“SUN” SERVICE STATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 746, 20 August 1929, Page 6

“SUN” SERVICE STATION

r ‘AloturcJom" section ox The Sun includes in Its service to readers a •*- Queries and Answers Department, the oDject 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. .. communications must do accompanied by the inquirer's name and address (not for publication), and sent to THE SUN “Service Station.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

“Moco.”—(a) Clutch pedal of 1926 Essex suddenly became stiff, but without affecting- engagement of gears. U>) What is radiator cement composed of? (c) Brake shoes of 1924 Buiok binds tightly when hand brake is on. (a) Possible causes are rusty clutch spline or the pressure of floor boards on the side of clutch pedal, (b) No knowledge of composition,, but understand there is a certain percentage of cement, (c) If the brake shoe spring is O.K. and cam does not over-ride, look for trouble on brake rods. Similar trouble has been caused by caked mud on the brakes, M.S.—What is the wheel-base of a car? Also, could you tell me what is the car with the longest wheel-base. The wheel-base of a car is the distance (usually stated in inches) between the true centre of the front wheel to the true centre of the rear wheel. It is not the distance from the tip of the front bumper to the edge of the rear bumper—that is the overall measurement. There are several cars with exceptionallj* long wheel-bases on sale overseas, but not seen here, such as the MacFarlane and the larger models of Locomobile. The largest Packard has a wheel-base of 143 in, and the largest Cadillac 140 in. F.S.—My 1926 model Chevrolet car engine gets very hot after a mile’s run. The oil boils. In fact, I can touch nothing it is that hot. I keep water and oil extra clean and engine well lubricated. It appears that you are troubled

with overheating, and a 1926 model car, which would probably have run 20,000 miles by now, I suggest that you check the following points: Has the radiator been drained and flushed out regularly every two months? Is the water circulation correct? Is • the ignition timed correctly? When were the valves last ground in, and is there any carbon deposit? Lastly, is the mixture correct ? In my opinion the trouble is probably due to the circulation of the water. As you are probably aware, Chevrolet is one of the coolest engines on the road, and it is very hard without examining the car to decide just what is the actual cause of the trouble. I suggest that if you are able to obtain the loan of ~ another radiator core from a friend, and run the car for a few miles, it will prove if the trouble is in the core. * If the trouble is not overcome by the change over of core, of course, the other items mentioned above should be checked over. “Suburbanite.”—Wliat is the horsepower of the 192 S Hupmobile, Sedem, Model A? 25.35 h.p.