Motors &- Motoring

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 248, 15 July 1932, Page 3

Motors &- Motoring

Brake drums should be periodically inspected for grit and dust, which is liable to accumulate. A cloth soaked with methylated spirit is usually found to be very effective in removing tarnish from chromium plating. » * • It is stated that motor-cars killed 34,000 persons this year throughout the United States. The number is only slightly less than the number of American soldiers killed in the Great War. According to statistics issued by the Transport Department recently, Saturday is the day of the week on which the greatest number of fatal accidents occur. The lowest number takes place on Thursday. * As a result of the increasing number of accidents, the municipal authorities of Constantinople have issued a regulation that no one under the age of twenty-five years may drive a motor vehicle. e » * After an engine has been decarbonised the best way to ascertain if there are any air leaks through faulty washers, etc., is to squirt oil round each plug, valve cap, and compression tap. After the engine has been started bubbles from the oil will at once reveal any leaks. « • * A new accessory being fitted to the 1932 model of a well-known American car consists of a cigar-lighter that not only lights it for the smoker, but .also takes the first few puffs to get the tobacco drawing well. If the cigar is a good one it is to be hoped the lighter will not decide to finish it. « « * “If a car driver is being overtaken by a faster-moving car he should never look round. If he does he will swerve outward and probably cause a collision,” said Dr. T. A. Mac Gibbon In a lecture in Christchurch on balance to the Philosophical Institute the other evening. “Nine times out of ten the motorist in the fast car would be convicted for negligence, when it was really the fault of the one who looked round,” he added.

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP Motorists’ Obligations Failure to notify change of ownership of a motor vehicle has led to charges being preferred against a number of motorists recently. The Wellington Automobile Association points out to members and motorists in general that the Motor Vehicles Act states very clearly that, within seven days of the sale or other disposal of any motor vehicle, the seller must give notice to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. [ The Act provides for a penalty of £lO for such an offence, and £lO for every day on which the vehicle is used while failure to notify the change of ownership continues. BATTERY PROBLEMS Charging Rate in Winter Although the motorist is advised never to tamper experimentally with the regulator brush of the generator, it is often possible to obtain better service from the battery during the winter months by a judicious raising of the charging rate. If the car instruction book does not contain specific advice in regard to this matter, the owner should consult the local agent or a competent electrical engineer. It is easy enough to vary the adjustment of the third (regulator) brush of the generator so that a greater charging rate is obtained, but if the permissible maximum is exceeded there is always the danger of placing too much electrical strain on the windings and perhaps burning them out. On the other hand, it will often be possible to increase the normal rate by several amperes so that instead of the battery receiving little or no charge during night driving, when the headlights make a heavy drain upon it, it will obtain due electrical compensation for the extra work it is called upon to do during the winter. TIRE CHANGING Much delay and annoyance will be avoided if the trre changing kit and the wheels themselves are kept in good condition. The lifting jack should be of a size appropriate to the car, so that at all times it may be placed under the front or rear -axle without any building up on chocks, or scraping down of the road surface being necessary. Much labour will be saved if the threads of the jack are kept clean and lubricated. The difficulty of unscrewing refractory nuts and detaching rusted rims will not arise if the bolt threads and, in the case of detachable rims, the inner side of the rim itself, are given a light coating of graphite grease from time tojime. ENGINES NEED CLEAN AIR Many carmakers are now supplying, as standard equipment on each machine, an air-cleaner. This filters the air which enters the engine through the carburetter. Research has proved that the cleaning of the air increases the life of the engine, for dust contains abrasives which, if admitted to the cylinders, cause rapid wear. Tractors operating in rural areas where dust and grit abound and trucks which encounter coaldust, gravel, or sand will not require such frequent engine overhauls if air cleaners are fitted. When no cleaner is used the impurities cling to the oil film on the cylinder walls, and some of them find their way past the pistons and rings into the sump. There they mix with the lubricating oil, and are carried to bearings and valve guides. There are several different types of air cleaners which may be bought for installation on engines to which a standard appliance is not fitted. Owners should, however, obtain expert advice to ensure the selection of suitable cleaners, in accordance with engine capacity and other factors. The cleaner should not offer too much resistance to the inflow of air, or the mixture drawn into the cylinders may become unduly rich. Very rich mixtures cause the oil in the crankcase to be diluted with petrol. This evil will ■ be accentuated by the use of low-grade I fuels, which will give imperfect com- j bustion.

