MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2901, 13 October 1916, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

q IBs Cltjtoh.l The First Thousand Miles. It is not generally known that when a motor-car is built the engine is run ' very little, and the parts aro fitted exceptionally tight to mako them lit snug when the roughness wears off. As a consequence, tho car is very stiff, will not show much speed, and the motor will not respond readily to the throttle. The car should be run very *an.4'ully for the -first thousand miles at least. Tho speed should not exceed 30 miles an hour on _ high, 18 miles on second, and eight mites per hour on low, under any conditions. By following this limit .of speed the various parts of the car have an opportunity to find their 6eat in relation to tho other parts without strain, and when you aro inclinod to speed the car will he fairly free and no harm will result. To force a car for the first thousand miles puts an unusual strain on each part, which will result in premature repairs. Don't raco tho cnguio when standing idle; nor trifle with it, nor do stunts with it,. nor. show it off' to your friends. Handle the car carefully, and always remember you have too much money tied up in. the car to risk any harm to it. After tho first thousand miles drain the oil from tho engine to remove the minute; particles of metal which will accumulate, incidont to wearing off tho rough spots on tho pistons, bearings, etc., fiußh with kerosene or petrol, and put in new oil. It seems to he the general ! impression that when a now car arrives the only thing to do is to put in some oil, petrol, and water, and start out. Usually everything, about a new car is mechanically correct, and it needs careful attention for the first thousand miles. Oiling and grea«ing are perhaps the most important features. The car should be gone over carefully before using it, oil tho magneto, fan, generator, and starter, and other working parts of the motor. Carefully look after all the grease-cups and keep them well filled and turned down. Make it a practice to re-grease everything at least every 150 miles, as this will help to loosen up the oar. Adjust the oil level so SB to permit more oil to reach the engine for tho first thousand miles. The careful owner will cither go over-a new car when-ho gets it, or have a competent mechanic'to do so to see that tho valves, carburetter, make and break mechanism .of the magneto, and the electric generator are all properly-set and adjusted.' This may appear to bo unnecessary, but in these days of enormous production inspection at tho factory may not be as: thorough as it should bo. The bolts and nuts require attention after tho car has been run for the first 500 miles. At' tho end of that time thoy'will be seated properly, and rattlinc will be prevented for a long time if they are carefully tightened. - The instruction -hooks' supplied with tho car should lie thoroughly studied, nndevory detail 'mentioned theroin should ho attended to._ If you aro unable'to give them attention yourself have your dealer do it. From timo to time squeaks., will develop in various parts of tho body and running .gear, and if tho ear is greased regularly most of them will disappear. Some car's will show a, tendency to overheat when new. This is causod by friction in wearing off the rough parts of the motor. Givn the motor plenty of oil and water, and do not force it, and in time this trouble will cease. . Tiro Pressures. An English contemporary gives' the following advice rogarding tiro pressures:—To prolong tho life of a tire it should certainly be inflated well up to the specified pressure, but on many machines the damage done to tho chas-sis,-etc., by running on a "brick-hard" - tira'mdre than outwoighs the.poauniary gain of lengthening tho life of the tiro. For that reason alone it' is often advisable to Tim a tiro on the soft side, as moro shocks arc, of course, absorbed before they can reach tho chassis. Not only will, tho tiro .."wear' out much quicker when under-inflated, but thero is a certain amount of danger in it pulling off on rounding a bond at a fair -speed;- It is, therefore, advisable to have security bolts fitted when it is decided to run the tires at a low pressure. Should tho cover collapse sooner than is anticipated in theso circumstances, it is scarcely fair to blame the manufacturer. At the same time, as we have said hefore, tho ownor'■willnot be much, if any, out of pocket, while driving will. bo much moro comfortable. As regards the question ■of sideslip, with an absolutely plain-tread tiro wheel slip will tako place on greasy road surfaces, whether the back tire or tires be board-hard or fairly soft. The caso may briefly be summed nip as follows:—If tho tires are kept "boardhard" they will last longer; but tho car will not hold the road so well aud be'so free from sideslip as when thoy are rather soft.

Here and There. As the weather gets warmer, don't forget the relation between temperature, and air expansion. If you do, particularly, if you are using covers, •weakened by long sorvice, a sudden buret may romind you of your neglect. ; If I were asked to state the chief difference : between the driving methods of amateur and professional handlers of light cars, said an expert, I should instantly fasten on the use they niako of second gear. The average amateur who desires to exhibit the paces of his car to me hangs obstinately on to top gear until a querulous knocking of the crankshaft or gearshafts compels. him for very shame to change down. Tho professional drops naturally, without a word of excuse or explanation, into his second gear at every sharp corner and on every grade where the speedometer needle is pulled down to 18 or 2.0 miles per hour. •' A split pin is a very necessary fitment ' to every important nut, but 1 its removal ; ofton presents difficulties. The spreadout onds of tho pin should first be levered up by means of a screw-driver ! until the two ends can be gripped between the" jaws of an ordinary pair of pliers, '"'he pin should then be straightened up,;the ends being firmly pressed x together. By tapping on tho end of the ;]pin, it will be forced out to a certain extent, and tho head should then be gripped with pliers and "wriggled'' out. Should the pin refuse, to como out in this way, tho slightly projecting head must bo gripped near the hingo of an ordinary pair of wire-cutting pliers, and tho pin levered out in stages, using the points of tho pliers as a fulcrum. If tho pin still refuses to move, it can be sheared by unscrewing the nut with a powerful spanner. This should only be attempted if the nut is hardened, as a soft nut will bo burred if an attempt is made in this manner. Lighting-up time: To-day, 6.18 p.m. Next 6.28 p.m.