MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 180, 19 April 1918, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch,") A Useful Hint. In order (o deaden tho injpulfe—to soften the drivo—on a chain-driven motorcycle, the crankshaft pulley on some machinos is fitted with, spring cushions, out even with theso 6hock nbsorbers spokes sometimes snap under tho strain of tho ■engine impulse. A British motor-cyclist who. experienced this trouble on. his 15 h.p. B.S.A. machino substituted rubber buffers for tho shock springs. Not a Singlo spoke has since given way. He asserts that tho rubber improves the "drive," and gives smoother running. Ir rubber of sufficient thickness cannot bo obtained, riders can cxtemporiso with strips cut from an old tyre. Here and There. In the course of an article in tho "Motor Cycle," Mr. W. G. Aston observes that so far as cccessibility' is concerned no. trouble need be anticipated for the radial engine in motor-cycle work, in whatever position it comes .to bo placed. In cars this is a point that will havo to be properly tackled- "That tho coming of the radial engine into tho motorcycle and motor-car world- will f> nn S ! with it rii'any blessings," he adds, there is-hardly room to doubt, but that it is a type which can immediately bo adopted and made successful by persons with nn previous experience of its own particular little troubles is an idea which should not bo allowed to take Toot in any wouldbe manufacturer's mind.- On tho other hand,-its demonstrable benefits are-well i wprth all tho trouble they are likely to involve,' especially if, as one hopes will bo the case, designers aro content to throw asido tho clumsy staiidauls to which they have previously ihado engines, and adopt not only the highest quality of material, but.also tho greatest possible accuracy of workmanship. Only by reasonable means and' sound systems of production can true economy successfully do sought." Here and There. Owing to tho petrol shortage and the apparent desiro of tho Governnient to discountenance motoring of all Kinds save for esseutial purposes, thero, :iro some thousands of motor-cars of all kinds and types lying idle in Ureat Britain. In this connection tho "Auto-car" has mado » ■suggestion to, the authorities that theso motors could bo taken up and used tor military anil naval purposes instead ot new cars being built, and thus men, material, and machinery released for aeromotor or other pressing work. Ino suggestion was followed up by othor representations towards the same end, and although when the last' mail left theso suggestions wcro. said to bo under sideration by tho Ministry of Munitions nothing had resulted." The (jnestion of overseas transport is very serious, and as, according to tlie Board of rrade-returns for tho two months of .November and December last, cars, chassis, par lo to the value of :iearly two mil lions storling wero imported into the Kingdom all practically to fll Government orders -the inference to be drawn from tho facts is obvious. ." , Standardisation for all things has long been tho. agitation of tho English technical Press, but in America, standardisa-tion-has for much longer been the manufacturers' achievomont. lho United States Government -has now adopted a standard pedicycle, called the Libcrtj bicycle, which is being made by several leading cycle-manufacturing n™". "Will somo technical expert tell us why motor-cyole gear-boxes aro jjsually made of aluminium? asks the Motor Cycle." The official reply is: Because aluminium is light. "Just thmlc, say the journal mentioned, "tho casing portion of; tho average motor-cycle gear-box consists of about two cubic millimetres of metal i whether you make it of papier mache or of lead affects tho gross weight of the machino just about as appreciably as whethor you shavo beforo or after your ride. It may be said that, motor-cycles have aluminium gear-boxes becauso car gear-sets aro usually enclosed m that metal; and whore cars are concerned tlio gross amount of metal may justify uio selection of a light material. Incidentally* aluminium is not tho best material for tho purpose; it makes a. poor housing for ball' bearings. . . . Phosphor bronzo is better for tho purpose, and is chcapor than aluminium; also it is quite as easy to work, infinitesimally heavier in such small' quantities, and incomparably 'more satisfactory."'" Thoro is, however, one point overlooked by our contemporary. Aluminium is a first-class conductor of heat, and that might bo one of the chief reasons of its retention in the construction of motor-cyclo gear-boxes, and certainly why the crank-cases aro com. posed of aluminium. Lightine-up time: To-day, 5.1G p.m., next Friday, 5.G p.m.