MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 43, 14 November 1919, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.") «

New Zealand Union. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the >iow. Zealand Automoile "Union was held last night, when there were present Messrs. C. Al. Banks (in the chair), W. Stuart Wilson, 11. J. Stott, Dr. C. l'rcndergnst Knight, and Jlr. W. Beau-chainp-l'latts (secretary;. Regarding tho registration of motors, Mr. L. S. Drako (Ctiy Motor Inspector) wrote, stating that ho agreed generally with the notes on the subject drawn up by. Mr. Beauchamp-l'latts. 110 was of opinion that registering authorities should have power to supply tho plates if required and tho colour should bo set-out in the Act. ILmight be possible to attach a metal tag about .') inches square to each plate annually. This tag to bear tho year of These could bo attached very easily and also sealed in position if it wero found necessary. That portion of tho Act dealing with marks , issued to motors on trial or for sale needed revision, and ho thought the Act 1 should bo altered so that as long as a car had not been sold to a private owner and remained tho property of the dealers it could be used on the firm's business. At present trade numbers must only boused on a car on trial after completion or being demonstrated for sale. This was, ho thought, an unnecessary restriction on the trade. At present, in California, he believed all motor vehicles had to carry on tho dashboard a card bearing tho name and address of -the owner, also tho date of registration. He considered that was a very good idea and of great assistance to the traffic officers. Consideration of the letter was deferred until the whole of tho correspondence from the affiliated unions on registration was placed beforo the/ committee. In connection witli the same subject tho Commissioner of Police (Mr. J. O'Donovan) intimated that as the matter was one upon which he might later bo called upon to officially report, he was unable at that stage t6 express his views on it. ■ Tho Gisborno association telegraphed that it approved and supported ■ the union's nation Regarding registration aiid insnrai ce. The .Marlborough association stated that it approved of a mutual insuraneo scheme against fire and third party cover. It considered it should be worked by annual premium and not by a deposit of a lump sum, and.that the annual premium of 5 per cent, as proposed was too high to ensure the success of such a scheme. Regarding registration, tho association said it considered that cat's should be registered annually, but that no additional tec should be charged after the payment of the first registration fee. The Nelson association wrote, pointing out that .it was in favour of the mutual insurance scheme with annual premium, providing the premium was substantiallyless than present companies' charges. Tho' association also said it was in favour of an annual registration at a nominal fee. not exceeding 2s. Gd., but considered the proposal to carry a registration certificate would prove impracticable. A.letter was received from the Otago Motor Club advising that the matter of paying JJ3S in addition to Ihe ordinary subscription had been' considered, and a decision como to that the request be declined for tho reason that tho club had already spent and been committed to spend much more than was anticipated in the first instance on propaganda work in connection with the good roads move--ment. It was decided to reply, asking the club to reconsider the matter, and to point out that it was committed to tho proposal by its delegates at tho annual meeting. Several'technical pamphlets were received, from Canadian and American organisations dealing with motor _ vehicle headlamps and "glare" elimination. On the motion of Mr. Wilson, it was decided to ask the secretary to frame a report on tho whole question of lighting. 1 Care of the Lubrication System. The fuel feed system of a car seldom gives trouble, bat the lubrication system, though really reliable, will nay for .moro attention than it generally gets; and tho same is true of the cooling arrangements (remarks an exchange). In the case of cars that habitually smoke from the exhaust the care of tho lubrication system is for some reasons easier than in a Car that is free from what may be regarded as a minor defect. If the blue smoko ceases to appear at. any time, it may bo taken that the oiling'system needs attention. There may be nothing seriously wrong, but such a change nia.v 'be taken as an indication that is browing and that the necessary action should be token at once. Cleaning is tho simplest form of attention that can lm given to the lubricating system, and this .is an operation that the careful driver will carry out periodically without trailing