MOTORS AND MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 258, 19 July 1918, Page 9

MOTORS AND MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") The Fuel Problem.'' Several of tin; British motor journals havo expressed the opinion Unit the only way to ensure anything like a. plentiful supply ; of fuel for the motorist within a reasonable time after coming of peace is by means of that much-debated liquid, alcohol. It is stated that, ho far as present indications go, it is the only fuel that will ever bo permanently available in 'unlimited quantities for (he United Kingdom, and if it must come, surely the sooner the belter. 11 is considered that petrol will be extremely scarce for many months after the war, and that it is rather annoying that I hero is an al-most-unlimited supply of fuel held up entirely by antiquated Government restrictions onits sale—restrictions, by the waj', in no way connected .with its nse by motorists as such. . After the war there is no doubt that France will adopt a mixture of alcohol and benzole as tho national motor fuel, particularly for coriimercial vehicles, agricultural tractors, etc. Alcohol as a motor fuel is no stranger to frenchmen,' and w'ould have, been adopted years ago but for the lack of a settled policy to prevent speculation and violent fluctuations in prices. Before the war no motors'were running solely on alcohol, but for two years tho Paris General Omnibus' Co. used '50 per cent, mixture of benzole and alcohol, and only abandoned, it for benzole owing to the steady riso in the price of alcohol. It is the intention of the French Government to secure a monopoly of alcohol, and' to. encourage''.its use: industrially, whiio'.putting' a high las on its,human consumption.. The project comprises the placing at the disposal of motorists of a-quantity of-21 millions of gallons of alcohol per year, together with the fixation of prices for periods of five years; 'the : Btate ' would cover itself, against, loss by means of special taxes on all 'alcohol used- for 'human consumption.. It.is estimated that tho requirements Of the first year after the war will be 132 millions of gallons; thus the supply of alcohol alone will not he sufficient to meet' tile wants of French motorists, whose needs before the war called for the importation of upwards of 00 millions of gallons of motor spirit annually. There appears to be no doubt with regard .to the provision of 22 millions of gallons of alcohol annually, for in addition to the supply from beets, synthetic alcohol can be produced by calcium carbide factories erected in' largo numbers in tho Alpine districts of Franco.

Front Wheel. Brakes. ' Tho fitting of. front wheel brakes to motor-cars is still engaging the attention of experts; it:is •.ecqgniscd that the machine will be sail more under the driver's control if nil wheels are bi'aked, for, as ono designer put it, if only half of the available number of wheels is so titled, 50 pW cent, of the potential braking surfaco and power is sacrificed. A rotating wheel ■ resists lateral tendencies, i.e., is not so liable to skid as a locked or nearly locked wheel; therefore, the ideal, brake system is (hat which slows dowii one rear wneel and one front wheel on opposite sides of. the car. Driving strains act-in the opposite direction to braking stresses; opposed frictions are therefore generated between tho layers of fabric in the rear tyre casings. Front wheels cam no driving strains, and front tyres are therefore almost impervious to braking strains. Brakes, when applied to wheels, exert their maximum power when the latter are all but locked; if the wheel censes to rotate, a skid is im ovilablo, and tho car becomes more or less unmanageable. . ■ Here and There. Stool which has become rusty can bo cleansed, according to an exchange, by brushing it with a pasle composed as follows':—Half an ouuco of cyanide of potassium, half an ounce of oastile soap, an ounco of whiting, and wafer sufficient to form the. paste. The steel should be washed after the'paste has been applied in a solution of half an ounce of cyanide of potassium in two ounces of water. On the other hand, it is addpd,.rust may be prevented oil steel parte by applying tho following mixture with a brush, 'just as if il -.wore-varnish: Ono part-caout-chouc, sixteen parts turpentine. These ingredients must be dissolved in a gentle lieal, and then eight parte of boiled oil should-be.added. The wholo is now mixed by bringing them to boiling heat. This material may ho removed by the use of turpentine. •V disagreeable squeak mav often lie traced to ;1 head lamp bracket. If it is not solidly attached to die frame i< squeak may arise from this point. A Joosp rivet or bolt is quite often tho cause of the annoyance. In case of a broken spring ono can inanago to got home by' jacking up the frame lo its normal level and then installing a block. If this block is tied securely in place,, one can manage ti drive home, if reasonable care is used. Lighting-up time:—To-day, i.& p.m. Next Friday, 4.4.9 p.m.