AUTO SUGGESTIONS.

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 19, 23 January 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

AUTO SUGGESTIONS.

Cylinder Compression. To obtain the best motor performance, smoothest running, and greatest economy, the compression in all cylinders must be uniform. Hand cranking is a good guide, but more accurate indications may be obtained by the use of the latest type of compression testing equipment which gives the number of pounds per square inch. Insufficient lappet clearance, faulty valves or seats, broken springs, sticking or broken piston rings, or worn pistons and cylinders are to be suspected. Noticeable hissing and fumes at the oil filler or breather aperture, and smoke at the exhaust are infallible signs of trouble, and the necessary corrections must be made without delay. Morris Cowley Tip. There should be no necessity for oil leakage at the dynamotor cover plate of the Morris Cowley, provided that the joint is carefully made. First make sure that the faces are quite true, tapping if necessary on a flat surface to straighten. Fit a new cork gasket, using red lead and gasket cement on the aluminium face, which must be quite clean. Fit the gasket snugly into both corners and replace the cover plate, using red lead or oil as a binder. If gasket cement is used on both sides a new gasket is required every time the cover is removed for chain adjustment. Tighten the screws firmly but not hard, then tap the cover into position. Finally tighten, commencing at lower set screw and working up. Wooden Body Rattles. In hot weather it Is not uncommon for a wooden body that has been free from noises, to develop sundry annoying rattles. The explanation is that shrinkage and drying has taken place, with consequent relative movement. Tightening the bolts that secure the body to the frame, floorboards, pillars, and doors will overcome much of the trouble. Wheels also dry out and respond to treatment with raw oil which expands the wood. Also tighten the hub and rim bolts. Lack of Power. When the motor lacks power there are many possible causes to be considered. Perhaps the brakes arc partially applied, or adjusted too tightly. Look for binding -wheels. Verify the tyre pressures. Flat or under-inflated tyres cause a drag. A partially closed choke, retarded ignition, or excessively rich mixture may need correction by a competent mechanic. The clutch may be slipping. Examine for a certain amount of free pedal movement below the floorboard. Usually 4 to lin. is specified, adjustment being made as a rule by lengthening the operating rod. Uneven compression or a dead cylinder is due sticking valves, lack of tappet clearance, faulty seatings, or a blown gasket. See that the throttle is opening fully. Humber 12, 1934. Humber twelve 1934 tuning adjustment calls for specially fine settings. The intake valve clearances are .010", the exhaust .155". Exhaust valves are numbered 1,4, 5, and 8 from either end. These are the cold settings, more easily made with manifold removed. It is recommended that the engine be turned one complete revolution after each valve to be adjusted has

been closed. Spark plug settings are uniformly .022", and breaker points .018". For slightly better performance, a limited degree of advance on the factory ignition timing has been found advisable. A clamp screw is loosened to euable the distributor body to be turned in the opposite direction to shaft rotation. Charge Rate. Operators of de luxe Master Chevrolet cars may temporarily increase the charge rate to bring up a low battery by pulling the light switch out to a point between off and parking positions The effect is to cut out the resistance in the field circuit, thus increasing the degree of excitation an I generator output or charge rate. Vacuum Tank Failure. Failure of the vacuum tank need not prevent the driver proceeding to the nearest garage. Should some derangement occur, and it has been ascertained that filters are clear, petrol is in the main tank, and pipes are not broken or detached, the upper tank may be taken out by removing the small screws. Then fill the lower tank nearly and ; rrange a temporary cover. This will take the car along for a number of miles. Vauxhall 14 Axle. Removal of the latest type Vauxhall 14 axle shaft may be accomplished without dismantling the differential, despite the fact that the wheel flange iu forged integrally with the shaft. Take off the wheel and brake drum. Undo the bolts that secure the brake plate, and lift the plate over the shaft end flange. The shaft may then be extracted with its bearing. Crankcase Ventilation. Efficient i rankcase ventilation is invariably provided for in the design of modern engines. This elimin. tes the unpleasantness of escaping oil fumes, prevents overheating of the sump oil, and reduces oil leakage. The advisability of keeping the breather cap, filters, or strainers clear by frequent washing in petrol will be apparent. The breather

pipes also need occasional internal cleaning to remove sludge, which restricts free flow of air. Wheel Noise. Rattling caps on the large centred wire wheels are corrected by punching the threaded centre outwards from the inner side, '-hug bringing the ovter cap edge earlier into contact with the ♦teel hub. The snap-on typo will need re-springing of the side pieces or renewal of the springs. New Fitting. An attachment noticed on one f- .ue newest British cars is a small auxiliary induction pipe which leads from the

valve cover of the overhead - r alve engine to the main air intake. In this way a certain proportion of oil-impreg-nated air is drawn into the mixture and tends to assist upper cylinder lubrication. A similar fitting could be easily contrived on most ais which have fully enclosed overhead valve-gear. Electrical Knowledge. No motorist who goes far afield can feel confident to grapple with wayside defects unless he has some working knowledge of the electrical system, acquaintanceship with the first principles of electricity is an essential preliminary, but it is equally important that he should, either by {studying the diagrams in the instruction book or getting an experienced mechanic to demonstrate to him, learn the lay-out of the circuits and the electrical units, the position of the various fuses and switches, and how to make progressive search for faulls in the event of a sudden failure of the ignition, ligl ts or horn. Carburettor Setting. In the belief that exceptional petrol economy will be procured, some motorists tinker with the carburettors of their cars and set the slow running adjustments in such a way that a lean mixture is provided. The engine may perform satisfactorily with th it setting once it has warmed up, but as a rule it will be difficult to start on a cold morning. In any case, very little material saving is made by departing from the manufacturers' instructions as to the standard setting for the best all-round performance. Idle Car.

If a car is left standing unused for some days it might bo found that the battery is weak and will not spin the starter briskly. On might conclude that the cells had become partially discharged because of a short circuit in the wiring, but it is more likely that he trouble is caused by deterioration of the battery plates, which always suffer to some extent when idle. Furthermore, the engine will be stiff because of thickening of the oil film, and it is wise in such circumstances to crank it a few times with the handle in order to "loosen" the oil. If the car is to be stored for more than a few days, care should be taken to see that the battery is well charged and the cells topped-up with distilled water. As a further precaution one main battery lead might be disconnected.