MOTORING & MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 19789, 13 February 1928, Page 12

MOTORING & MOTORISTS

[BY RADIATOR.]

MOTOR CYCLING

LIGHTING-UP TIMES. To-day 8.55 Tuesday 8.63 Wednesday 8.52 Thursday 8.51 Friday 8.49 Saturday 8.47 Sunday 8.45 FIXTURE. January 14.—0.M.C. monthly meeting. REITER. THAN CURE. KEER THE CAR GREASED. “Preventive maintenance”—this is the graphic phrase coined by the San Francisco manager of an American lubricator company. “ There are two primary essentials for Jong life in an automobile,” ho says, “maintenance of working parts by thorough continuous lubrication, and prevention of mechanical troubles and probable final_ breakdown by the periodical examination and tightening of all loose parts. “If you investigate the automobiles in the junk yards that are there before they should be you will find in nine cases out of ten that they have been put there because their drivers did not keep them greased.” FLOAT CHAMBER LIDS. For some obscure reason float chamber lids, which are usually difficult to remove, have a habit of dropping off and getting lost. A get-you-home repair can be effected by means of a suitable tin lid turned down at the edges, and with a hole punched in the centre for the needle. Such a lid is best secured by a short length of inner tube, but if this is not available string or wire may be used, or even nothing at all.

Brief accounts of holiday trips, roads, and places of interest are invited for this column.

THE NEW “MOTELS.” SUPERSEDE MOTOR CAMPS. The “ motel ” is the latest American institution. As the.word may indicate, the “motel” is a motor hotel or motor inn. It was brought into being by the remarkable growth of motoring in the United States. A chain of these “motels” just opened in California show that the newcomers are planned for the comfort and accommodation of touring motorists—the kind of people whose bank accounts are not over large. Around a central community dining room and kitchen a number of bungalows, with hot and cold water, and heating facilities are grouped, with a free private garage for each car. For the charge of about a dollar and a-halt a couple of tourists may garage their car, cook their meals, dine in the community room, and have a little cottage home for the night. Occupying, generally, about five acres of land, these “motels” are ideal for the touring motorist who dislikes carrying heavy camp equipment and searching for water. There arc now about 5,000 motor camps in America. But, judging by the enthusiastic patronage accorded the first chain of “ motels,” the motor camp is on the down grade of public favor. There should be scope for the “ motel ” at some of the popular New Zealand tourist resorts. CHASSIS LUBRICATION. NEW METHODS. When the modern method of lubricating the various minor chassis bearings was evolved it was seen that the days of the grease cup were numbered. Although the modern method undoubtedly saves much time, it is still capable of considerable improvement; yet there seems to be a tendency for designers to take it for granted that the problem has been solved and that nothing further need be done. Some years ago a system was adopted in which the chassis lubrication is effected from a single central pump and reservoir. Now a new system has arisen which gives the owner of the car even less trouble. In this latest method an oil tank is placed at some convenient point in the chassis, generally under the bonnet next to the engine, and contains a weight, which keeps a needle on its seating, thereby preventing oil from flowing from the tank to a distributor, whence lubricant is delivered through pipes to all the minor bearings. When the car is running, however, but only when it is running, the weight is subjected to minor vibration, though damped by the surrounding oil, and consequently the needle leaves its seat from time to time. When this happens a small charge of oil is automatically fed to all hearings concerned. INTERESTING DECISION. WHEN IS A MOTORIST DRUNK? The Court of Appeal in London gave an interesting decision recently on the subject of drunkenness. The jury in the court below had stated that they were agreed that the defendant was guilty of being incapable of driving a motor car, and that his condition in that respect had been brought about by alcohol, but that “ bo was not drunk to the extent which wo should call a drunken man.” The Lord Chief Justice, in giving judgment, said that no ingenuity could get rid of the words “he was not drunk” from the statement made by the jury. That was a verdict of not guilty. Whether the word “drunk” in section 40 (1) of the Criminal Justice Act, 1925, under which the defendant was indicted, ought in the public interest to be defined, and whether that definition ought to be, for instance, such a phrase as “in a condition in which a person is unable to drive a motor car by reason of the quantity of alcohol which he has consumed,” were matters well worthy of consideration. THE “LIFE” OF. A SMALL GAR. Now that British makers of inexpensive cars have taken wisely to quantity production, vehicles vary little in quality when ihey leave the factory. Engines may differ slightly in the matter of power output, but the actual road performance of, say, IUO motor cars from the same works should vary only slightly. Rut after 1 six mouths’ service »what a difference in these 100 motor cars! The life of modern lowpowered family cars differs to an extraordinary extent. Some are finished after 40,000 miles’ service, others are still going strong after 70,000 miles. Neglect is often the cause of rapid decay, especially neglect of lubrication. But tbs most frequent cause of deterioration in the small car is over-driving. It is the constant driving at or near maximum speed that shortens the life of a small engine. With a high-powered car it is impossible, except on rare occasions, to drive on full throttle; consequently the engine is rarely stressed. If small-car owners were content to drive well within the maximum speed of their engines, 40 when the maximum is 50, and 35 when the maximum is 45, they would find that their cars would have very nearly as long a life as the more expensive vehicle. IF,I If you can climb a hill when all about you The cars are coughing like a kid with croup; If you can hit a mud road deep with puddles And sail across it like an ocean sloop, Or wear a treadless tyre and not grow weary And blow it out in some deserted place, Or hit upon six cylinders entirely When hail and snow and rain heat on your face; And yet can make a mile in sixty seconds, And yet not make the love of speed your nira; The throttle down to half a mile an hour And never stall to smirch my name with shame; If you can last five years and not resemble A pile of junk upon some ashman’s heap; If you can suffer lack of fuel and water, And still ride on without a {tingle peep; If you can promise me you have these virtues. And with them all you cost a modest fee, Yours is this chugging world and all that’s in it—■ And what is more you are the car for ME.

