FOUR-SPEED GEARS.

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 36, 10 August 1918, Page 14

FOUR-SPEED GEARS.

It has always been a matter of surprise to us that the four-speed gearbox is not used to a larger extent (states an American writer). It has bceome practically standard on light cars, but. on many medium cars, ■ and on nearly all light cars, the three-speed gearbox is fitted. In -our opinion the four-speed gearbox is moro necessary on a- light car than on either a medium or a large car. It will enable the light car to travelat a really fast pace down hill, on the level, and up moderate hills without necessitating the running'of the engine at a high, number of revolutions per minute.l With such a gearbox the third speed should be higher than the second of the threespeed gearbox, and consequently stiff, hills could be- taken at. considerable speed—hills which in tho case of the three-speed gearbox would be traversed comparatively slowly on the second speed. The four-speed combination, too, Would enable a lower low speed to be adopted, so that no hill yould present a serious obstacle to the car, .and, speaking generally, there would be lessi wear and .'tear on'the engine.: A four-sped gearbox would, no doubt, lead, to a slight increase in the cost of the car, but it would make for economy in the end, not only in the .durability of the engine, and transmission, but even as regards petrol and oil. .' In the post-war light' car we hope that the four-speed gearbox will at least be adopted . in the higher class specimens.. ' ■ \\ ■ ..'..; -„ ; .-,.. :. '.■