MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 9, 5 October 1917, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Olutch.")

The Headlight Problem. Tlioso who have been following local attempts (o. solve the dazzling headlight problem will bo interested in the following regulation which became operative in iNew York Stato last month:—"The light of the front lamps shall be visible at least.2oo feet in the direction in which the motor vehicle is proceeding, and shall givo sufficient light to reveal any person, vohicle, or substantial object on tlio road straight ahead of such motor vehicle.for a distance of at least iiuOfi. The front lights shall be so arranged that no portion of the beam of tho reflected light projected—when measured 75ft. or more ahead of the lamps—shall rise above -12in. of the level surface on which the vehicle stands. They shall give .suflicient side illuminations to reveal any person, vehicle, or substantial object 10ft. to both' sides of the said vehicle-nt a point 10ft. ahead of the lamps." It is.further provided that all other lights, on the car, other than the tail-light, shall be subject to all the restrictions regarding direction of the beam. Graphite in Bearings. The question' of using graphite in bearings, says the "Scientific American," comes up periodically, but the usual verdict of the public is unfavourable, solely, because the; majority of people get the. idea -that it is u substitute for oil, and attempt to use it accordingly. The'mistake usually made is to' overdo a good thing by .putting in excessive quantities of graphite, with. the.result that it collects in wads in the bearing and tends to blind them, and also plugs, the oilpassages. . Essentially "graphite", is not a lubricant, but an aid to. keeping a, bearing in good working order by tilling up the minute .irregularities of the shaft and bearing, and producing a beautiful polished surface, und in: this way reduces friction. To get this result only a very small quantity of-graphite is' necessary; and if too much is applied it 6imply collects in wads and defeats the purposes intended. It follows'that the proper way to use graphite successfully is to thoroughly mix. a-small quantity with the lubricating oil at suitable intervals, and hot-to apply' it continuously, for when"the above-mentioned polished, surface Is formed it will last quite a long .time'before'requiring renewal. Here and There. ■ { The commonly used.rubber hose is per-' r'haps■■• the best method-of 'ideaning the lower portions of the car, such as wheels, running-.gear and-mild guards, etc. But it is positively injurious when used on the body and highly-finished surfaces. The' 'force - with which the stream of water impinges' on the; surfaces causes the sand and dirt, .adhering to- the body to bo driven into the varnish,.destroyingits brilliancy,-and. no amount of polishing and: rubbing will- restore its .former lustre! The body-should bo washed-with lukewarm.-soap and water and immediate-, ly dried-with a-soft chamois. Don't-attempt, to'turn-out. of ruts, while under-speed The- gearset- should -receive., much the. same treatment as tho disc clutch. Wash qut all the' ,greaso with kerosene. Be sure.that you get it out of tho gear teeth.. .A grease, gun, filled with. koro-.. seno.wilL help inVl'urcing out the gummy oil. Dry tho, caso' thoroughly alter tho .bath and insert. cleau.,pil_. If you are tempted,to fill the gearset ' caso .with hard grease' you had better tako expert advice first. There are not-very many gearsets mado' which aro adapted lo the ; uso of hard grease and a good many of ;lhem-can bo ruined by its uso. ■'■ - '• Eubber 'kerbs' may. not be feasible,vol)-. . serves"iin'exchange, but what, a lot of tyre oxpenso they would'hare. - Backing into'a kerb, running into .\ kerb,, or driving '100 cldso to a kerb, ?o that tho kerb Scrapes along tho concrete and' damages its sido walls, aro three ways of shortening the life of your lyres. Electric cables that rub on sharp edges of battory- box-: or other parts lvill soon wear through 'tho insulation from vibration of the' car, and a short circuit will , occur that' may bo hard to locate. These parts should be well 'protected witn adhesive- tape and frequently inspected. The average motor-car has six points of control, including the sk-ering-WheCl, There is a gear-lever, a. brake pedal, a clutch pedal, an accelerator, and sometimes a, magneto control, while a motorcycle has soven controls, if it is an tiji-to-date machine—an oxhaiibt lifter, biake lever, brake pedal, clutch, pedal, magnet leTer.an extra hand-dutch control, and 'the oil-pump. In additio.i tj Hie magneto lever there sonetimss is an ignition cut-out. With rhe pcdioyslss there are but three—the pedals, * brake lever, and a change-sp.-ed lev»r, it it be filti<l with a'geared h.nb. It ie annouhce.d by the U.S.A. Society of Automotive Engineers .(aftar a series of conferences with Army clE.'c-s and-tVo Council of National Defence, a'; WashingIon) that standard/dimensions for raptor ' wagons,' engines, und transmission gear under Army requirements have been agreed upon by leading motor manufacturers. Tho work of standardising axles, radiators, and frames; is'also tcken in' Hand. The enormous significance df this work lies not only in, tho ability, of, manufacturers to meet Government requirements for 50,000 military wagons, but in.the fact that the wagons produced will.' be particularly satisfactory for commercial uses, principally for owners of large fleets in .cities. Parts will be interchangeable without regard lo make, and repairs will thus be greatly simplified'.; : ' , ■' Lighting-up time:—To-day, G.O p.m. Next Friday, 6.7 p.m.