MOTOR CYCLING

Evening Star, Issue 20138, 1 April 1929, Page 12

MOTOR CYCLING

FIXTURES. April 17.—Monthly meeting. Apr : l 20.—Sporting trial. Mav 11.- Club events. May 15. -—Monthly meeting. dune I.—Camberly scramble. SMALL END BUSHES. All those who have had experience with hardened steel gudgeon pins running in aluminium pistons will realise that when wear takes place it is, strangely enough, the hardened steel pin which wears, and not the aluminium. This lias led many high-speed car manufacturers who are seeking the last ounce in reducing weight ol reciprocating parts to scrap the bronze bushes which are pressed into the connecting md, and to insert almniniinum ones instead. 'these, like piston alloy, contain a fairly high percentage of copper, but even then they weigh less than oncbalf the weight of a bronze bush, and as they wear quite as well there is no reason why they should not-be more frequently "used" in motor cycle engines. AN INEXPENSIVE PILLION SEAT. For a .shilling or two, provided one lias a spare inner tube, quite a serviceable pillion seat can be made. The foundation is a piece of -jin board, to the underside of which straps, for the attachment of the seat to the carrier, must, be secured. A couple of square feet of Rexine. or of some similar material. will ho sufficient to make a roughly rectangular cover which can be tacited or glued to the board. The inner tube should be folded in concertina, fashion, hut in order to prevent the tube from “ piling ” it is advisable to have four threads holding the cover down. These threads should bo of soft material or covered with rubber tube, smcc otherwise chafing will take place.

HOW THE LIGHTNING FASTENER OR IGI NAT ED. Tim majority of motor cyclists arc acquainted with Dio lightning fastener and its advantages, but a short history of it, nevertheless, cannot fail to bo ol interest. The idea is not a new one, and during the last twenty years patents have" been taken out by at least three people, but all the fasteners had the same defects. They were difficult to fasten, and when once fastened they either came undone unxpectedty or remained closed when it was desired to unfasten them, with vhe result that they did not come to the fore. A fastener on which the present device is based was introduced in America in 1915. and it became a commercial proposition in 1918. Since then an enormous amount of development work lias been done, both in this country and in America, with the result that in the majority of cases where rapid operation is required the ordinary fastener has been superseded. AH patents outside America are owned by Kynochs, who make the fasteners at their Birmingham factory. The fasteners have many uses for motor cyclists, particularly in connection with overalls, trousers, and Held boots.