MOTOR NOTES

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 May 1928, Page 6

MOTOR NOTES

FOTTR GEARS. ADVANTAGE ON" HILLS. When touring in hilly country, nothing is more valuable to the driver than a four-speed gear-box. If a fairly high average is to be maintained, fourspeeds are an absolute necessity; except when the ear is a high powered one. In really hilly country and in rough going such as is met with frequently in New Zealand, there is a vast gulf between a three and four-speed ear; With the three-speed job, when one has to resort to second gear, the engine nearly always will be going too fast; and in low gear, if time is of any account, the engine is usually kept racing, to its very gTeat detriment. It is a case usually of running the engine faster than its most effective speed. On the other hand, with the four-speed box, one has always at command the ideal or nearly ideal gear for the job in hand, and the ear moves forward as fagt as it is capable of doing without strain or over running. The four-speed gear-

box also has another decided advantage in economical running on flat country, as a higher top gear can be employed without detracting from the car's climbing capabilities. That American manufacturers are waking up to the advantages of four-speeds is quite evident by Teason of the fact that one of the largest motor companies recently incorporated an extra top gear in their ears. CHEOMIUM PLATING. The advantages of chromium plate as applied to motor car» ire obvious. Now, the radiatoT shell, Headlight rims, radiator ornament, etc., can never tarnish and will hold their brilliant lustre indefinitely. No more laborious polishing is required. The danger of scTatehing formerly so prevalent is now entirely obviated. Every motorist living. along the sea-coast has had experience with radiators and salt air—ratheT discouraging experience, too, it might be added. Now, however, motorists along i the seaboard may have their brightwork just as well as their inland brethren. For chromium scoffs at salt air. Fur thermore, chromium will not peel and is so heat-resisting that the radiator core itself could melt away and its placing would never be distirrbed. A few of it 3 uses in industrial and professional life may serve to give an accurate picture of its qualities. In factories where there is need for much filing of exceedingly hard metals, chromium has been introduced as a plating for files. It has been found that a plating of this wondeT metal no thicker than one-thou-sandth of an inch prolongs the life of a file three to four times. Surgical instruments which in the name of humanity must possess the sharpest possible edge, are chromium-plated, which not only permits the keenest kind of cutting edge, but is also rust-proof and hence far more sanitary than plain steel. The United States Bureau of Standards, assigning the diamond with the arbitrary hardness value of 10, rates chromium at nine and its nearest competitor, steelite, at eight. Like the diamond, anything coated with chromium will scratch, glass and also the hardest steel plate.. Much brass work oh ships now- Teceives chromium plating to render it impervious to salt spray.

THE USED CAB A few Useful Tips. There is no doubt that a portion of the cheaper second-hand cars are bargains. On the other hand, some of them, are a source of continued expense. Their mainteiancc does not repay the owner with care-free service. In venturing to take possession of a ear which has endured five or six years abuse ,the embryo motorist should sat isfy himself the he is not receiving a car needing entire rejuvenation. Somedealers can be relied on to give a fair account of the condition of the ear, others undertake the overhaul before selling the ear, and are prepared to stand by their recommendations. There are cases however, when the new owner needs the assistance of an independent mechanic Lacking this, he should insist on certain tests, remembering it is easy to make a ear perform convincingly over a short, chosen course. Foreign engine noises are readily significant to the ear of the expert, and should be investigated. It is generally conceded that the first few hundred miles are the most critical in the life of a car. Abuse from, t start "will manifest itself in -wear throughout the- ' components of the chassis. The buyer of a second-hand car has no means of ascertaining the pedigree of the vehicle and is unaware if it was overdriven in. its infancy. Primarily the second-hand purchase should be examined for piston slag and worn, bearings. It is hard to -nStect scoured cylinders, but bad compression an be roughly gauged by turning the ""rine over by hand. If there is nny indication of gas es- :„„ i ~•■.„ 'V "T^^lccasc, the fit of tie ;<strm rings T"nst be defective. A test should be made to ascertain if there is my fore and aft motion in the crankhaft. A fierce clutch may be merely n need of dressing, or it may requiro oelining at considerable expense. "oisy gears may be an early source ot vnense. If the steering gear has excessive play it may be due to wear in the "rating cogs and worn tie-rods bushes. 'He four wheels should revolve easily hon packed up and if any warping i» ■"he rima is apparent the tire wear may -» expected to be heavy.