to strike any part of it with forco, and do not allow the water to-dry on tho car. If a hoso be used, allow the water to trickle on to tho paintwork, or, better still, uso bucketfuls of soft water and a' largo sponge. The latter should be well soaked and squeezed over the panels and other parts of tho body. When al! the dirt has been washed off and moisture removed with a cloth thewhole'of the vehicle should be gone over with dry fc'olvyt cloths or dry chamois leathers. Tho leather upholstery should be wiped clean and i rubbed with one of the many leather preparations which can bo obtained at most garages. During the washing operations every care should bo taken to avoid water being splashed about in. such a manner that it can enter tha carburettor, induction /pipe, or any part of tbo magneto or dynamo., Tar stains are most difficult to remove. If new stains they should be smeared with butter, which should bo allowed to stand as Jong as possible, "when very gentle'application: of a cloth may remove the tar.-If old stains, thoy are almost impossible .to remove, and wo do not believe that anything • can be guaranteed to remove them without scratching or removing the paint, although a good deal can be done with care on ordinary varnished coachwork. Any nut that is not.required to be removed frequently can bo secured by giving the bolt and tho nut a coat of shellac. When tho shellac sets it will be very dilDcult to move tho nut, but, if this is necessary, methylated spirit will ■ remove the shellac. Shellao can be very cheaply prepared by dissolving twopenny-worth of brown leaf shellac, which can, be obtained at any oil and colour stores, in a pennyworth of methylated spirit.

Lighting-up timo: To-day, 6.9 p.m. Noxt Friday, 6.18 p.m. , INTERESTING. TO MOTORISTS. The cost.of bcnzino can, it is (stated, easily bo. reduced to nearly one-third by making it into gas, whioh gives additional power and increases the speed at least ton miles per hour. This is done l>y inserting a yanourising tuba into the induction pipe close to the engine. Seo advertisement column— Speedier attachment.