for the engine io tell him that it is necessary. At least _ once every thousand miles all• tlm oil in the engine should be emptied off and the strainer in Ihe. pump inspected and cleaned. AYhen the cover and other parts removed for this purpose have been replaced, para Hi n (kerosene) should be injected into the cylinders through tho eparking-plug holes—removal of the plugs is advisable in any caso so thnt the panffin may bo, inserted through these orifices in preference to through the compression tans, if such are fitted—and the engine should then be swung by hand for a few vigorous turns—about 20 will generally be enough. Use of the sclfsfrivte:' for this purpose should be made only if tho bnttrries are definitely known to be fully charged. .Tho drain tan in the bottom of the crank-case should then be opened and Ihe, engine swung again and then be allowed to stand for a few minutes In allow all tho paraffin to escape. After it lias been filled with fresh nil the engine should be swung again to work this oil into all beayinfs. and then it may be started, and should lie run slowlv for about two minutes to ensure that the fresh oil has had ample opportunity to get. into all necessary parts before it is allowed to run under its own power for any speed. J'I'*1 '* simo.e attention always repays itself, and if it is carried n>it neriodienllv efficient working of the lubrication system for nil time may be taken as assured. Whether the operation c.pncars to be necessary or not will not make much , difference to the owner who means to get the Vest out ol his ear and i« determined to keep down his repair bills to a minimum. The Cooling System, Although the cooling system on a car seidom breaks down entirely there is no flnubt that too many are often working at anything but their h idlest cflicienc» (says ii writer in tin Mud isli paper). In many of tho new cars provision is made for access lo tho intent..- of the radiato-. and where this is the case t.ho method of Veeninp this important component quite clean is obvious. When tho top or bottom tank, or both, has been detached the radiator tub?s may bo cleaned w'th a tino wire brush or even a piceo of wire, which should preferably bo of tho galvanised kind. If tW interior <rt the radiator is not. accpssib". different methods must be employed and here again there is much to be raid for the efficacy of piraffin. though in this case its usn needs to be supplemented bv that, or water. With the engine hot-it is a good plan to give it n short fast, run on'bottom "car to eet. the water as near boiling at possible—the radiator should 'lie emptied, and while tho emptying is going on the car may well bo shaken so as to ensure that no solid. deposits shall'bo left b?hind as the water pours out through its generally small tap. Cleaning the Radiator. After it is empty the tap should bo closed radiator filled with o'eau hot waiter, which may bo emptied off almost as soon as it has been put in. Then hi-, radiator may 'bo filled-with pareflm and tho engine run n few seconds, Tho paraffin will remove nil rust nnd much of the "fur" deposit that foVms on the interior of the radiator nnd cylinder jnckcts nnd does muoli to reduce tho efficiency of tho system, both, by impeding the circulation of the water and reducing the conductivity of the walls. After tho use of-the paraffin the radiator shou'd he swilled out with water, and may' then Vn> filled ready for a run on the road. In this filling water may be inserted 1 some tablets of "lioilcrinc"—about !i per cent, moro than the makers recommend for ordinary use—and after about \fly miles' running, if this water is ' ■uptied off, the radiator should be prac-

new, provided tluit-it lias not been nltu got too bad before it is touched. Development of the Tyre, 'l'ho story of the development of the motor-car tyro rends like a romance of tho "Days of Old, the Days of Gold, tho Buys of Forty-nine." There is just us much of pain and pathos and final triumph in the Jiistory of the development of the modern -equipment as can bo found in llio most modern of modern movies (remarks ail'exchange). Tyre development has been more rapid tli'iiu tho ' growth of the automobile industry. In ninety-nine cases out ul' n'hundred to-day tho tyres are better made than the motor. <;or on which they are used. This is not meant in a spirit of criticism of autbJiipliile lUQelmnics, but simply shows how rapidly tyres have been developed; You remember in your youth the first pneumatic lyres for bicycles. They were i cause of incessant trouble,. Tl'iey pune tured. 