MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3105, 8 June 1917, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

IBs Clutch.]

Easy Starting. A patented attachment for enabling an engine to bo easily started has boon placed on the market in England. It comprises a Bhort length of small bore pipe, the lower end cf which is connected to the drain tap opening of tho lloat chamber by means of a T-piece, thus allowing tho drain tap to be refitted, and a tap attached to tho inlet pipo between tho throttle and the cylinders. Tho tap can bo controlled from the dash-board when desired by means of a steel wiro and push-button. Boforo starting, tho tap is opened, and allows'petrol to bo drawn from tho iloafc chamber into the cylinders when the engine is cranked round, and closed again when tho engine has commenced to fire. Tho fuel is then supplied as usual through the jet of the carburettor. Tho device does away with tho trouble of priming the cylinders, and in those cases where no primingcaps aro fitted, it avoids tho removal and replacement of tho sparking plugs, or other means of easy starting. A_ further advantage is that tho wliolo of the petrol is contained in tho main petrol tank, an auxiliary tank for priming being unnecessary. A Stream-line Design. A Tacing motor-car with a closed-in body lias recently been constructed in Amorica. The body is stated to liavo the nearest possible approach to perfect stream-lino section at every point, giving less wind resistance than tho conventional type of racing body. . It is intended for track Tacing, and it is stated that Barney Oldfield will drive it this season. The body is sheet aluminium, jl'he front, rear and side vision apertures are covered with wire-netting, but are not glazed. Tho power unit is an engine of 289 cubic in. piston displacement;. developing 135 h.p. at 2950 revolutions. A safety featuro of tho chassis is tho provision of double steering arms on either end of tho trout axle. It will be extremely interesting to see how this car performs, because the idea that tho fastest car for a given chassis would be one of perfect stream-line form has long been held by engineers who had experienced the immense importance of stream-line sections for aeroplane parts Others claim that the theory is not upheld in practice with a body of so great ft cross sectional area as this car. The Care of Tires. A recent issue of a well-known motor journal contaiued some rules for getting maximum mileage for automobilo tiros. There would be fewer complaints and less adjustments necessary if tlieso instructions were imparted to purchasers of tires wherever possible. The -rules are as follows:— (1) Avoid rnts as much as possible. They affect the side-wall of the tire. The rubber at this place is thinner mid less wear resisting than on tho tread. When tho fabric is exposed it is likely to deteriorate very rapidly. (2) When, brakes are .applied too suddenly and tho wheels backed tho car will often continue in motion, with the result that the lear wheels slide. Rubber is softer and more yielding than tho road surface, and tho result will be noticed on tho tread of the tire. . (3) Car track riding shortens the life of tires because of tho constant chafing that takes place between the upper part of tho rail and the tire. Avoid it at all times. • (4) If ono of the front tires begins to wear down exceedingly fast, it is well to have the wheols measured up for proper alignment immediately. If tho two front wheels do not run exactly parallel, one of them is always subject to a drag or a diagonal grind which soon wears down the tread. Whenever a tubo is inserted in a casing, be sure there are no wrinkles in it. Tho best way is to inflate the tubo slightly, so that all the wrinkles will be taken up before applied. It is well to apply a light coat of talc to the tube before inserting, to minimise the heat generated between the casing and tube. This coating of talc should bo light. When it is too thick it has a detrimental effect on tho, tubes. Keep the rims as free as. possible from rust, because rust will affect tho tubes. It is only necessary about once every six months to remove the tires and tubes, and to clean the rims with a wire brush. It is a good plan to then coat them with graphite. It will prolong the life of the tires. Care of Spare Tires. Sparo tires should be protected against the action of sun and atmosphere. Carry them in a case or cover. Carry at least ono sparo tire for emergency. An injured tiro can then bo removed at once, and be sent to a repair shop. It is sometimes necessary to make temporary repairs on the road, but the tires should be vulcanised at the first'opportunity; this will avoid serious developments. It is pretty generally known that gasoline, oil, and grease are solvents of rubber. Oil is the one with which most trouble is experienced. It softens tho cover, and tho traction strain then stretches tho rubber in a wavy outline. It is but a matter of time until separation from the fabric can bo expected. Tho damage is often, caused from allowing tho tires to stand in a pool of oil on. garago floors. Attention to Repairs. In the car-owner's expenso account, one of tho largest items is for tires. Naturally, then, tho tires should have moro than ordinary tare. During tho touring season, weekly inspections .should be resorted to. Where small cuts less than three-qnarters of an inch long are discovered, plug them with cure-cut. If the cuts are deep and longer, it is best to have them vulcanised. It is not the cut which is dangerous, as the trouble which it causes. Water and dirt may enter the cut and work their way deeper into the rubber till they reach the .fabric and a weak .spot will be formed. A light bruise may then cnuse a blowout. The cost of lost tire service is greater than that of plugging or vulcanising. Complete instructions showing how to get tho greatest service from tires aro siven in a little liooklet, "The Care and Repair of Tires," or "Way to More Mileage," which can be obtained from lire dealers or from A. Hatrick and Co., Ltd., Wanganui and Wellington. .< Here and There. Word is to hand from America of two now long-distance motor-cycle track records established by A. T. Bedell at Los Angeles, California. . The now. figures are 1001) miles in 201) is. J2inin., some 21min. better than H. Baker's Australian road figures, and 1153j- miles in twenty-four hours, which is 1255.mi1es ahead of Baker's all-day ride at jfortlako (Vic.). The five hundred miles record also went, tho figures being 9hrs. fwinin. 2sec. Tho machine used was a llarley Davidson. An exchange-states that the number of American racing drivers who have signed up for governmental .work during the war has been increased to 250. These are about even in their selection of the two departments, the aviation ami the armored car division. Ono result of America's entry into tho war has been tho abandonment of tho classic motor event—the Indianapolis "/i00." It is expected that all tho other big American motor-car speed contests will also be abandoned. Lighting up time: To-day, 4.28 p.m. Next Friday, i.27 p.m.