MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 23, 22 October 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

Control of Motor Traffic. ' At the last meeting of tho committee j of the New Zealand Automoj)ij§ Union, 1 the secretary of tho Counties' Associa- i ■lion wrote, forwarding a copy of a letter sent by the Hangitikei County Council to i tlio Minister of Internal Affairs regarding certain regulations for the control of motor traffic. Paragraph, (a) of that letter reads as follows:—"Tho driver of a motor overtaking another motor- or other vehicle shall not attempt to pass such motor or other vehicle at a bend in tlio rofid unless there is a clear view of tlio road beyond for a distance of at 1 least five chains." This paragraph was (igreixl to. subject to the distance being reduced to two chains instead of five, as the state of a road, or the hedges or trees bounding it, often rendered the distance of five chains inoperative: and,moreover, a distance qf two chains was considered more thap enough for any car, thq brakes of ivhich are . ill order, ■ to be brought to a stop when travelling at any reasonable or allowable speed t Paragraph (b) of W'o same letter rends as follows'"The driver of a ( uy motorcar proceeding round a bend'of a'road ■ where there is not a colar view, of the road for- a distance of at least five chains,musl; always allow nt least half the width of the road on the proper side- for the . use pf apotlier car or vehicle that.may be travelling in tlio opposite direction, notwithstanding that apy. fuch ear or vehicle is not actually in sight at the time." This paragraph was-agreed to with tlio following reservations'.—Tlio iuchifjion pf the words "or other vehicle'' after the word "motor-car" in tho first line! Tho committee also thinks that the five chains should be' reduced to two chains, and that the width, of. the; voad allowed for other vehicles should be governed entirely by local conditions! that"is to.'sav, if tho road is not. .wide enough for the passing of twp vehicles, then iiny vehicle-should be required to on. tho extreme elft sido ot the Paragraph (c) rends as fpllowfi'"All-motor-lorries to have mirrors fixed so as to ol,serve cars that may bo overtaking them" The -union ag(-ed to this piiragfapli with the inclusiQil of the words "and 1 all covered vehicles" after the word "lorries" in tl|o firat line.- . ■ The secretary was • also instructed to uslc the assistance of tho Counties Association iu bringing about an:amendment to what is known as "tlio rulo of the 100(1" as regards the approach from.'side roads to main roads, so that users or the main road might have Toasonablß right of way, aiiil that the obligation ot observing any extra'caution that mignt }ie, needed shall bo upon those emerging froni : side ipn'4s into iniiin- roads. The Question of Brakes. • Tho TJ nfler-Secretary of Internal Affairs wrote to the last, committee meeting of the N Z.A.U. calling the attention of' tlio union to a rider added to a verdiufc in the case of a fatal motor accident.' The lider was to the effect- tliat.reguiiiliops lje brought in making it coiupulson- for a "spragg" or sonic such appliance to be fitted to all motor-cars to prevent I heir ruiiniug backwards when out, of control. The matter was fully considered, wtien it was decided to advise tho Department that "spraggs" had originally been fitted to the earlier rnakas of cars, but were discontinued as useless. The use of such a device must necessarily' be at tho will of the operator, and unless trailed on every hill (a very unlikely proceeding) worn! be quite valueless, for tliv reason that it could not be brought into use quickly enough,'and if a car gathered any way. at all in a ireiuwd direction if 'would either jump, the "spragg" or throw-the back axlo out of alignment The proper solution of tho difficulty was held to bo an insistence-upon adequate brakes and their insppptiou at reason, able intervals. ' i A member suggested that for a person to drive with his brakes improperly adjusted was tantamount to "driving to tho common danger," already an ofl'enco iii low ; where accidents were proved to have been due to incorrect adjusting of brakes the'ear owner should lie ..rendered liable to a-prosecution as .indicated. , It-was decided:-to refpr to this -question of brakes iu the memorandum which the committee is addressing to the Prime Minister. ... A Petrol-Paraffin Carburettor. ,| Following are some, details of an in- * ftrument which supplies the engine with two separate fuels at the same time, and differing from carburettors ' which possess two entirely separate float chambers, each connected to a jot feeding the cylinders through a single choke tube. These carburettors usually were employed when : an engine was to be run on pnraffin, since the one chamber contained petrol wherewith to start the engine, 'and the other paraffin, which could 1)6 used when the inlet passages, of tho ensine wore sufficiently lieated to tako the heavier fuel. In the new instrument there are two .aluminium float chambers, and two jetft ..feeding a single, central aluminium choke tube, but it diners greatly /from others in thnt both, icts and both float chambers function simultaneously, . one iefc supplying petrol, tit other paraffin, with tho result that the cylinders are sucking in gas composed in-part of petrol *and .in part 6f paiatnn vapour, in the proportion of one to throe Tho car' using this carburettor would liavo two< separate fuel'"tanks, each tanß feeding its own separate float When the throttle is slightly opened, petrol, being the lighter fuel, is more readily sucked from its .jot, and 1 supplied to tho engine, which will stari . ensilv upon this mixture. As the throttle is gradually opened, so thjel depiession in the choke tut>o acts uT,°n the CMXXtfJtZ k throttle but teste of the., instrument on n orrv'are said to have shown-extreme-ly results! The use of narrSsiSr* combustion chamber. Reducing Accidents. you will help reduce accidents if jou(1) Don't cut corners. (o) Don't "cut in short after pass'"f:)) "'glvb'the . proper signal whenever vo , act on j„ starting from the curb, n turning in changing your course or IE '"topping, may'reasonably. bo witl iO (Hf Don°t le conSder.- driving at maximum speed within tho Jaw-tho legal BP (5) d I) 9 on , t S!l turn P T X ccpt : at corners in, business districts and close built-iu> sec Don't attempt to. pass ft ; vehicle if there is another vehicle approaching from the airoctimi. unlo» the rfKul is clear for JOO Jflras. tad ' ([ran i>lavinff 110ar tll ° CU or ?J) street. Remember, they have not tho W «! 0 Do^t^driv" 1 w'th tho the piestrian is familiar with the rules of tho roadt, Tube Lore. There are a number of things that must bo done if the imier tube is to give its best service. Uro must bo taken "to protect it from its natural enemies, such as .sunlight, oil, greaso, acid water, and tho atmosphere. Tlnae onomiea act in various' ways, sunlight dries up tho rubber, making it brit.le, so that it loses ita elasticity. lubes should never bp carried looso in a tool box for they will come in contact with sharp edges, tools and grease, or rags covered with greaso or oil, and unless the spots whore the rubber was touched quickly cleaned the tube will go "dead." Also ft tube folded, but unprotected wiU.ohafo where tho folds occur and when filled with air is liable lo leak. Placing undersized tube? in casings' is a praotics that 'will ruin tho . tube in a short, time.