011 the slightest contact with Pome tiling sharp, and you were for eve: patching tliem. Then contrast: thesi small tyres with their big brothers o' In-day—tyres that give thousands o' t miles of wonderful service without trouble and with little attention. When one. considers the abuse ths average tyro receives it is a wonder that; they lust as long as they do. Think of pounding those early-day tyres, mile after mile along rough roads, without cutting them to pieces. Such g, thing wan u»heard of. The comic papers of ten years ago were built in many cases wound tli/v li oul)IC3 of the motorists with their \ lyres.- Nowadays tyro trouble is a thine '. that can-be almost eliminated, and entirely so if the user will lake oidina-v care of the tyres. The growth of the tj re industry lia.s been ounrj'ous. From small beginnings, with limited capital, companies have grown up and arc now giants m size. Millions .are invested in rubber plantations all over the world and mil]ions moro in plant.; of all kinds lor making all sorts of rubber equipment, I lunk how many things would b« impossible to us now if it were not for rub'>ei\ J.r.insDOrtatisn, on land, in the air and under the sea, would not he possible, processes used a few years ago in making tyres are now discarded. New and letter , ways have been found to make tyres better and longer lived. As fast as • old methods are scrapped, new ones como in, and new machinery replaces the old. ifie tyro industry is still growing, improving and matin; better equipment day. attor day. . 1 r Rustv Rims. Rustv rims are detrimental to tyres and shouid not bo allowed to remain ill that condition longer than can bo helped, •W hen rims are in that state they should! bo scraued with n sharp tool, then lightIV pounded with a woodeii mallet until, ft.il the ilakes of rust have been batlfirou off. followed by a vigorous treatincut with snndraper. .After the siirMo lias been propefly cleaned, the rim should be painted. Shellac sometimes has been used instead of paint, but it is not satisfactory, savs an English writer, as. it peels off in 'a comparatively brief period. Graphite paint or even ordinary f»aint will be fountf much inoro serviceable.. It is almost needless to sav that tyres should not be replaced until the paint is entirely dry. Air Vaivcs. A If vou arei in doubt r.s In which way to turn needle valve, says a motor oxpert, try choking th<i carburettor slight. lv. If the engine speeds up x the mixture is too lean! if it slows down the mixture may be right, but you are mak- ' ins it too rich. If an air valve is accessible, try pushing that open a slight amount. If the engine speeds up the mixture is ■ too rich; if it loses speed the mixture is correct or too lean, A sunulementary air valve, which, instead of being fitted to the inlet lnanifold/is screwed into the cylinder wall at the bottom end of the stroke, is attracting 'attention.' An .advantage claimed for this arrangement is that the air adliiitted through this supplementary valve will..remain it the bottom of the combustion chambers,, thus causing a stratifiliation of the charge, so that tho additional air will not interfere with tho inflammability of the charge when only a sAiall amount is admitted. a 6 when llio engine is heavily throttled. A Breathing Vent. Few motorists understand why a breathing or air vent is provided in motorengine crank cases. The reason is that if no provision.were made for admission or expulsion of air a certain amount of compression would occur, due to tho speed and movement: of the crankshaft and pistons. This would result in forcing oil out through the bearings. Again, there' is almost invariably a leakage of gtis past the pistons on the compression or power strokes. It may be slight or it may, in the case of loose-fitting piston rings, bo considerable.. In any case if no outlet were provided in crankease this gas vrould eolleut, and in timo form a state of constant pressure and • lead to inefficiency and wasto of oil. For Rough Roads. Jfost motorists who do much travelling over rough roads have at one lima or another had trouble owing to fractured petrol or oil pipes. The following is Hi useful tip that may enable a stranded motorist to complete his journey. An ordinary cork is obtained and drilled out about the same size (if anything a fraction' smaller) than tho outside diameter of the pipe. If the jobis done-, m the workshop n. hand brace will mnko a clean hole, but on the road, where a, hand brace is not always available, a gimlet may be used' to perform this operation. Having drilled the cork, the t.wo \ broken ends of the pipe' nre inserted, taking care that, where they join they shall be iii the same position relatively as before tho break took place, so that the two broken ends fit snugly into each o'-her All that remains to be done Inow is"to bind the cork tightly with wire at the two ends or right along. If it is dofiired to make a more permanent repair, the pipe may be well seccotined before inserting in the cork. , lighting Up Time.—To-day, G.-l" p.m. Next Friday, 0.55 p.m.