MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 3, 28 September 1917, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

Low-Cost Motoring. Discussing low-cost motoring the "Light Car observes that the movement must: aim at real economy and real motoring, and not their substitute. The future ,£1(10 car must, in its opinion, be an orthodox car, evolved from tlio conventional practices proved to be efficient", and the price brought down to the above-named figure by the Elimination of the unnecessary. Before tho war there were a few light ears of foreign manufacture which sold at n figure real' the ,£IOO ■ mark, but British motor experts emphatically declared that such cars did not generally advance the evolution of the cheaper light car. In this type of vehicle the reduced price was obtained by lowering the standard of quality to that point where low* cost is not/value. The type, however, serves as an object lesson; some of these vehicles in the land of origin sold at a, figure approximating .£7O. and were not produced on a quantity basis. While advocating a system of specialised manufae. lure for the production of the lewpriced car,_ tho "Light Car" considers that it is incumbent on unit manufacturers to secure low prices by simplified design, improved methods of production, and, of course, large output. But no reduction, in price justifies poor material and workmanship. Hence it may bo argued that the low-priced and light car of the future will be of a type that is fully equipped with good but plain, fittings, in which every conceivable unnecessary. part is eliminated, and in which good design and sound mechanics are embodied. Things to Avoid. "So many people are now taking up motoring who know comparatively little about cars or tyres/' remarks an American expert, "that it is not surprising that merciless abuso is heaped upon them. Hardly one motorist in a hundred appreciates the terrific strain placed on tyres when travelling at high 6peed over ordinary roads. Your tyres may withstand a. shock equal to , ton tons weight while running at a speed of twenty-live miles an hour over country roads, and a little later you have a. blowout while Tunning over a perfectly, smooth street. Something happened. What was il.? This isi what happened: ( The terrific impact of the tyro and the stone imbedded in tho road did not visibly affect the exterior oWhe tyre, but on tho inside a break in tho tyro 'fabric was started. Perhaps only one layer of fabric was injured. Tho other layers soon followed suit and the Clowout resulted. It is common practice for car-owners to bump front wheels/against the kerbstono when parking their curs, especially if tho brakes do not. hold properly. Many drivers make no pretence of slowing up for street car tracks or bridge approaches. There is much fraternising with ruts and. stones in the All. of these mako for . fabric, breaks, which rob the tyre of many miles that, were built-into it at the factory. With those ijoinls in mind it should be'easier for drivers to obviate the losses that come from breaks in tho tyre fabric." i .. Rust on Rims. . Rust on tyro rims can always be detected by tho appearance of' tho of the. shoes. When- tho beads show a. marked, yellowish stain, it is evident that they have not been properly .cared for. Tliis stain is nothing ejso than rust, . which forms on tho rims and is deposited on. the beads of the tyre. If it. is allowed to remain it. will de-' siroy the tyre, as il: slowly but surely cats away ' iho fabric. ■ Moreover, the edges. of rusted rims bccomo :noro uneven every day. and when n rim is rusted it is impossible, to maintain tho close, and regular contact which should exist between rim and head. Water will soon find its .way into tho lyre, with tho usual disastrpus results. After being out in bad weather, if the motorist is careful to sponge tyres and. rims clean, and wipe -them .dry; especially along the beads, he will do much to prevent Iho formation -of rust. It is possible, however, that in spito of the exercise of reasonable Caro the rims may suffer a little, damage. In any, case it is essential that they lie .examined from time to time. - Here and there. In case of a blow-out, exam.no the tube you are going to uso carefully. It may have lain in tho ear for several months and got oil' or groase on it, making a weak-spot, which .will readily , blow out when pumped-up. Look especially'for worn spots where tho tube has been ■ chafed: They should -bo covered with a patch or-some tyro putty. When a spare tubß is placed in the tar it should be in a. bag.or have a. tloih wrapped in sucli as way that it cannot chafe. '•■ ■ ' :

Watch ■ -the ' stones . in • tho. road and avoid them, thus protecting voiir tyres. A,suggestion by the Auckland Automobile Association that tho. Oovern. ment should undertake tho inanul'ac> tura 'of alcohol from waste products has been'referred to'tho Department of .Agriculture. Tho Commonwealth Vdvisory Council of tho Science of Industry .is strongly iavourablo to tho manufacture of alcohol) from wasto products, for commercial purposes. Tho committee of -the Auckland Association reported at ils List meeting that it considered that tho Government should.be urged' to take tho matter up promptly, .and it: was decided to again write emphasising tho urgency 'of'tlie'-matter, .in view of the present great scarcity of benzine, and to risk tho Government to either undertake the industry' or authorise private industry to do so. In the-meantime the.association proposes to gather as much data as possible regarding the quantity of v.j-.ste products which would be available ; for this purpose. Members with experience considered that, with the adjustment of the carburetter, equally good results could be obtained from alcohol as from benzine.- It was pointed out also that the addition of a slight percentage of benzol rendered the spirit ".unit for human consumption. See that your brakes are properly set anil turn your-front wheels toward the kerb if you leave your car standing on an incline.

Be curefnl to dry the spokes of n wire wheel after, washing. As the enamel chips off the metal rust starts and loosens most of it. Careful drying will prevent this (o a great extent. When making motor adjustments it is usually necessary to exercise a little patience in order to get the best result', tor the reason that, the effects of adjustments are not always- instantly apparent. In carburetter adjustments, for instance, the motor nuist be Riven a little time to feel the changes made, and the results obtained immediately following the turn of a needle valve or on.air valve spring may be misleading. Try clips that hold the ends of the spring leaves together occasionally to make sure they are not coming loose. Tf they loosen, tho springs acquire a side uiotion, which drags in more dirt and so makes them wear and snueak all the sooner. A scraped tread is likely if bctli drums of tho brake do not grip with equal tightness. Stop? can be imido quicker and with greater safety if both wheels a-ro used. Then the wear and tear on the tvres is much reduced. Lighting-up'time:—To-day, 5.52 p.m.; next I'Viday, 6 p.m. To Motorists.—Save one-fourth Benzine by using Speedlor Vaporiser on your engine. Car size, 255.; Cycle size, 15s, Thirty days' trial. Cash refunded if not satisfied. R. Miller, Main Street. Groytown North.—Advt.