(By

“SPARE WHEEL.’)

PERFECT PASSENGERS Tact an Asset BACK-SEAT MENACES After all, there are a great many more passengers than drivers. Furthermore, writes Phyllis Deacon in “The Motor,” there are people who spend a lot of time telling the world that novices' should not be allowed to drive without learning how! So why not a few hints, or even a course of instruction, on the Art of Being a Perfect Passenger? There are some things which are never done by the really perfect passenger, and the chief of these is. clutching the driver. In no circumstances should the driver be clutched while driving (when the car is stationary it may be another matter). The slightest touch on the driver’s arm at a critical moment may precipitate an accident After ail, the driver knows what he is doing; if he does not it is wiser to postpone driving with him until he has learnt his lesson. The fault of telling the driver what to do is very common, far too common! It is usually called “back-seat driving.” Who has not at some time or another heard such remarks proceediug from a passenger as: "John, look, there is someone trying to cross the road. —Oh I do mind that cat, you nearly hit it.— Oh! do drive more slowly, I know we’ll hit something.” All tending, of course, to make John hit something, preferably the back-seat driver. When a car is being driven through traffic it needs all the attention which the driver can give it; he has none to spare to look at that marvellous view over there or this hat over here. Further, when the traffic has been left behind and the car is batting along at a nice steady 60 m.p.h., it is not the correct time to suggest a stop to pick flowers, even if they are the first primroses of the year. Unless the driver requests that a left-hand turn be signalled, the passenger should not attempt to give direction signals. When the driver of the car behind sees two hands giving signals from opposite sides of the car he is apt to wonder what is really going to happen. Objects of interest should not be indicated by pointing, because the driver behind might take the point as a direction signal* and subsequent confusion may occur. Good passenger manners should be In evidence even before the journey commences. If the driver asks “Where shall we go?” he will probably feel annoyed if he receives, “Oh, I don’t know —where you like” as an answer. He would not ask if he did not want to know.

On some cars it is difficult to get into the car from the driver’s side; if the passenger knows this and suggests that the driver should get in first it will be much appreciated. In fact, the greatest asset which the perfect passenger can have is tact. Tact in large quantities. In fact, absolutely boundless tact! “STICKY” VALVE STEMS Method of Easing One of the few mechanical troubles associated with the valve gear likely to be encountered on modren cars is the “sticking” of the valve stems m the guides, preventing the valves from closing tightly. This is due generally to the formation of a carbonaceous deposit from decomposed oil upon the stem of the valve, but occasionally to the bending of the stem. In the latter case leplaeement of the valve concerned is the only effective remedy. Sticking valves cause irregular running and loss of power, and if not immediately adjusted result in the destruction of the valvehead and serious pitting of the seat.. When the stickiness is due to the formation of a deposit from oil the trouble can be corrected by removing the deposit with a knife-blade or some tool which can be used as a scraper. The application of a light oil will generally facilitate this job. Often, if the sticking is not bad, it can be remedied without touching the valve mechanism by introducing a little fairly light bodied upper cylinder lubricant into the combustion-chamber of the affected cylinder, or adding the lubricant to the fuel. The oil assists in dissolving the deposit jamming the valves. This remedy, however, should be regarded as a temporary one only, and the affected valve should be thoroughly cleaned as soon as possible. WELL BASE TIRES How to Fit Them Although first designed nearly 35 years ago, it is only in the last few months that the well-base type of tire has been adopted by the majority of American motor-car manufacturers. As British manufacturers have been slowly changing to this tire ever since the war, it is estimated, that more than 90 per cent, of the world’s current car models are fitted with well base wheels and tires. The task of changing these covers, although extremely easy if approached correctly, is a most difficult one if the correct procedure is not applied. To fit a cover one side of the cover should first be slipped on to the rim—a job which can be done with the fingers only. The tube should then be inserted and inflated sufficiently to remove all wrinkles. The second edge of the cover is then slipped over the rim on the side of the wheel remote iron: the valve in the tube. Both sides of the cover beading at this point are then slipped under the inner tube and worked down to the bottom of the well in the rim. When this has been done the wheel will be found to be slightly eccentrically placed in the cover, and, working from both sides round to the valve, the second edge of the cover will be found to slip quite easily over the rim. a small lever only being necessary to slip the last part of the second beading over the rim. Before the tube is fully inflated the wheel should be bounced gently to shake the wheel into a truly central position in the cover.

