MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 192, 9 May 1919, Page 11

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By Clutch.)

Lioht Car Design. "Along broad lines and principles lightenr lay-out is, says the motoring correspondent of the London Times,", "now generally agreed on, but noroplano engine oxu.ericnco may lead to sonio experiment in tho engines. "With oiip or hvo iioteTOi'thy exceptions the successful lignt cars use -a four-cylindered, watw-cooled engine, driving tlii-ougli a conventional typo of clutch to a three-speed gear lio.x, and then by propeller shaft to a bevel or worm-driven back-axle. A wafer circulating pump is incorporated in the coolin* system, but tho amnio provision for cooling makes a, fan unnecessary lor European use, although fun and pulleys are provided for oversea service. Jbe ignition is by magneto, for although eleotric engine-starters will be tho rule, coil and battery ignition is not best, suited to tho ultra-eliicient high-speed engines. Positive lubrication relieves tho driver of worry, providing tho sump bo drained at regular intervale and the set ■ oil level maintained. Apart from the nesd for oil nnd grease replenishment the transmission from engine h> rond wheels is unlikely to Rive undue trouble-in- tins matter of inadequate- and unscientiho lubrication arrangement tho light car ift neither less nor lnoro satisfactory than its heavier relative!—but so far as springing goes not one light cflr ? n . fl . dozen comes anywhere near to giving satisfaction. Admittedly, the problem is difficult, and admittedly some- cars come near to perfection with tho maximum load on board, but at other times the discomfort is so acute that there is Uttlo room for argument about the need for improvement. The' average light aa steering is satisfactory enough, but because the machines have a greater tendency to leave tho road- than heavier cars,-wheels slightly bigger in diameter would i>3 bettor. The.braking in general is satisfactory, though one would like to eeo moro of the well-designed iootona side brakes-expanding and contractingboth operating on ample-sized drums on tho rear hubs. With a little further experience and experiment we shall fieo six-cvlindored engines taking the place ol the "fours." Their length is something of an objection in. cars where.every inch of space is a. matter for serious consideration, but this objection, especially if a successful air-oooled unit is introduced, will bo , overcome. Quantity production on the modern scale would mean only a small increase in the ninnutacturing cost, and possibly the "six airccolea unit could be built even more cheaply than the water-cooled / four. In any oase the smoother running 01 the former unit gives it distinct advantages. •

Body Work and Finish. "On light cars," the same correspondent adds, "ooachbuiUlors have considerable scope for ingenuity, but very lew have realised it yet. The chassis builder must remember, of course, that witn narrow radiators and short wheel bases the body builder cannot provide a wide, three-seated body without an appearance of 'bulginess , and a loss of streamlme,,bnt with a little compromise 6n both Bides there should be no difficulty in building good-looking bodies that are comfortable to ride in. The provision 'of amplo leg-room is easy enough with a two-seated body, oven on the smallest cars, but it is when designing, four and five-ecated touring bodies within limited dimensions that the coachbmlder comes up against his hardest problem. Here ho must work almost to fractions of an inch, keeping down weight, , preserve a good appearance, and yet givo ample lc-rbom. The task can only be achieved by using only tho best- materials nnd utilising overy available inch of space. In big quantity production, which involves standardisation, wo shall pi'OU/JP'y find the American system of fitting stamped-out metal bodies. coming into use, and there is really no good reason why it should not, for the metal body ca-i be, iii addition to well-finished, .both cheap and lasting. It is important that the locker and pocket accommodation provided should be of sonio nse, for stowage space is an urgent consideration m light cars. Often one finds, on reaching down into a pocket, that the coachbmlder has left sharp, projecting screw points which tears tho hands and gloves, and prevent small articles being reached, at least with the fingers; The lockers should bo of 'some definite size, for it is ens? enongh to measure, up the space occupied by im average lbotpump or a two-gallon petrol tin. Detachable wheels, preferably of tho. tubular-steel spoke or (Use type, with a sparo wheel, an electric lighting system, a single screen, and a really weather-proof hood and sido curtains, are essential fittings on a well-equipped light car One feels that, in view of tho competition we are threatened with, tho sooner British manufacturers buckle down to tho work of consolidating and increasing their established lend tho better, for there is a, wide-world and ever-growing demand."

Here and There, When it is' necessary to lny up the stprage battery for some lime there are two methods of procedure. The batter? niav simply bo laid away with tho electrolyte in it and-be recharged at intorvals and have distilled water added as needed This serves very well for a long layup. W-hon tho battery is to bo out of commission for a longer time It shouia bo dry stored, iii this .method tne battery i's dismantled and the dried plates are stored until required for reassembling. .. Car owners should get into the habit of using belt dressing for the clutch leather to swell it and act as a remedy for slippage. In disengaging the clutcii it will be well to notice whether there is a , ridge in the leather. Such a condition prevents the clutch from engaging as far as it ought to, rind tho only way to ielnovo the ridge' is nrst to take out the clutch and then trim down the leather with a rasp. After every trip the railroad locomotive is given a minute inspection in the roundhouse, and if the slightest reason for such a course appears it is completely overhauled in tho repair shops. The motor truck is subject to greater stresses than the locomotive, and has no empop rails to run on. Surely the lesson is obvious!

In- eoino locations and on some cars even spring, washers do not hold the nuts in place, for more than a brief period. By pouring molten tar all over the protruding threads of such nuts until Uiey are filled in it will be found that tne mitfl will bo held securely for-some time. When one or more leaves of a truck spring break and cannot bo instantly replaced, the chances five that the extra strain on , the remaining leaves will bent! them out of true, so that replacing the broken leaves will not give a satisfactory spring. Tho only remedy is a complete new spring. An old inner lube which has passed its usefulness as such-may still lw made to render some service. Slit it open around its inner side and place it over tho new tube, in which .locution it acts a.s a sort of inner lining and strengthens Hie now tube. ■..-•■ Lightiuft-up time: to-day,. 4.00, p.m.; next Friday. £.43 p.m.