MOTOR SHORTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 544, 30 May 1933, Page 2

MOTOR SHORTS

Dirty Plugs. •QifRcult .starting of th'e engine, in' many cases, is due to old or dirty spark plugs. - - Oil Leak. An oil leak around any part of the engine should be stopped at once. The loss of oil may not be exp^nsive, but the damage that may ' result through lack of oil is often far in excess of the cost of stopping the leak. Chromiuni Parts. All chromium qnd nickel-plated parts of the car should be kept ' clean and free from dirt or foreign matter, and for cleaning the chromium plated piarts at least, nothing but clear water and a clean rag should be used-. Reversing. In reversing the car, bring it to a , standstill, then with the clutch re: leased place the gear lever in the reverse notch. Allow th'e clutch to engage gently, and with the left band only on the steering wheel look hackwards and ' gauge th'e direction by th:e rear mudguard or the rear wheel. Do not lat'fempt' to steer* by' watching the front wh'eels; always look to the rear when going backward. Be careful that the • tyr es do not scrape along the kerb, as this is very damaging. Front Wheel Bearings. It is a good practice to remove front wheels once a year and clean bearings thoroughly with petrol, then pack with fresh grease. Steering. The present day car is easy to steer. If steering becomes difbcult it should be cheelsed by a competent mechanic. This precaution may be the means of avoiding an' acc'ident'. Leaky Tyre Yialve. A' piece of grit which prevents an airtight seating is often the cause of a leaky tyre valve. \^hen Being Towed. If you should ever- have to be- towed, be careful to keep your foot lightly on the brake pedal, so that if- the towing car stops or slows down unexpectedly you can do likewise before you climb up on its rear bumper. Arid if you are doing the towing, warn the other driver to watch out. Pliers Poor Substitute. Piiers are a poor substitute for a wrench. The slipping of a pair of pliers is quite apt to round the corners of the nut and .so make its removal more difficffiult. Brake Inspection. A brake inspection should include the ratchet paWl on the emergency brake. Most motorists thoughtlessly cause the pawl t0 weair by allowing it to click on the ratchet instead of grasping the lever and releasing each time th'e emergency brake is applied. After Washing. It very often happens that after a car has heen washe'd the brakes prove to be ineffective, and the best way to dry them is to drive at about 15 m.p.h. with the brakes slightly applied. The friction thus set up soon dries the film of water covering the brakes. Corrosion of Battery Terminals. Care should be taken that the battery terminals d0 not become corroded with acid, which not only interferes with the proper current from battery , into cable, but also destroys the wires. I Have ends thoroughly cleaned and then after they are replaced, cover them with vaseline, mixed with a little powdered washing soda. Back Axle. The oil level in the back axle should always be maintained to th'e height recommended by the makers.