“SUN” SERVICE STATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 556, 8 January 1929, Page 6

“SUN” SERVICE STATION

THE “Aiotordom" section or The Sun includes in its service to readers a Queries and Answers Department, the object of which is to give accurate information regarding mechanical and touring subjects. Whatever the particular puzzle may be in either diagnosing Irritating troubles, or motoring information of any kind, "Headlight" will endeavour to help, or refer the point to men who are recognised automobile experts in their respective lines. All communications must be accompanied by the Inquirer's name and address (not for publication), and sent to THE SUN ‘‘Service Station, Motordom.” THE SUN, Auckland. Answers will appear weekly in this column.

‘‘Olds.” —I have been driving an Oldsmobile 1927 Coach for 12 months and. have lately had trouble when ascending steep grades under load by the gear lever slipping into neutral. Tour trouble is probably caused by loss of tension in the selector spring. The tension can be increased by packing, but the easiest method is to fit a new spring—not a very difficult task. W.R.—l have an old car, which I am considering painting, myself, but the nickel windshield standards, lamp rims, and fittings, are badly chipped and rusted, and need replating. It occurred to me that it might be possible to paint these, too, and make a good j‘ob without too much expense. Could some reader tell me if paint will wear well on a nickel surface, and is there any kind to use? Any brushing paint or enamel can be applied over nickel and should wear well, I would not recommend Duco. Before applying the paint, rub the nickel with sandpaper to remove l-ust and grit, and to slightly roughen the surface of the plating. A.8.C.—1 am a fairly new driver ■who can change gears from bottom to top without much trouble, but have to let the car nearly stop to change down without a clatter. Some friends have tried to show me how to double declutch, but their instructions are not very clear, and I make a worse noise. I would like a detailed ex* planation of this art. The first thing to learn in doubledeclutching is not to hurry the change. We all do that in learning, and that is usually the cause of the trouble The gears must synchronise as they do when changing up, and the system is merely a reversal. Changing up. you let the engine revs, become less to synchronise gears at the new ratio before engaging; changing down, you must speed tlje engine to get the same

result. The actual method is: Depress the clutch, push the gear lever into neutral, let in the clutch, jab the accelerator pedal sharply to rev. up the engine, depress the clutch again, and then push the gear lever into the i lower gear. The amount of accelera- 1 tion required when the lever is in j neutral depends upon the road speed of the car. If it is travelling slowly, only a little is required; if fast, the engine must be revved more. Prac- j tice is required, and your ear will soon j become tuned to the beat of your en- i gine. But do the whole of the motions j quite slowly, and the change will be ! noiseless. UPPER CYCLINDER LUBRICATION “Sure.”—The Buick owner writing in • The Sun (4/12/2S) that upper ! cyclinder lubrication is a wash-out. evidently has used a very poor upper j cyclinder lubricant, or lias something ! wrong with his motor. When I bought my Hupmobile in ! Sydney, the agents, Phyzackerleys. i Ltd., told me that they had put Fire- ! zone in my petrol, and. giving me a j bottle, told me always to use it. On ! removing the heads, after nearly 9,000 miles, there was practically no carbon, and lots of oil. The little carbon there was was in the middle of the piston, and quite soft. - TYRE TROUBLE G.H.P. Many motor owners have I talked to me about their front tyres not doing the mileage that they are f supposed to do. Well, one of the main causes which helps to do so, is ' having an untrue steering, which may ! mean the front wheels may be running a little on an angle, instead of running straight, that means that the tvres are rubbing sideways on the ground N\hen running, therefore this helps to wear them twice as soon. I think if 1 these car owners were to have their j steering adjusted, they would find j great results in the life of their tyres, i