A driver need never back out of a garage designed by an inventor of California, for a turntable is built into it. A scale model of the proposed building was recently exhibited in Los Angeles. Such a structure, according to the inventor, could be built and equipped with this convenience for 350 dollars (normally £7O). Its turntable is a stall which is revolved by hand power ou ball bearings at top and bottom.

KEEPING CAR IN TUNE Points for the Motorist There is much difference between a car which has some obvious defect, such as a “miss,” and one that is, mechanically speaking, in an indifferent state of health, but unfortunately a good, many owners are content to let their cars lose tone and sweetness of running until a point is reached where some overhaul or adjustment becomes imperative, writes a motoring expert. Anyone who motors for pleasure should have realised the added enjoyment which comes from driving a car which purrs along contentedly, free from foreign noises or any faltering or sluggishness. It responds smoothly and quickly to each movement of the accelerator pedal and the miles fly by without any jarring interruption from the back seat passengers, such as: “What makes her do that?” When bodies groan and brakes squeak, unpleasant tasks are in store, for sooner of later either the garageman or the owner must undertake the far from pleasant task of adjusting brakes and. tightening up the body-work. But provided the engine is clean and has good compression, the duty of keeping it in tune is a simple task which should prove almost a recreation to the enthusiast. His principal concern will be to see that the ignition, tappet clearances, and carburettor are all kept in first-class order, and ho is well advised to carry out a general inspection of those parts at regular intervals.

A poor ignition spark can affect running adversely, the points of weakness being as a rule the contact-breaker, the spark plugs, and the insulated leads. Half an hour should suffice to check these and to correct any faults. See that the cores of the plugs are not so carbonised that there may be a leakage, of the high tension current across them, and that the faces of the contactbreaker points are clean and not badly pitted. Then examine each lead and renew any which look perished or cracked. The instruction book of the ear will state wha tgaps there should be at the breaker points and the spark car will state what gaps there should be set carefully with thickness of a proper feeler gauge of the right thickness and not by guess-work or the use of some makeshift gauge, such as a visiting card or safety razor blade. Similarly, accuracy of tappet setting is essential. The tappets should be checked when the engine is hot, unless the instruction book specifically states the contrary, and at all times the clearance advised by the manufacturers should be adhered to. With valves and ignition in good condition it needs only efficient carburetion to ensure good performance. As a majority of carburettors now have fixed jets, there is .not much temptation for the owner-driver to meddle with their mechanism, but even the setting of the slow-running adjustment is best left to a service station unless the motorist really understands the working of the carburettor. He can, to great advantage, clean out all petrol filters, and from time to time drain out and flush the vacuum tank and float chamber with petrol, and also remove the jets and blow through them so as to dislodge any small particles of dirt or globules of water which may have become trapped there. Never use wire or any metal object to clean out the jets, and when wiping them before replacing be careful not to employ a fluffy rag.

It is always a good plan to tighten lugs on the rim after driving a few miles after a wheel or tire has been changed. f