Your Citroen— Its Care and Maintenance

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 232, 20 December 1927, Page 7

Your Citroen — Its Care and Maintenance

THE CHRYSLER “72” ROYAL SALOON.—A car capable of speed, acceleration and climbing ability that is astonishing—one of the latest acquisitions to the famous Chrysler line. The mechanical features of this new car are remarkably complete, comprising as they do every improvement in motor-car construction in recent years. In addition, the new “72” now offers special advantages, such as a larger engine yielding 75 h.p. and capable of 72 m.p.h., seven-bearing crankshaft, both balanced and counter-weighted, Invar strut pistons with five rings, and all engine mountings insulated with rubber. An entirely new radiator design and colour scheme adds noticeably to the car’s fine appearance. The car is roomier, faster and more handsome than the famous “70.”

A SUN special feature to assist the owner-driver to obtain the maximum results in performance by the proper care and treatment of his car .

This article gives hints on the upkeep of the 12-24 h.p. Citroen. As most of the hints apply equally to the 11.4 Citroen, they should be useful to the many owners of the two models. The Citroen chassis is both durable and easy to look after, maintenance work bavins been designedly reduced to a minimum. Lubrication, of course, is the most important part requiring periodic attention, and the instructions and chart, issued by the manufacturers as a guide to the oiling and greasing processes, are so complete that only a few of the operations about which the owner-driver is usually careless need be mentioned. For all electrical parts be careful to use only very fine machine oil. Do not forget that there are two oiling points on the magneto, both under one cover, and that there are two on the dynamo. These require two drops every 1.000 miles. The self-starter does not require oiling, as internal provision has been made for this. A few drops of oil applied occasionally to the bracket supporting the steering column will prevent its stiffening up, and make for smoother, easier steering. . . As regards the engine, draining and refilling the crankcase is recommended at intervals of 1,000 miles. When draining it is as well to remove the cover plate in which the drain plug

is situated so as to obtain access to a circular oil filter, which should be cleaned. The oil-pressure indicator on the dash takes the form of a dish with fan-shaped slots, which should show black when the engine is stationary and white when it is running. Chassis lubrication is simple with the aid of the chart provided, but there are several points which may escape attention. One is the clutch withdrawal, ball-.race, access to which is obtained by removing a sheet-metal cover on the clutch housing, after which a little thick oil should be smeared on the race. While this is being done, the clutch pedal should be. depressed and the clutch shaft turned by hand until a hole appears, through which oil should be inserted for conveyance to the spigot bearing. Lubrication should not be overdone, or oil may reach the clutch plates, which should run in a dry condition. Reverting to the engine, there are various adjustments which it may bo necessary to make from time to time. The dynamo is mounted at the front end of the cylinder block and carries the fan on its shaft, together with a V-pulley driven by a belt. The tension of this belt can be increased when necessary by slackening the nuts which hold the dynamo plate to the cylinder block and partially rotating the plate around one of its securing bolts, the other two being provided with slots which allow of this movement. It is important not to put undue tension on the belt, as this leads to bearing wear. Incidentally, the accumulators are neatly placed in the off-side valance and should, of course, be replenished with distilled water fv me to time. The timing gears < of helical - toothed pinions and require no mesh adjustment, but should end-play develop in the camshaft, or magneto drive shaft, it can be taken up by means of left-handed screws, fitted to the timing gear cover and provided with lock-nuts, which should bear against hardened pads at the ends of the shafts without exerting any great pressure. Always de-clutch t&ing in the,

morning while using the self-starter. This will make easier the work of the battery, and lengthens its life. Shut off all controls when garaging the car. As they are all to be found on the dash, it is a simple operation. Be careful, after changing a wheel, to see that the wheel nuts are properly tightened. Tighten them up again after the first stop. Remember that the nuts on the off or right-hand side (marked “D”) have a right-hand, or ordinary thread, while the nuts for the near, or left-hand side, have lefthand threads. Make certain that your front wheels are always in proper alignment. More tyres are worn out owing to improper alignment than to faulty road surfaces. Travelling continuously for 720 hours without an engine stop, averaging 31.11 miles to the gallon of fuel, and covering a total distance of 12.00 S miles, is ths newest achievement of a Whippet,