MOTORS and MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 291, 4 September 1931, Page 6

MOTORS and MOTORING

Jinks: Have you got your automobile paid for? Binks: Practically. Three more payments and it will belong to the fellow that bought it from the chap I sold it to! In setting spark plugs always bend the outer point Bending the centre point may crack the porcelain, thereby causing the plug to short circuit. • • » Dry lampblack, such as can be obtained at any paint store, is the best polishing material for reflectors of headlamps and should be applied on a wad of cotton. It cleans very well and will not scratch. Only a lone motor ambulance, used in cases of extreme emergency, can at present interrupt the tranquillity of Bermuda, but it is feared that additional motor-vehicles will soon disturb the serenity of the colony. A Bill was recently introduced in the House of Assembly to grant physicians the right to use automobiles, on the ground that frequently the hurried presence of a doctor at the sick bed wa,s more important to the saving of a life than a patient’s rapid transportation to the hospital. More and more the motorcar is establishing itself as an indispensable factor in modern life, even in quiet, restful Bermuda. • • ♦ So many cars are now fitted with well-base rims that a word as to the correct method of fitting and detaching tires on this simple one-piece rim will be helpful to the motorist who may not quite understand the principle of operation. The whole secret is to see that the wired edges of the cover on one side fit properly into the well so that the side diametrically opposite . will have room to pass over the outside diameter of the rim. The edges can be easily lifted over the rim flange by gentle persuasion with one or perhaps two small levers. Force is entirely unnecessary ; if it is not found to be easy, the operation is not being correctly performed. CHANGING DOWN Use of “Double Declutch” When the car slows down, either due to steep grades or to traffic obstructions, it is necessary to shift the gear lever to a lower gear position so as to enable the engine to do its work without labouring. As a general rule this operation is performed by simply throwing out the clutch and moving the gear lever smartly to the position required. This changing down process is rather more difficult than changing up from a standstill, and for those drivers who crash their gears when changing down the “double declutch” is recommended. There is nothing to be feared in attempting the “double declutch," for, although a detailed explanation may be quite lengthy, the operation is simplicity Itself once understood. Having decided to change down, throw out the clutch and simultaneously lift the foot off the accelerator. Now pull the gear lever into neutral position. The clutch is now let in, the accelerator pedal pressed, the clutch thrown out ’ again and the gear lever thrust into the low speed notch; What actually happens in this operation is that as the gear lever is in neutral position, the lay-shaft in the gear-box is made to spin more rapidly than when the car was running in; top gear, so that, as the lever is drawn into the lower notch, the spinning wheels inside the gear-box slide together at similar speeds and so without noise. Most drivers, when changing down from top to second or second to bottom, allow the car to lose road speed in the process, and In some instances submit passengers to uncomfortable jolting. A skilfully-executed “double declutch’’ effectively'solves these worries, for, under these conditions road speed should scarcely alter during the operation of changing—if anything, it should increase slightly. Much of the success in- driving depends upon clutch manipulation, and a heavy-footed driver almost invariably jolts ‘the passengers as gears are changed. Whether a car be a three or four-speed model, the same process must be gone through changing to the higher gears. There is no need to be alarmed if, in the early stages, the gear teeth clash as changes are made, for; even expert drivers make this mistake on strange cars, and silence is simply the outcome of practice and experiment in pausing as the gear lever is moved from one position to another. s DANGEROUS PRACTICE Overloading the Car Every automobile is designed to carry a definite maximum load, and simply because no protest can be made is no criterion that extensive damage is not being done. A low gear full-throttle struggle with an overladen car up a steep, long grade will do more haym to a car than will five hundred miles of sane running. Every part of the machine is being forced to work under loads and stresses far above those Intended, and the inevitable result, even though delayed, will be a breakdown. Hard luck stories of broken springs, axles, and the like, when cruising along a smooth road are usually not what they seem; for in most cases these mishaps can be traced to a previous overloading offence. Springs and tires particularly are subjected to a frightful gruelling under such conditions. Car suspension is at best merely a compromise, and intended to take care of a definite load —plus or minus. Unhappily the plus aspect is so frequently overworked that springs cease to function as Intended, lose their resiliency, crystallise rapidly, and then fail. USE OF THE HORN Traffic regulations provide that an automobile shall be provided with an efficient warning device. Correctly used, tire horn is a warning device, but when abused it is an entirely different proposition, and not only gets the motoring fraternity as a whole into bad odour, but may quite conceivably lead to an accident. Good drivers seldom sound the horn too frequently; they rather use their own judgment and intelligence in solving the many problems that are to be faced when driving along the highway. When a pedestrian is seen crossing in front of the car the driver should invariably direct his car out of the way rather than wait until he is in close proximity and then sound - the horn, for this is not only a discourteous action, but it is also an extremely dangerous practice,

