MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 57, 30 November 1917, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

IB* Cujtoh.].. Faulty Brakes arc Costly. Faulty brakes are costly to the motorist because they cause skids which damage his tyros Tho service brakes should 1 be given occasional inspection. Any difference in adjustment of brake drains can be discovered by jacking up loth rear wheels, starting the engine and engaging the clutch. If, upon application of the service brake, one rear wheel revolves ■faster than the other, the tyro on tho one turning slowest receives greater ■strafe in ordinary use and excessivo wear'^may_ bo expected. The cluteh plays an, important part in tho effijciency of both'car and tyres. If it 'does hot work' smoothly, if it is let in .with a- bang instead of .easily, the car "starts with a jerk. Such treatment is hard on both car and tyres.

Rules! for Economy. Economy Hints from America :— I. Do not use petrol for washing or cleaning—use kerosene to cut the grease.. . ■ ■2. Do. not spill petrol, or let drip when filling—it.is dangerous and wasteful..- : ■..•■ ■ • ':■ . .3. Do not expose petrol to air—it evaporates rapidly and is dangerous. 4; Do-hot-allow engine to run when car'is standing. : '■ . 5.' Have oarbiirettors adjusted to use leanest mixture possible; a, lean mixture avoids carbon deposit. ■'. 6; See that'piston rings fit tightly and. cylinder.B hold'. compression well. '. Leakage of compression causes loss. 7.-Stop all petrol leakage.; Form the habit of shutting-off petrol at. the tank or feedpipe. ..''■'■ .. jßi ;&e-that all-bearings .run freely and are well .lubricated—friction consumes' p6wer. aJid'.wastes gas. 9.'Protect, the radiator in cold weather—a cold engine is hard to start and is short) in power. , 10. Keep tyres fully inflated—soft "tyres' consume power. 11. Do not drive at excessive speed. Power consumption increases at a faster rate, than speed. Every car has a definite speed at which it operates with maximum fuel economy;

12. Change gears rather than climb hills with'wide-open throttle—it saves car and gas. .13. Do not use. cars, needlessly or aimlessly. By exercise of forethought a number of errands can be combined so'that one trip to'town or: elsewhere will do as well as two.

14. Reduce the amount, of riding for mere pleasure by shortening such trips or witting down their frequency.

Motor Cyole Evolution. It must not by any means.be supposed that the.present period of inactivity so far <;6 the output of English motor-cycles for public demand is concerned is being allowed to pass without contributing something to the. ovolution of that class of. machine. Indeed, we are in the position to affirm, says the "Motor Export Trader" (Eng.), that claim has already been made that with the cessation of the war it will. he found that, although actual production has-been suspended, plans for improving motor-cycle design have been perfected by several well-known firms, and others of less prominence for tho introduction of new models having-cer-'' tain distinctive features to distinguish: them from their predecessors and carrying them one step forward on thopath of evolution. Wβ were recently privileged to examine drawings relating to : a very advanced type of motor-cycle which will be'placed on the markot at the earliest possible moment,' and we were glad to note that' in. this design everything possible had'been done to improve the means of protection-for the driver as well as adding to his comfort' in other yvays. A scientificallydesigned spring frame, horizontallyopposed engine with original features, silencing arrangements based on principles which ensure real quietness with-, out hampering tho engine by back pressure, and something quite new in .the way of transmission, combine to make the maohine-' noteworthy as an advance in a collective sense upon what has gone'before. We believe that in future there will be an insistent demand for more comfort and protection for tho driver of side-car machines, and as the majority of such are if ever, detached and used for solo riding, there is no reason, as.the design, we have referred to shows, to hesitate (Over the introduction of features' necessary', to that end. It is not.everyone who stands out for greater protection from mud and wet, for many of the younger and more robust motorcyclists prefer not to bo hampered in any way by equipment provided for the purpose, but' there will be a large and growing section who do place importance on this aspect of motorcycling, and they will spend their money on those machines which offer the maximum in the direction indicated. Therefore, such designs as the one we inspected will stand a better chance as a marketable commodity than others falling short in the necessary means for protecting the owner in the use of his machine.

Here ana There. Keep your hand on the speed lover until you have finished with it. You must watch the road while you are changing from cue speed- to another, and you cannot do this if you have to look down and find the speed lever several times. Sharp turns at high speed cause the tyre to skid. And skidding also wears the tread.

Jack up each wheel occasionally and try the bearings by shaking or lifting the. wheel. If any" sign of looseness is apparent, the bearings should bo adjusted. If the■ front are. loose, the play may be in the knuckle around the king bolt. So make sure where it is before attempting to adjust it.

Sudden starting; or stopping grinds off the'/tread".' : The clutch should' be thrown on gently to give'the wheels time to catch and grip the road surface.

Don't drive fast with- a tyro that is soft or nearly ivorn out.. ' . . ...'

Go slow passing .schools, children, around corners,' approaching crossings. It- is surprising bow. many people;neglect the use of tyre chalk when changing a tube. The fact that you put in some a week or a month ago is no reason for neglecting to put in more. It disappears in use and must be replaced : every time.. Some of it is mado from: mica' and some from soapstorie. They seem to be'equally good. The powder helps the tube to settle into- place while - il is being pumped up,..and redtices friction between shoe and "tube all tho time the tyre is used on tho road. - So use it liberally. . . . ■ Lighting-uptime: To-day, 7:6 p.m.; next Friday, 7.13 p.m. . .