MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") Rust on Rims. Bust on tyro rims can always be detected by the- appearance of the beads of tho shoos. When tho beads show a marked yellowish stain, it is evident that the rims have not been properlv cared for. This stain is nothing else than rust, which, forms on the rims and is deposited on the beads of the tyre. If it is allowed to remain it will destroy the tyre, as it slowly but surely eats away, tho fabric. Moreover, tho edges of' rusted rims become more uneven ovcry day; and when a rim is rusted it ia impossible to maintain tho close and Tegular contact which should exist between rim and bead. Water will soon find its way into tho tyre, with tho usual disastrous results. After being ont in bad weather, if the motorist is careful to sponge tyre 9 and rims clean and wipe them dry, especially along the beads, I'lio will do much to prevent the formation of rust. It is possible, however, that in spite of tho exercise of reasonablo care the rims may suffer a little damage. In any case, it is essential that they be examined from time to time. New System of Car Springing.

It often has been asserted' that tho spring suspension of the motor-car is far from being perfect, and many attempts have been made to evolve a. more efficient system of springing, the majority, however, consisting of adjuncts, such as shock absorbers, bum tiers, etc., which really aro mero palliatives. At Iho several American winter motor exhibitions, an "equaliser" was shown, which is described as a "striking development of tho cantilever principle to motor-car suspension." ' Although applied to an ordinary touring car, the makers state

■«Xt it is being developed for incorporation, not only into all typos' of motorcars, but also to all motor wagons and heavy commercial vehicles. The "equaliser" consists of two cantilevers or sidebars, equal in length to the chassis frame, and constructed of pressed steel on tho samo principle, ono being carried on eacli side of the frame. The bar.? are bent and pivoted to, and mounted on, brackets attached to the framesides' at a point whicli coincides with tho front universal joint of the transmission, and is, approximately, one-fourth of its length from the front end, a little forward of the dash-board. This gives a lover of 3-to-l proportion, and the long ends of the equaliser aro attached direct, ly to and rest upon the rear axlo near the hubs. Tho front end of tho chassis is supported, as usual, upon the front spring. Tho front ends of tho equalisers are furnished with vortical rods, carrying soil springs, capped, on which the springs are compressed upwards as tho weight is applied downwards on the long (roar) ends of tho equaliser bars. A steel strap is so applied to counteract side-sway at tho rear. The body of the car is carried upon the overhang— tho long ends of the bars—and this development of the cantilever principle results, literally, in suspending tho body of the car "in tho air." The. rear wheels move freely over the.inequalities of the road surface with no direct action on tho body of tho car.. Owing, to tho proportion of leverage secured, a 3in. move-" meiit of tho rear axle would mean only. Jin. compression of *lio coil springs n't tho front. This r.ystom of suspension, it is said, eliminates all abrupt, shocks, gives moi'O com fort to passengers, with, lees wear and tear on Iho body and tho engine. Filling Grease Cups.

'.['hero aro'. as .many ways': of; grease cupfi ,is thero aro niolor-ear owners. Ono is lo lake tho cup and scrapo it along ihrougli'-tlio grease, trusti'njr. to chanco to get .enough in it to give the. proper lubricating finalities. This is not tho best motliod. '-To-begin with in filling greaso c'upa'tho first tiling, to do is 'o wipe off all dirt that may be- present bc'foro removing tho cups from tho car; this to prevent gtik getting into llin grease, which it will'do otherwise. I'or

lillins iho cups ini old lablc-kuife iniikcs <iii admirablo instrument,..and enves ono getting into a mess. -It-is u good idea lo inko oIT tßo'cups Gingly, fill oncli nnd vot.iirn to its jilaco linforo rpmoviiir; the next. Tn this way 'tliero will be no dan* gei- of thoir. gefciufr njixed <ind tlio screw threads ruihe<t;l>y- f oro.in'g them on tvlicuthey do hot exactly fit. Hero and There.

In the endeavour to render 'Jjrilish motorists independent of .foreign fuel, great efforts are being directed to the production'of motor spirit within tho kingdom; : -Before thn' war'benzole was » popular fuel With maiiy,-and supplies were gradually increasing. With the beginning of 'hostilities all' Benzole was .commandeered. by tho Government for tho manufacture of explosives, wheri also benzole-producing plants wero considerably enlarged and multiplied. While pure bcDzole will always find a ready salo a.5 motor fuel, and also for Iho manufacture of: dyes, it may he morodif* iioulfc to dispose of the toluol and solvent naptha, othor derivatives cf crude, benzols which have higher flash-points' than pure henzole. With "a view to absorbing theso lighter spirits, experiments Jiavo been made with a fuel consisting of all three constituents-—tho.total-distillate of crude benzole—and with most satisfactory results. It was shown that tho mixed, distillate compared very favourably with petrol, though in cold weather starting the engino would he moro difficult. . . : ■•■

Kemarkablo dovelopments luive taken place, in tho construction of aeroplane engines' in England sinco 3914. One- of the finest aero engines now mndo is a 175brako horse-power 18-cylinder Sunbeam, This powov unit is made 1111 of threa rows of 6-cylindcrs, all operating on tho ono crank 'abaft Two carburettors aro used to each iw of cylinders, each of which is .'provided with four valves, two exhaust and two inlet. Six magnetos aro used. This is>the type of engine that .Is enabling the British aviators to maintain the air supremacy on tho Western frout. In this connection- it is interesting to noto that eomo of tho recent air fighting has taken place at an altitude of over 21,000 feet, or four miles high. At tho close of 1018 fifty-eight' motorcars were registered in Hankow, China. All tho cars in yso,thero are exclusively for traffic within tho concessions, 'fhis is an increise of fourteen over 1015. Of tho cars registered, thirty-fiy» wero American, eleven Ih'ench, nine British, and three German makes. Lighting-up timo:—To-day, 5.10 p.m. Next Friday, 5.17 p.m.