Cycling & Motoring Notes

Horowhenua Chronicle, 31 January 1914, Page 5

Cycling & Motoring Notes

Ironi the Duniop Rubber Company of Australasia lor ihe weeking ending -January ~4, 1914. MOTOR CAR RELIABILITY CON ESI. MELBOURNE TO SYDNEY. WHAT IT TAt GUT.

The recently concluded motor reliability trial from Melbourne to Sydney was a big success, judged by the percentage of finishers out of starters, but after all that is not- everything. The chief question from a motoringstandpoint is-wWas anything learnt, from the strenuous test: The writer, who formed one of the overland party is of the opinion that several valuable lessons were gained from the reliability trial, and if Jtlie manufacturers will only take notice of the knowledge thus gained, considerable benefits will accrue to motoring in this country. The most serious fault revealed was that several of the cars fitted with the thermo syphon system of cooling failed badly, whilst others (including several of the prize-winning cars) had no trouble with the same system of water circulation. From this it appears it is not the system that is at fault, but its application. The trouble appeared to be that oil several cars a sufficient head of water is ' not provided above the conduit pipe to the cylinders, and as soon as the water evaporates down to a certain point, the water circulation fails. This is a defect that should certainly be brought before the manufacturers whose cars failed in this respect. Another point was that several cars had to have the oil ! pumps (if their engines re-filled during lunch controls. This should not be necessary on an up-to-date oar on a day's run of K>B miles, even .in the hottest weather. Electrical troubles were few—a magneto giving trouble in one instance whilst a high tension wire plug vibrated out of the I magneto on another contestant s car, which would otherwise have gained full points for reliability. The majority of points lost on the trip were debited to broken front springs, and despite the rough nature of the overland route, it is apparent that there yet remains ample room in some cars for improvement in this direction. The average pace throughout the test was not high; therefore it was surprising to see 85 points lost for IT broken leaves o± springs. Longer springs and more leaves appears to be the remedy. In the early days of motoring over this Inter-state route one rarely escaped without a bent front axle. On this occasion there was only one debit, out of the--25 cars that finished, under this head, and that occurred through the driver talking to his passenger, and dropping* heavily into a "V" gutter. In this direction therefore car manufacturers have made good. Sooted sparking plugs and carburettor troubles cut several contestants out of full reliability points. In onlv one instance was there a leaky radiator, a great improvement on past overland, tests. From a point of comfort the scuttle dash type of body "was seen at its worst in this run, the heat being something terrific, with the thermometer showing up in the regions of 107 in the. shade. Driving in the sun with the heat of the engine boxed up in the front portion of the body of the car- well it felt like sitting in a Turkish bath. More provision needs to be made j for ventilation in this style of body if it is to remain in vo#ue in this country. As at present constituted, the scuttle dash, is a failure for long distance summer travelling. .-rowgrw aas» <■«*«■■*■ tm