MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

Axle-filling Made Easy. Tho gearbox of the average car, says an exenange, is provided with a large removable lid lor tilling the box with Mutable lubricant, but in the case ot the buck axle the operation of filling is more difficult, because it is frequently found that there i.s only a small opening, through which it is almost impossible to force grease. Not that we advocate using grease irt the back axle, but somo axles arc designed to uso nothins else. In most cases, however,' a nonfluid lubricant is employed, and in such cases a sreaso injector will be found useful. The appliance consists of a. circular receptacle for the lubricant, which, by means of a suction and plunger pump, is forced from the main compartment through a ilexiblo tube, provided with a nozzle at the end. which can be introduced into a small aperture.

Kecpino the Wrists Warm; In tho early days of motoring it was tho fashion to appear in huge gauntlet gloves. Quito a small cull', however, is sufficient to go over the coat sleeve, and oven this is unsatisfactory in some conditions, for if one is walking about in heavy rain, apart from the car, the water runs straight down tho sleeve into the cuff. AY'hatever gloves are used, the wrist should lie well protected, for this makes a considerable difference in the warmth to the hand, and a very comfortable pattern is' that on which there is a knitted wool extension which can be tucked well up tho sleeve. The overcoat should, of course, be provided with either an internal .wind cuff or a strap and button. Another useful garment which lias a considerable effect onthe warmth of the hands is a long-sleeved cardigan jacKot.

All-British Magnctot. The monopoly that was being slowly exercised by Germany over the industries of other countries was revealed at the outbreak of hostilities in 19J-1, when it was discovered that only one concern in Great Britain was building magnetos and turning out more than 100 a week! Germany practically commandeered the industry from this and other ■ countries and established it at .Stuttgart. This was before tho war. On the outbreak of war, the shortage- of magnetos and the doubtful efficiency of the. limited number of machines being built in this country acted like a cold doucho on the authorities, who scoured the country for stocks of German or American magnetos, and, having exhausted the small available supply, endeavoured, with grim determination, to set tho wheels of industry going and produce a home-mado article from start to finish. Tho situation was desperate, for tho whole question of transport and air offensive and defensive was at stake. At tho outset difficulties overwhelmed tho pioneers of the new magneto movement, for they were met with the cheerful news that this country could not manufacture steels equal in quality to the German production—au- assumption which, fortunately, proved to bo incorrect. Another difficulty was the production of the insulated wire for tho secondary winding. The efficiency of the German machine was never disputed when it camo to a question of the type of machine wanted, and when the British Ignition Apparatus Association—a friendly combination of manufacturers banded together in order to supply the country with tho deficiency of magnetos operations, it took the Gcrilian machine as a standard, copying it (bwu to tho minutest detail and testing e&ch and every part by its individual introduction into the body of a inaeftine otherwise- entirely Gorman. Success followed this tremendous scientific effort as a matter of course, and by tho end of IAI7 tho British Ignition Apparatus Association had supplied some 300,000 magnelos for war purposes, and laid tho foundation stono of a revived industry which, it can bo said with assurance, will never bn monopolised by Germany again. It has jono oven hotter lhan'that, and future magnetos promise to be superior to German makes.—"Light Gar."

Here and There. Ono is often templed to adjust this reed of a horn and thereby increase, the warning note emitted by Iho instrument;. This operation may be attended with success, but it is ii delicalo one. Nover put a penknlfo beneath in order to prise it up. The best note is given out when tho reed is flat-if it is lifted the horn will givo out no sound at all. In replacing t.lio bulb,' scrow up Qrmly to onsuro a good joint. If you innt to keep your hood m good condition, don't load parcels into it-par-ttcularly parcels with aggressive comers. llow often, a motoring correspondent observes, ono sees flic perplexed amateur attempting to pull the two ends of .. chain together so that the bolt can bo introduced! It is practically impossible, if tho sprockets are correctly adjusted for tho length of the chain, to join up in this way. Vhe correct method is to pull the chain ?ound until the connecting links lio on tho teeth of one of tho sprockets. In this position the chain can be kept in place with one hand and the bolt worked in with the other. When fho transmission is by chain it is worth while carrying a proper stud-extracting tool, with which a fixed stud can easily be taken out. Concreto in which is bedded steel rods to take up all teusioual strains-common-ly called ferro-concrbte—has Iwen used with success for shipbuilding and a hundred other purposes. A member ol the British Concrete Institute has proposed producing a ferro-concrete chassis alter tho war, the particular advantages which he attribute* to it being strength, elasticity, and durability. Patches are sometimes roughly dragged off inner tubes, with disastrous results. A patch may be removed easily and without damaging the tube if a .little petrol is squirted under tho patch as it is pulled away. One of the most annoying of minor troubles on a iar (says a trade journal) is a lcakv petrol tap.' Whether this is due to leak-tsa lit the taper of the tap itself or at the connection with the tank it is always an awkward job for the owner-driver. Often the tank has to be taken out, and with it in many cases tho, dash and some of its fittings. As 11 result many oWners run their cars with a perpetually moist tap-n s-omewhat risky proceeding owing to its proximity to the exhaust-or smear it over at intorvals- with tin; stock -prescriptionsoap.. This is d*iibly unsatisfactory, for its proximity ts the engine soon causes the soap to dry and crack, and the wastage of petrol, unlike a carburettor leak, continues day ami night- The remedy, however, seems to! be in .the hands ot tho manufacturers, who might lit a tap of the .needle type. Lighting-US? tiniie: To-day, 4.19 p.m.; nest Friday, 1.12 p.m.