MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2987, 26 January 1917, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

IBs CL-nicn.l Looking After Lubrication. In tho lubricating system there is generally a filtor, and it should Lo borne in mind that this requires cleaning from time to time. Also, it is well, about onco every twelve months, to remove tho oil pump casing for purposes of cleaning. Abrasive material is sure to lodge in this casing, and should, therefore, be removed. On some cars exhaust pressure is used to force the oil through drip feed lubricators. In these systems tho lubrication 'dopends upon tho pipe which leads exhaust gases to tho oil tank being clear and upon tho tank being air-tight. With regard to the first, tho tendency is for tho pipo to choke up with burnt oil, whilst the washer in the filler cap may deteriorate, causing loss of prossure. When tho engine is stopped tho idea is that the oil should ceaso to drip, but as the tank remains under pressure for a short time tho feed.'generally continues, and, rather than stop this by screwing down tho lubricators, it is best to slacken the filler cap to 'let off the pressure. Car Wheels. One wonders, says an English writer, if there will be any emphatic change of fashion after the war in the matter of. car wheels'. The wire wheel, though introduced hi the very early days by Lanchostor, waited many years before it was in any sense generally adopted, and the really deciding point was the fact that the Rudgc-Whitworth firm introduced a detachable wheel with wiro spokes,-and wire wheels then came into widespread use, mainly for tho sake of their detachability. : As they have proved eminently satisfactory in all the respects in which'they were said to bo inferior to the artillery wheel, it is hardly likely that they will fall out of uso in any hurry. Certainly they are stronger than the wooden types, and'it is significant to note that our armoured cars, which'are of consider- 1 able weight, are nevertheless fitted with wire spokes. But there is one reason why artillery wheels may possibly como back to favour, especially as they can nov/ bo mado with steel spoke , s, and : that is the greater easo of cleaning. As_ time goes on the number of owner , drivers a,s compared with thoso who employ chauffeurs will increase rapidlyi and to such tho question of time and labour is of no small importance. Wire spokes are undoubtedly a nuisanco in this Tespect, and also when tire repairing has to bo effected, especially if the wheels aro small and the spokes therefore set very close . together, for the tire makers: seem to supply winged nuts of one size for orery type of wheel, and there is not room to twirl them properly on any but full-sized rims. Disc covers for wiro wheels, it is true, 'may overcome tho cleaning difficulty, as one can wash a set of four in five minutes, whereas otherwiso the wheels would take anything up_ to a couple of hours after a muddy ride, but there are not anything like the number of discs 'about that might otherwiso_ have been expected, and possibly this is.due to difficulties of.: , war-time manufacture. Pimping Tires. . ■ Nothing helps to disintegrate a cover more than an under-inflated tire. ■"As-tno wheel revolves, every part df tho cover is distorted, only to assume its correct shape when it is relieved of the weight of tho machine. Tho action .is very similar to that which takes place when a piece of copper or iron wiro is ropeatedly bent backwards and forwards until ij snaps off. A. continual reversal.of stresses will deteriorate almost anything. • It is better, therefore, to err on.the side of overinflation. ' If tho pressure in the tubo is sufficient the cover will not flatten out —at least, appreciably—when it has to support tho weight of the machino. Of course, it is advisable to remember that the tiro heats up slightly when running, with the result that tho air Jiressure in the tube increases. With a steel-studded cover tTio extra pressure should be allowed for at any time of tho year. A small gauge cm tho pump is a- useful accessory. Squeaks and Rattles, ', Tho quiet running engines fitted to modern, cars have caused any little squeak or rattle'to bo heard very much more readily than previously. Quito a moderate squeak will sound liko a bearing running dry,'and often, on close investigation, will prove to: be nothing moro serious than a; wing bolt which lias worked loose. The : vibration of tho wing against :thb side of -the bolt sometimes produces a continuous squeak. The remedy is to fit spring washers wherever there is a tendency for tho bolt to work loose. Here and There. On some light cars there is considerablo space under the- bonnet. This space may ho usefully occupied by some of the dirtier articles which havo to bo carried on the car. A bracket may bo fixed on the dashboard so that the tail lamp may be carried under the bonnet .-where., it is not likely to be stolen.7 Also the spare tin of;oil may be stowed away hero, and in some cases most of the tools.can be carried \inder the bonnet, leaving the "boot" at the back, of the car available for luggage. Wire wheels are liable to rust where the spokes cross one another. Regardless of the quality of the enamel that is used, constant vibration will cause it.to chip, and where it chips the spokes will , rust. In timo.thoy. will break if the rust is,permitted to eat its.way into the metal. The application of successive coats of- thin, hard enamel, say once or twice a season, or as often us the enamol shows signs of chipping or wearing off, is advisable. Almost any good enamel produced for use on metallic surfaces will serve tho purpose, and it should not be put on too thickly, or it will show a tendency to chip easily. The better way is to apply several coats of very thin enamel, allowing oach to dry thoroughly before the next is put" on. The drying process is an important part of the work and should be given ample time. To this one may add the hint that, tho quick-drying types of enamel aro unlikely to bo serviceable in direct ratio to their convenience; in all paint and enamel work pationco and slowness havo their ultimate reward in durabll- %•'.:• ".■.'•....■

■ The largest aeroplanes in tlie world are now being built in Great Britain. Horetoforo Russia lias led the way in this respect. The latest seaplane weighs up to about three tons when fully loaded, with oil, fuel, pilot, observer, and bombs; . Tho engines are fitted _ with compressed air starters. Some 1220 women are now engaged serving as conductrcsses on tho motor omnibuses in London. The careful motorist likes to keep his Capo cart hood clean and in good condition. Many overlook this part of tho car, which should be either washed when tho mud is wet or brushed when it is dry. To clean tho celluloid lights, viuagar is said to be useful. If a tiro pump fails to pump, it should bo filled with water and tho finger hold over the outlet hole whilst the pump is operated. This will causo tho pump leather to spread and do its work properly. To admit tho water tho cap nt tho outlet end of tho pump should bo unserewed. Lighting-lip time To-day, 7.18 p.m. Next Friday, 7.13 p.m.