MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 216, 31 May 1918, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

A Stowage Hint. Ono of the most neglecter space? on the light rat- is, under (lit- w.ii.- Here there is often a removable hoard, tflvini; ; access to-tlio universal ln-hiud 'lio gear- I box, brake rods, etc., but as these are ; well Mow the level of ll.ui bodnls there J is generally room to fit one or more , boxes, their tops being lei el with the . boards. I'ixed wooden Irac can be used (provided some menus of access is still ■ left), held by screws through the sent beards, these being cut may. to cor- ! respond with the size of Hie box and a punk lid fitted. Anqthcr plan, .which in not so neat, but has the advantage ot leaving the lwx easily removable, is to utilise two or tinco old biscuit tins, obtainable in various sixes ar.<' fhapss, ami by cutting down the corners a little and hammering over an inch or two of the fides to make a flange, the I ins can be i simply dropped into a hole cut to shape, ; and will be sufficiently supported oy the ■ Oange. To make a cover, the- lid of the tin can he hummerd out'(bit and tiro l-attcus of wood nailed on the underside* so as to keep it in pesifion on 111" box. '■ 11 the pressure of tin- simt eir-diion is j found too heavy for this lid. a stronger . one can be made out of flat sheet-iron. Using Old Tins. ' Most light car owners ivbr do practi- : cal work in their motor shed know ■ that useful material for ■unali jobs, on and off (be ear, can be obtained by cut.-. ting up old oil (ins, but these tins may also be made use of in a more ooninh'ie form., if.a tin is cut .through lengthways two useful iroiishfl or trays are provided; if (he tin b fin' shape they v ill be narrower, if square they will be wider and shallower. These come in' useful for a variety of purposes, such as -,iashing parts in paraffin, holding nuts ■ and small tools, keeping parts together ;■ when working on the car, and sn on. The neater trough is the half which docs not ; include the screw spout, but either half can be maile use ot. They are also, of j course, watertight. An old petrol can ; treated in the same way will provide n \ 'useful receptacle to cntch oil that is , being run otf, etc. tly cutting tins hon- ] Miitally a receptacle of different shape ; i.i provided, which may be made into a ;. measure ov utilised .for pouring oil into the differential casing or in other awk- , ward positions. If the comers of the : tins are too hard they can be cut j through with a hacksaw, the rest of the shaping being done with a tinman's snips. A neater finish can bo made by bending over the sharp edges and hammering iiat.

Here and Thers. An Euglisti trade journal gives- the following instructions ioi repainting Mudguards :--The only way to obtain a purieut surlace i» to rub the olu paintwork down level. This can bo bone Willi coarse glass paper, finishing with wet pumice powder on a pad of cloth. I'or tilling cracks, etc., use putty mixed with enamel, or, belter, wlnting mixed with one part unseed oil and one part japan.- Have the eiaolcs thoroughly dry before filling. Then repaint. U'ben a car is being laid up, it is olten forgotten flint attention should be given to tliu tools to prevent rusting. If these arc simply to be put away and not handled, the easiest method is lo coat 'them, carefully with vaseline ov preferably vaseline yito which a, little powdered gum camphor has been stirrai: wliitc Hot. .

An American inventor proposes lo preicnt blow-outs occurring in lyres as a result of the air becoming overheated by providing iin air reservoir in or near the wheel with connections between tno leservoir and the inner tube, it is expected that when the wheels are revolving the air will circulate round the tube and thrtfugh the reservoir, thus keeping it cool and preventing undue cxl.wision. It is also claimed Hint the reservoir will act as a shock absorber by increasing the volume 61 air.

The auto-wheel attached to the simple ryele converts it practically into n motorcycle; but, according Id some users of (lie combination, it is rather cumbrous, even (hough fairly ellieient Jt is the addition of another wheel''that detracts flora its hnmltness, and lo overcome that defect experiments arc being made to have it take the place of the front wheel. Necessarily, the forks are changed, the light and graceful blades giving {.■lace to heavier nnd rather unsightly members. If the experiments prove successful, appearances will not count for much; we soon become accustomed to things, however odd they seem on first acquaintance. The pneumatic tyre, for instance, appeared heavy and clumsy when introduced. Lighting-up time:—To-day 1.32 p.m. Next Friday, 4.29 p.m. , . ■ t