By

“SPARE WHEEL’

WORLD SPEED RECORD N. Smith’s Attempt in N.Z. POWER CONSUMPTION OF TIRES In the course of a few weeks Norman Smith will be leaving Australia for New Zealand, with his “Stewart Enterprise,” with which he is hopeful of bettering Sir Malcolm Campbell’s world’s automobile speed record of 245.73 m.p.h., established at Daytona Beach (U.S.A.) on the “Blue Bird II” and Dunlop last February. The Aus-tralian-designed and built chassis, with its 12-cyUnder Napier aero engine—loaned for the attempt by the British Government —is now complete and ready for the formidable task ahead. As the Australian contender for the speed Blue Riband intends using a stretch of about 15 miles of the Ninety Miles beach, near Kaitaia, New Zealand, with the centre mile as the measured course, he will travel at high speed a greater distance than did Campbell, who covered nine miles on each run, or 18 miles in aIL This fact gives rise to the question as to whether Norman Smith will make arrangements for a change over of wheels, after completing his first run, or follow Campbell’s example and make no change. The attitude of the International Association, which controls attempts on world’s automobile records, as regards the maximum allowance of 30 minutes between the two drives in opposite directions, may really decide the matter.

It was reported from U.S.A., prior to Campbell’s successful attempt, that owing to the work and time-involved in changing wheels of a specially streamlined car such as the “Blue Bird II,” special dispensation had been granted by the authorities, and the 30 minutes’ limit would not be rigidly enforced. Campbell, however, did not take advantage of the concession, and made the two runs within a few minutes of each other. If such a concession was deemed advisable in connection with Campbell's drive, then there are even better reasons why a similar exemption be permitted the Australian contender, if it be deemed addvisable to make a change of wheels after the first run. -The original intention of this official time limit, was to preclude an aspirant to the record from driving in one direction with the wind, and then waiting in the' hope of having the benefit of a change of wind to the opposite direction.

It is appreciated by all who have any knowledge of motoring, that at speeds of 245 m.p.h. it is the pneumatic tires that have to withstand the brunt of the terrific strains and heat incidental to travelling on land at over four miles a minute. It is stated that not only have tires to be of remarkable strength to prevent centrifugal forces from tearing the covers away from their beads, but that the wheels and tires must be balanced and true. It would be fatal to make such - attempts unless each wheel and tire is perfectly balanced for revolving at terrific speeds, and this work Is carried out by. specialists with accurate instruments.- It was proved when tires were being made for Campbell, that if the periphery of one of the special covers varied even the thickness of a two shilling piece on the tread, that the highest point of the cover was burnt at high speed, while the cover was quite cool to touch at others. It will interest motorists to learn that the tires of the “Stewart Enterprise” will each consume, 3G h.p. when travelling at a speed of 250 m.p.h.—i.e., the four tires will take 144 h.p. from the engine. All this energy is transformed Into heat, which raises the temperature of tires and has a disintegrating effect on the casings. As indicating what an effect very high speed has on tires, the fact is cited that at 150 m.p.h., using the same load and tires, only 5 h_p; per tire would be absorbed, so that the extra 100 m.p.h. takes a further 31 h.p. per tire from the engine. This shows the actual magnitude of power loss in tires at abnormal speeds. ON PARKING A good deal of practice is necessary when the automobile has occasion to be manoeuvred in confined spaces. When turning out of a street into a laneway or garage, and it is found that the manoeuvre cannot be executed on one lock, the car should be driven well past the opening on the first lock, reversed, and then driven into the desired space. Unless ihe opening is “overshot” at the first attempt, it will be found necessary to reverse perhaps two or three times before finally getting the car in its place. When it becomes necessary to park a car in any of the kerbside ranks, one should never drive straight into any position unless a very generous opening presents itself. It is alwa, the wisest plan to drive past the opening, give the correct signal to oncoming vehicles, and then reverse into place. In parking at the kerbside when the road is steeply cambered, drivers of closed cars should keep out a little wider than is usual in order to prevent the canopy of the car from coming in contact with veranda posts.

