MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 53, 26 November 1920, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch.")

Displaying the Chassis.

A tendency to display the chassis of an automobile has been noted especially during Uiu last few months iti maindealers' show rooms (says a New Xoi'K writoi-). Of course there are just as brilliant exhibitions as ever of the ears complete. But "stripped" or "out-out chassis, sometimes with i-he motor running, are being u6ed' frequently to <iemonslrate superior qualities of the r inside of various makes uf cars. J his tendency is a good thing for the motor public.' It offers a prospective buyer a splendid chance to study :'he inner workings of the car in a way ho would bo uuablo to, do with his own car. And the rather inexperienced • motorist, who is- inclined to expect a very complicated mechanism when lie inspects the cli.vsis, is usually much surprised at the sinipliciiy of it. Numerous showrooms havo arranged exhibits with ail castings und housings cut so that the movement of every part of the machinery is visible. Thus a visitor can easily get the ldra of just what takes place. This knowledgo is foreign even to many skilled drivers, and it is hard to get it from description alone. Naturally, a better knowledge of the car, mechanically, results in tho owner being able to care for lus car more intelligently, nnd to prolong; its.-useful-ness. ■ lie also finds ttiis -information valuable if lie ever falls victim to 0110 of the minor troubles which stop a car, but which aro quickly remedied by one who can figure out where the fault lies.

Wireless Telephone Run by Car Batteries.

A compact wireless telephone set .operated, with current from lihc batteries ot an automobile and' transmitting and receiving over-an aerial wire stretched from the top of the wind-sh.ielu to the radiator cap is the latest equipment provided for the modern motor-car or trucK. It is one of the new developments which were introduced at the 1920 electrical exposition in ' Grand -■ Central palace. This apparatus, exclusive of tho bavteries and aerial wire, as, contained in a bos a cubic foot in-size and the weight complete is sixty pounds. A double set is required, one to be carried on tho automobile* and the other set up _afl home or at tho office. .This portable wireless telephone set is just as applicable to motor boats and aircraft. Annoying Motorists, The park police officers in Chicago have found a new way to annoy motorists. When a car is wrecked or damaged thev insist that it must be sent to a garage arbitrarily picked by tho oniccr! Recently (says an American writer) several eases have come to the notice ot the Chicago Motor Club wherein ft member was forced to have his car towed to a garage selected-by an officer despite the fact that members of the club are entitled to free towing-service. A ivo- • man member ran into a tree on. Sheridan 'Hoad in order to avoid striking another car. The officer demanded that a garage near the loop be authorised to tow tho car. The woman inn that as a member of tho Chicago Motor Club she was entitled to free lowhis service. The officer was obdurate, however, and the car was towed from Argv'.o Street to a point within n few block* from the loop. The oflimal sl.iof tir.Chicag/iloior Club was only a short distance from the scene of the accident. .The second incident occurred .on Michigan Avenue. Charles.M. -Hajcs, president of the club, happened to bo assing when the officer was insisting 'upon Hie wreck being taken to a centiin repair shop. Air. Hayes protested sa-in-that the Club Service Department could lu,mllethe p case without charge to the motorist!. ™e "fcect w>i <1, to no argument, and threatened to ar rest Mr "naves for interfering with an Officer Thesuiierintendout of tho Sonth Park Board was appealed to. mid he dela edthati the policeman .had exceeded his authority in making this demand. Soiling Mileage. Unique tests are being made with every new car sold by the distributors of a light car at Cleveland. The. car is taken out with- the buyer, who is. promised a cermin mileage or us money back if he wishes. A spec.alpmt enn is adjusted, the tank drained and to can filled. Then the car is driven as far as possible on the pint of ordinary gasolene. Tho first experiment showed fin average of 19.1 miles per gallon, which is high for a brand new cai. A Wind-Shield Compound. Among recent automobile novelties is a liquid which is easily applied to a wet or dry wind-shield with clotji, sponge, or tissue paper. Tho manufacturers claim that one application will keep the glass clear for l-> to 2i hours, through the most severe storm of rain or snow---no matter how hard the rain, ha 1, or snow beats, iv.wjll not stick. Ihc advantage' of this over the .more ■ usual methods of keeping; the shield clear is that one does, not have, to remove one hand from the wheel while driving. 11 o rankers emphasise that the substance is not a- grease or a soap, bin: a chemical compound quite different from either «f these classes. Undue' Wear on Gear.Wheels. • Difficulty in clianging gear may be experienced'if there is undue wear in tho gear. The tops.of the teeth of one wheel may foul the bottom of the tooth spaces of 'tho other, and necessitate forcing with.the gear lever with the consequent wear of the tooth ends. Anotiheicause of difficulty in changing is due tu a plain spigot bearing getting dry These spigot bearings should be well lubricated, and there is generally ample provision- for this. Cases have been known of this bearing getting quito dry and almost seizing, <fne to grease heing put in a gearbox designed to use oil. It provision is inaaVfor oil. it will not allow of , gren.se getting io tho bearing, and when grease is used it fills tho oil holes; and prevents any liibncantl getting at tho bearing itself. Wind-Screen Strains. -\ - Instances .of the wind-screen cracking across while tho car is in, ordinary driving use are not unknown. The mere wringing of the frame, due to- the. car lurching, .puts a strain on' the glass which it is unable to withstand. Somo imported cars havo metal wind-screen frames, the tops of which form an anchorage for ijie front of the hood. After the hood has been subjected to a few wettings, it becomes a big job to stretch it sufficiently to get it on to iho top. of the"wind-screen. In the endeavour to force the screen back, and tho hood top forward the screen is someijmos twisted and -tlio glass .broken. The remedy is to imtack the stretcher bands,' which are provided from front to back of the' hood,' and allow them more room. The. glass should not. fit tightly .in the frame. Generally it is flitted with rubber or" bent metal strips, which are designed to Rive suthciently to prevent, fracture. Tho rubber pels hard and loses its elasticity, thus failing to act as n cushion. Tho remedy is to fit new rubber strips. Importance of Good Roads. Touching on -the importance of road transport, tho opinions expressed by Sir liavmond Dennis (managing director of a large fir mof motor lorry buildersin I'higland), now on n, visit to Australia, are interesting. As a triuißjioriKtion expert. Sir Knymond is iinm-esscd with ijio great importance of good loads and mechanical transport in. the development of a country. "If I were to give you a motto,"- ho said to a reporter, ".it would be' roads and transiwrt',. Your great spaces cannot lie filled up and turned to tho best account until linked together, nnd finally made easily and' rapidly accessible to the centres of distribution. WiMr better ,-roads motor service might be established where railway communication i-j lacking. Thero is no need to let n v'nee languish beyond the-terminus of tho railway; link it up with a good road and motor service."