SPARKS.

Putaruru Press, Volume VIII, Issue 323, 23 January 1930, Page 7

SPARKS.

“ Papa, I saved five pence to-day. j J I ran all the way from school behind a tram.” “ Why didn’t you run behind a taxi cab and save five shillings? ” • * * * l Many cases of ignition trouble have been traced to a cracked distributor cap. Clean the cap occasion- I ally and check for cracks. If cracked, replace with a new one. * * * * In wet weather give good warning of your intention to stop. The driver of the car behind you may not be able to stop as quickly as yourself. * * * * The motorist who has never ridden j a bicycle often fails to appreciate the j necessity for giving cyclists a fair j amount of room. Especially in wet i weather is this necessary. Forcing a i cyclist down the camber of the road j is an unsportsmanlike procedure and j should be avoided. It may mean : disaster to the cyclist, and the motor* l ist also, Motorists will add to the i amenities of the Toad by consideration of the two-wheelers. * * * * reconstruction of the Ford Meter Company for the production of the new Ford car is reported to have cost £20,000,000. . * * * * A eerener is stated to have said that the most dangerous time in the life of a motorist Is when he has been driving for about 12 ifiofiths. * * » * " THsil tired feeling ” is said to be responsible f OT the larger proportion of motor accfcK' nts > the majority of 'which occur between 4 P- m - and 7 p.m. Streets are equally congested at other periods of the day, but late afternoon is the time of frequent accidents. Fatigue after the day’s work or shopping is claimed to be the father of the carelessness which causes crashes. *< » * * * Use caution in passing lorries and buses. Their width cuts off the view ahead, and their drivers often fail to see or hear a car about to pass. * In a few engines it is found that : the sparking plugs are a very tight fit in the ports. In such cases it is a good plan to have a tap run through j jthe holes to clean out the threads, as 'plugs which are stiff to screw in may ] become almost impossible to remove, and also are likely to leak com- 1 pressfon owing to their not being screwed firmly enough against the casket To test for a short or “ ground ” in the wiring put all switches in the off position, disconnect one battery wire and touch it on the terminal. A spark will indicate trouble of this nature. * * * * “ What are you going to call your new car? ” “ Circumstances.” “ That’s a funny name.” “ No, I don’t think so. Haven’t you heard of circumstances over which a fellow has no control ? ” Even though compression is good it is worth while to have the valves ground if it is found necessary to lift the head for carbon removal.

■ Carbon will be cleaned off the faces, ! and pitting of valves will be minimised. * * * • ! Many drivers who own a car which has a very sweet clutch develop the habit of slipping it in order ; to make a smooth getaway when the speed drops to 10 miles per hour or so in top gear, adopting a similar plan at lower speeds in the case of indirect gears. This is a very bad practice, as excessive wear of the clutch lining will take place, and the time for renewal will come very much sooner. If a car will not accelerate smoothly from a low speed a change down should be made. A good rule—which covers practically all conditions —is never to slip the clutch except when getting under way in bottom gear.