“It depends on your wife's tastes,” remarked a motorist amid laughter, at a recent meeting of the executive of the Wanganui Automobile Association, when the matter of the colour of motor number plates was under discussion. The question was raised with the consideration of a remit for the next North Island Motor Union with regard to the colour of the number plates. It was felt that extra expenditure by the making of new plates every year should be obviated, but that the colour was not of equal importance. The Rubber Research Institute of Malaya, in view of the accumulation of huge stocks of raw rubber, is conducting a series of tests on various types of rubber paving to determine which of the many proposals and inventions put forth, have merit sufficient to warrant further experimentation. The latest development in rubber paving is said to be toward the use of liquid latex (the milk-like sap of the rubber tree) in combination with,other materials, with the object of evolving a preparation not unlike bitumen. In various parts of the world small sections of road have been laid down with slabs of rubber, and although results have been promising, the heavy cost of rubber has in the past rendered the proposition non-oommerclaL

THE VERY LATEST Rear lights to protect mounted policemen are tbe latest traffic innovation in France. French mounted police who ride the highways at night, and in all probability cavalrymen as well, will in the future be equipped with reflectors to be worn on their backs in order to safeguard them from motorists, according to the report. - The reflectors will be inserted in a row across the back of a Sam Brown belt, or else inserted in a triangular piece of leather attached to the back of the overcoat collar. These will catch the light from automobiles and enable the horsemen to be seen at a distance. 4 CONCERNING WASH LEATHER When the car has been cleaned down, the wash leathers employed should be cleaned well and placed under an inverted jam jar. This keeps the leather moist and always ready for use, so that a considerable time is saved when it Is next required, as it is not necessary to soak it for a long time before it becomes pliable. By protecting the leather under the jar one also ensures that it does not collect a lot of dust POOR LIGHT Feeble lights may be caused by old and blackened bulbs which should be renewed'. Another reason is that tbe dynamo has not been giving its proper output and the consequent discharge of the battery has run it down. It is important that the driver’s seating position suits the individuaL An awkward seat means slovenly driving. See that the feet are comfortably witbin reach of the foot controls and that the arms are in a natural position on the wheel. ®

HOW TO KEEP FROM GROWING OLD Always drive fast out of alleys. Always race with locomotives to crossings. Engineers like it; it breaks the monotony of their jobs. Always pass the car ahead on curves or turns. Don’t use your horn; it may unnerve the other fellow and cause him to turn out too far. Alwavs demand half the road—the middle half. Insist on your rights. Always speed; it shows people you are a man of pep even though an amateur driver. Never stop, look, or listen at railroad crossings. It consumes time. Drive confidently, just as though there were not eighteen million cars in service. Always lock your brakes when skidding. It makes the job more artistic. Always pass cars on hills. It shows you have more power; and you can turn out if you meet a car at the top. In sloppy weather drive close to pedestrians. Dry cleaners appreciate it Never look around when you back up. There is never anything behind you. —"Transit Guest” JAMMED STARTER PINION It sometimes happens that, in starting up a car, the gear will jam against the fly-wheel, locking the motor immediately the self-starter pedal is depressed. Under these conditions it is impossible to drive away so that the motorist must, perforce, free the gear. First experiment is to switch off, put the gear lever in top gear position, and, with tiny manual assistance available, slowly rock the car backwards and forwards, after releasing the hand-brake. Should this fall, the nuts holding the starter motor to its bed, or the flywheel casing, as the case may be, must be slacked off, and so pull the locked gear apart Great care should, however, be taken during these operations to see that no undue force is applied, otherwise the shaft of the starting motor may bend and render future starting up a matter of great uncertainty, if not impossibility.