fully cleaned by inserting a. fine piece of paper between the vibrating blade and its holder. Great core must be exercised that the reed is not bent in any way. ‘ With the motor-driven type of electrical horn vern little attention is required beyond cleaning and lubrica-, tion. If it is desired In vary the note of the horn the eccentric bearing of the motor should be loosened and the driven ratchet moved with reference to the diaphragm, when a higher or lower note will be obtained.- It the- horn is of the diaphragm type the attention necessary is to see that the platinum points of the vibrator are clean and Hat and are not adjusted too far apart. IN. 1928. The International Association of Recognised Automobile Clubs has already allotted dates for the international racesfor .1928, and so has avoided the clashing of dates,_ which hitherto has obtained. The principal championship fixtures are:— May 30.—United States. July I.—France. July 15.—Germany. July 29.—Spain. August 12.—Belgium. September 2.—ltaly. September 22.—Great Britain. The Grand Prix, which ranks as the premier' race of the five forming the championship of the world, will be known as the Grand Prix of Europe, to be held at Brooklands on September 22. The other dates allotted Great Britain are April 9, May 28, and August 6. BINDING BRAKES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. With the advent of four-wheel brakes and the increase of tho number of actuating parts requiring lubrication, it behoves the motorist to give more care to inspecting these vital components. The binding of brakes fitted to the rear wheels is bad enough, but the locking of front wheel brakes brings one perilously close to the cemetery. Defects in design may lead to a difficulty in freeing the shoes, - but oven the best designs cannot work freely if lubrication is neglected. It should bo remembered that if through some defect the front wheel brakes are locked when the brakes arc applied, steering is lost. If the front wheels cease, revolving while the car is ip motion, the driver has little, if any, control over the vehicle’s directional course. The various points and tho bearings in which the cam-operating spindles are carried should be kepr clean and oiled periodically. If the brake applied by the hand or foot shows any signs of release hesitations, the cause should be ascertained without delay. It is here a case of “he who hesitates.” COURTESY ON HILLS. There are exceptions to every rule. When running down hill it is always good form to give way to the car coming up. The driver may be inexperienced or in difficulties, or he may be enjoying that thrill of pride you’ve doubtless known yourself in running up “ on top.” In any case he would appreciate your courtesy and thoughtfulness. It is one of those little rules, which, if observed, increase the pleasure of motoring. TOURING SERVICE. FOR MOTORISTS IN BRITAIN. No country offers the touring motorist such a wealth of wayside interest and romance as Great Britain, and provided adequate instructions are available, it is easy to enjoy unlimited miles of glorious travel with visits to endless points of interest that are linked with the life of early days. In rendering these tours more easily available to the motorist, signal work is being done by the Dunlop Touring Ser-

