THE STEERING MECHANISM

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 23, 26 July 1930, Page 27

THE STEERING MECHANISM

.Few give the attention to the steering gear of their cars which this part of the mechanism should receive. It is a wonderful testimony to the care and attention taken in manufacture that one so seldom hears of sorif^s accidents due to steering gear failures. But even if there are no serious accidents, this neglect has some effect in reducing the efficiency of the steering gear. If it is loft unlubncated it will make cornering and general manoeuvring of the car decidedly '.'heavy," as do underinflatecl tires, and it will be found that what was previously almost effortless and automatic has become a matter of actual push and pull. The obvious remedy is the immediate application of lubricant to the steering lieads and the various joints of tho track rod and drag

The steering gearbox itself needs very occasional cleaning out and a renewal of its lubricating supply; and sometimes the lubrication of the steering column is neglected. Cases have been known of excessively heavy steering due solely to the stoering column not having been oiled. When this has been remedied, all was well again. On some cars the points for oiling the steering column are not- easily accessible. There is also too little attention paid to the steering bearings in the way of protection from water and mud splashing. They should be kept packed with lubricant from the first day the car is on •the road, and especially in winter should the grease-gun be often applied to force old lubricant out and new lubricant in. tf this is done often, trouble with steering heads will not arise, and the steering will always be maintained in good Ayorking' order. Wear also will be reduced and adjustments seldom required.

A' garage proprietor at Eketahuna recently .asked an attendant to take a brass tack out of his tiro, which had become deflated. A small piece of brass was showing. The- task proved more difficult than was expected, and finally a fire poker, about oightoen inches long, with a brass head, was takon out. The end of tho poker had entered the cover and tho wholo had been forced in and conformed to tho shape of the wheol. , . ■ . .

Miss B. Brittain, L.A.8., of Wellington, was accorded ,aii enthusiastic reception at tho Nolson Harmonic Society's concert on Thursday evening when she gave a very beautiful and cultured rendering of "Elizabeth's' Greeting" (Tamihauser). Her encore number was "Arise O Sun."

Motor-cai' factories and railways iv America now consume more than 340,000,0001b of copper annually, accord' ing to a report issued by the Copper and Brnss Research Association.