“SUN” SERVICE STATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 876, 21 January 1930, Page 6

“SUN” SERVICE STATION

rpHB “MoLordom" section of The Sun Includes tn Its service to readers a Queries and Answers Department, the object of which is to give accurate information regarding mechanical and touring subjects. What ever 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 All communications must be accompanied by the inquirer's name and address (not for publication), and sent to THE SUN “Service Station Motordom.,’' THE SUN.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.

W.Y.C.—I have had a bit of trouble with a spark plug - on my car. It misses, and when I take it out I find that the two little prongs are hammered together. Would this be the force of the explosion, or what? This is a most unusual complaint, but would hardly be due to the explosion. More likely, but still most rare, is the possibility that there is crankcase deflection and the connecting rod stretch allows the pistofi to hit the plug at high speeds, but this would bring other troubles that would be noticeable in themselves. Possibly the spark plug is old and the points weak. Install a new plug, and get one, if possible, with a shorter barrel so as to avoid the last danger (if it exists). “Mechanic.”—Can you find out for me the main bearing clearance on a 1927 Kissel 6-55? * * * Yes, .002.

x.lo. —What is the trouble with my car, a Whippet, when it goes all speeds up to 50 m.p.h. quite all right, but at that speed it starts to choke and slow down? In a minute or two it is all right again. * * * The trouble here is obviously in the carburettor. Quite possibly the carburettor float is set too low, so that at 50 m.p.h. the engine uses juice faster than the carburettor can supply it. Look to having the float level raised. “Curious.”—Which has the largest engine, a Lincoln, a La Salle, or a Studebaker President? All 1928 models. These are all eight-cylinder cars, the bore and stroke and piston displacement being as follows:—Lincoln, 3h x a, 384: La Salle, 3i x 4 15-16, 303; and Studebaker President, 3g x 4g, 313.

HILL-CLIMBING TESTS EVENTS AT MANGERE The hill-climbing fixture of the Sports Motor-cycle Club has been fixed tentatively for Saturday, February 1, and will be held at the Mangere Speedway. Post entries will be received. Events will be run in the following classes:—Two-stroke handicap; open championship; open handicap; 350 c.c. handicap; 500 c.c. handicap; Big Six championship. Should there be sufficient entries, a side-car event may also be staged. No separate event has been included for women riders, but entries are expected from certain members of the Ladies’ Progressive Club.