Clean Out Dirty Oil.

Dirty oil is injurious to an engine. It also means worn oil, which has been used too long and needs replacing. Once a week for tlio more used parts is not 100 frequent. A bearing on the ignition unit, tlio armature bearings of the liihting generator, and skirting motor should be oiled as directed b)' the manufacturer. Care of the Fan-Belt. Undoubtedly, the crudest part of the engine is the fan-belt, and yet it is a most important pjirt It certainly is a most frequent source of trouble, and by lhal token demands frequent and careful attention by the car-owjjer.. All fan-belts .lire provided witli.im adjustment, aomo easy, some less so, and these adjustments lire necessary. . The wise,., motorist will not forget to give. Jhe fail a twist every .time hel has tlio bonnet up. The best results are attained, when it is possible to turn the fan with considerable resistance, ."but not .to spin it. If a quick twirl of the fan'ls followed "by a little turning after the hand is removed, then the belt is too loose. Do.not liavo it, any . tighter than .necessary, for then it is under excessive .-strain, and will stretch, wear, or break the sooner. Jottings. Mr. P. S. MT/can, of Napier, who wut nlocted attho annual meeting to represent Ilawko's Bay on-the-Executive Committee of tlio New 'Zealand Automobilo Ui'ion, has written regretting hie inability to tukc up the appointment. At the last meeting of tlio-executive, it was decided to ask the- Ilawko's liay A.A to nominate a representative to eit on the executive, and the secretary was instructed to write to Mr. M'Lean expressing its regret at his inability to accopt the up* pmntmcnt. • • . 'J'ho- South Island Motor Union has written acknowledging correspondence from tho New Zealand AuiomAain bnion and expressing the hope that the future wtli dissipate any impression of disunion uliich may have occurred in the past. ! The' affiliation agreement with tne Royal' Automobile Club has lioen approved 1)y the New Zealand Automobile Union, and has been signed by the president and tho secretary oil behalf of tae | union, ' - ' ' The secretary reported to the last compiittee meeting of N.Z.A U. the balancs in the bank to bo credit J!sli 12s. lid. An account for .E5 2s. for stationery was passed for payment, also the If.A 0. affiliation fee of .£5 ss. Tho secretary was authorised to issue notices to the alluiated associations calling up ilic subscriptions for tho current year or in accordance with tlio amended by-law., . ~

Lighting-up time: To-day, G. 20 p.ui, Next Friday, 825 p.m.