MOTOR NOTES

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 11, 16 March 1938, Page 1

MOTOR NOTES

U.S.A. ROAD TOML Deaths in road accidents in the United States during the year are expected to total 40,000, an increase of more than 2000 over the 1936 total. American safety experts, while admitting that the total is in every way unsatisfactory, say that analysis gives a less alarming perspective. The analysis reveals one fatal smash for every 7,000,000 miles of driving, the best figures yet achieved by American drivers. • Nation-wide studies have disclosed that major problems in accident prevention are pedestrians aged over 40, drivers over 50, darkness, liquor, and fatigue. A concentration of effort on these aspects is now in progress. GERMAN REGULATIONS In Germany, under the new traffic regulations, it is an offence to “endanger the traffic”, no> matter by wliat- means. Under this regulation, persons who have not broken the law directly, but whose conduct may lead to an accident, can be dealt with. Such, for instance, as pedestrians who cross the road while the traffic beacon is still showing yellow. In busy thoroughfares, cyclists must ride in single file, while in no case are they allowed to ride more, than two abreast. " Where special tracks are provided, cyclists must use them. It is also proposed to start traffic classes in Berlin to educate the general public in the value of the rules of the road and the traffic regulations. SHOCK ABSORBER HINT In many cars, the hydraulic shock absorbers are connected to tbe axles by links in each end of which are rubber bushings'to prevent rattles. Sometimes a most annoying squeak develops in those bushings, which is the more exasperating because the true source is rarely suspected, and many hours of futile work may be spent before the cause is revealed. Having discovered the cause, however, the next thing is tp find a cure. It is unwise to oil the joints of these links, because ordinary mineral oil is very destructive of rubber. Hydraulic brake fluid, which is harmless to rubber, should be used. THE INSECT PEST In country driving a car will collect cm the front mudguards, ti:e windscreen, • the- header-board above the screen, and in. the interstices of the radiator behind the grille, all sorts of insects, which are both unsightly ami very damaging to the paintwork. Those insects caught- in the radiator are the main worry, because, owing to 'die distance between the bars of the grille and the radiator core, it- is next- to impossible to pick them out. A simple way of removing, them is to lilt- the bonnet and. with a strong stream of water from a hose, wash them out. Methylated spirits, with water lias been fouudi efficacious in removing insects from the paintwork and the- screen. A CAUSE OF MISFIRING When misfiring and chronically uneven running cannot be cured by all ordinary adjustments to the ignition system, it is worth remembering that the earth return from the distributor head is through the shaft, upon which it pivots through a small arc to provide advance and retard of the spark timing. Sometimes an excess of oil on this shaft, or a certain amount of looseness will prevent a good contact between the shaft and socket into- which it- fits. This naturally will cause uneven running, and in very bad cases may make the engine very difficult to start. If a wire is taken from a suitable screw on the distributor head l , to the body of the engine, a good earth return independent of the shaft will he provided, and should effect a perman ent cure of tin's elusive trouble. SUSTAINED HIGH SPEED An interesting sequel to the construction of long-distance motor roads, in Germany and Italy is that the

car manufacturers of those countries are finding it necessary to construct cars capable of maintaining very high speeds for, long periods’ at a time. These ears are not necessarily any faster than. the average large sedan car sold in New Zealand, but modifications to the cooling and engine oiling systems have been made to enable them to maintain a higher sustained speed. They are able to: travel all day long at 75-80 miles per hour if necessary without overheating or damage to the engine bearings. Such treatment of the ordinary modern car would almost certainly reduce its useful life to a fraction of what it is in normal use.

An English writer who drove s.’-eh a car for 50 miles at a steady 82 miles per hour reported that at the end of this journey the engine was. no hotter than that of an Ordinary car taken over the same course at 45-5(1 miles per hour.