vice Bureau at 43 Kingsway, London, W.G.2. Motorists only have to make inquiry at this bureau (giving some indication of the time at their disposal on the part of the country they wish to visit) to receive, entirely free of cost, a complete itinerary or the tour, indicating mileages and all details of interest on the road. Accompanying the itinerary is a road map, on which the route is shown by a blue line, with sections of bad road, repairs, etc., marked in red. Information is also furnished on guide books and other relative matters that will heighten the interest and enjoyment of the tour. New Zeaalnders on returning from a visit to the Home Land speak highly of the splendid work being done by the Dunlop Bureau in revealing much of the beauty and interest o? Britain that would otherwise never have been viewed. REMEDYING BATTLING. Some of the preventible rattling in cars comes from end .play of spring ends on their bolts, and of s'ackle links against their hangers. When the chassis sways from side to side on rough roads, this lost motion is developed with dull, snapping sounds. The remedy is to adjust tor wear of the parts, so that the bolt will hold its shackle links, and so that the other ends of the links will hnye # no excessive play at their hanger fitting. The front ends of both front and realsprings are usually not shackled, but are held directly on their hangers. No adjustment is usually provided at these ends except that by tightening the bolt forcibly, the hanger fitting may be pinched together a little, perhaps enough to take up slight end play. At the shackled ends, where most of the end play develops, means of adjustment are usually provided. Each bolt is usually free in the outside shackle link, but threaded into the inside one, so that by turning it right-handedly the links are drawn together, and end play is taken up. Hold the head of the bolt with a wrench, and loosen the nut (after removing its cotter pin, if any), then turn the bolt in until it is tight, and back it oft about an eighth of a turn from this position. Hold the head from turning, and tighten the nut securely, replacing the cotter pin. Perform this operation on each shackle bolt. It is usually impossible for the same person to reach both ends of the upper shackle bolt of the front spring, and a helper will be needed in making this adjustment. It is important that the parts be rmt set up too tight, as this may result in breakage of the main spring leaf, so after completing the job check it by jumping np and down on the running boards, while someone else makes sure that the shackles move freely as the springs deflect.

FIXTURES. February 18.—Hill climb. February 28.—Club run. GEARBOXES. Motor cycle gearboxes in 1928 specifications have not changed appreciably in general design since 1920, and the proprietary units of the four leading makes are practically all of the threespeed, clutch, and kick-starter type, although certain makers can supply light-weight two-speed and heavyweight four-speed boxes. Nevertheless, there are several detail improvements in the well-known components, and the changes make for stronger and cleaner design, greater accessibility,'and ease of adjustment. ‘ A CHANGE OF GIRLS. There seems to be no moral about the following story, except that motor cyclists will sometimes finda spare girl a useful spare part:—A friend of mine who owns a motor cycle combination had occasion to drive a friend of his daughter’s to the station; she sat on the carrier. When they reached the station she said to him; “I think that policeman you passed half a mile back shouted after you to stop.” Her coat had obscured the rear number plate. However, it was too late, so he deposited lier and returned. Half an hour later he had to pass the same policeman, this time with his daughter on the flapper bracket. The constable signalled him-to stop, and approached him. My friend prepared for the worst, but the man was most apologetic. “ I’m sorry, sir, but a combination passed me a short time ago with the rear number plate* obscured. I thought it was yours, but I see it’s a different lady_ on the back.”—‘ Manchester Guardian ’