MOTORDOM

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1930, Page 9

MOTORDOM

NEWS OF THE ROAD.

(By

"Gearbox”)

VISIT TO FACTORY.

• LORD BLEDISLOE'S INTEREST

Wearing a coat made from material manufactured by the Petone Woollen Mills, His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe), accompanied by Lady Bledisloe and party, paid his first official to Petone, this week. ,

- Met by the Mayor, Mr G. McKenzie, members of tho Borough Council and Mr W. Nash, M.P.. they proceeded on foot through the 2,000 children who lined the- streets on both sines. Wreathed in smiles and on tiptoe with excitement as ho passed they gave hearty cheers. Before he drove off to visit the industrial works His Excellency asked the Mayor that the children bo given a school holiday. The party proceeded to General Motors New Zealand Limited Factory. They were welcomed at the entrance by the Managing Director, Mr W. McHardy Forman and members of the staff, and at onto began their inspection of the huge- plant which employs 500 men and women and occupies an area ot five acres. Motor-car building in all its phases was explained to His Excellency by experts as they passed from operation to operation, and the cars literally grew together under tae eyes of the visitors. From big steaming vats into which grease covered panelling was immersed for cleansing purposes to the end of the line when the cars drove off under their own power every process was followed with interest by His Excellency and Lady Bledisloe. ' Their Excelencics were extremely interested to see New Zealand fabrics being made into upholstery for the various cars built at the works. A M(icri girl from the Upholstery Department presented Lady Bledisloe with a beautiful bouquet, and when the party filed outside Their Excellericies ‘ were photographed in the midst of the office staff, and His Excellency also in x the midst of the employees in the works itself.

I SQUEAKING BRAKES. 11, is claimed that brake squeak can be prevented without loss of braking efficiency by painting ,the surface of the shoes with a mixture made of a little powdered graphite in petrol. At the first or second application of the brakes after this treatment they may not be fully effective, but thereafter it is said that their power will, if anything, be increased whilst squeaking will completely disappear.

21 HOURS’ RACE

There is no other ra’co in the world quite like the Le Mans 24-hours contest around this famous French racing circuit. It is interesting to note that the regulations governing this year’s race were drafted with the- definite purpose of eliminating racing freaks. The event was therefore restricted to cars not having what is commonly known as a racing chassis, they had to bo catalogued by the makers for sale Io the public, prior to date of entry. A sufficient number of chassis also had to be built by a certain date to satisfy the racing authorities that the car was a bona fide commercial model. Further, the car entered had to be normally constructed, and had to compete with full touring equipment including hood, windscreen, mudguards and lamps. Motorists in this country who travel at night ivill realise the important part Which the lighting equipment played during the night hours of this event. In previous Le Mans races many competitors lost considerable time, and ran great risks through faulty lights. To attain an average speed of 76 m.p.h. for this day .and night drive is a remarkable achievefor Barnato and his change driver, Commander Glen Kidson —the wellknown English aviator. The contest was of a truly international character, and attracted a very big field —the countries represented being Britain, America, France, Italy, Germany and Spain.

LEAKY RADIATORS. The following remedy will be found very effectual in curing a bad leak in a radiator:—Which the white of an egg, and then pour it into the radiator sc- that it will circulate with the water. As soon as this reaches (he leak it will harden on coming into contact with the air, and prevent further loss of water for quite a time. A DECARBONISING TIP. In order to keep carbon out of the water passages and so on when decarbonising, take an old gasket and giue brown paper over all the holes except the stud holes and cylinder orifices. When placed in position they can bo held down by weights or strips of insulation tape at the corners. As c-fich piston is finished the cylinder can bo kept , clean by gumming a square of paper over the hole allowed in this temporary gasket. A BONNET CLIP STOP. On many cars tho bonnet clips are so fitted that when the clip is unfastened it fall;; on the front mudguard, chipping the enamel. This can ho prevented by making a lit.lc kiwepicco of L-lGiii brass, drilling it to suit the front holding screw of the clip. Should ho latter be inclined to rattle against the side of the bonnet, a 3-loiii clearance hole should be drilled in the latter in line with the clip, and a small rubber buffer with a 3-16 in snap-head screw, a nut and. spring washer, fitted.

LUXURY CAR FOR CHINA

The most costly and luxurious motor car ever brought to China was built for the President of (lie Nanking Government. The whole of the metal work on the body of the limousine, and even the hood, is of half-inch thick navy steel plate, which is designed to shed the' bullets or bombs of would-be assassins. 3’wo extra sea's project from the back of the' ar, built high enough to permit the •><'■ curarits io see. forward over the hood. These will be occupied by special guards with machine guns. The running boards are tiusually long, for guards to stand on, each with a pistol ii; hand.,

PRAISE FROM AMERICA.

COURTEOUS TRAFFICMEN

What does the American think ot our traffic men? Here is wnat Mr J. A. Ford, of Los Angeles, has to say in a letter to “Motor” of England: — "While taking my first- drive a few miles outside of Wellington I had my first and only encounter with the New Zealand traffic police. It was so different from one’s usual experiences with American police that American motorists will probably class me with Ananias for even relating such a tale. But it actually happened. We were rolling along at a speed of, perhaps, 30 miles an hour —and I was driving on the left side of the road where Americans usually have a difficult, time keeping themselves when driving in British countries.

“Next thing I knew I heard a police siren in the vicinity of the right rear wheel, and looked about to. observe two officers with a motor-cycle and sidecar outfit. At the moment 1 could think of no traffic regulation 1 might have unintentionally violated. The officers motioned for me to pull up. As wo rolled to a stop the officers drew alongside, and the one in the sidecar did the speaking. Tipping his hat, he said: ‘We are very sorry to trouble you, sir, but your rear light is extinguished. Will you please stop at the next motor shop and have it repaired?” Such courtesy from traffic policemen! It was bewildering. Americans in the States usually feel that they are only dogs, whenever they arc pmled up by a traffic officer. An American traffic officer is usually much inflated with the authority vested imhim, and he takes delight in displaying it! It is little wonder that foreigners visiting America think America is a nation of barbarians. A New Zealander would certainly think so if he were stopped by a traffic officer —to be cursed in the name of the law, treated like a worm under foot, and to have his ancestors compared with dogs and swine!

FLOORBOARD BUTTONS. An improvement that has been found helpful is the installation of two flat spring buttons on the floorboards of a motor-car to hold them down and keep them from rattling. This device gives quick access to the battery and tho points on the power transmission line that require lubrication. The old method is to fasten down the boards with screws, which makes their removal a lengthy operation. With-this method the buttons aro fastened to the, body frame with common wood screws, and the. ends of the buttons are bent up for a flnger-hold. Only a quarter-turn of tho buttons is needed to release the boards. No. 20 flat spring steel can bo used for the purpose.

STEERING GEAR MAINTENANCE

Few motorists give the attention. to the steering gear of their cars, which this part of tna mechanism demands, it is e a wonaecriiu testimony io me caro and attention taken m manufacture that one so seldom hears ot serious accidents due to steering g«ar failures, but even if there are no serious accidents, this neglect imo some effect in reducing the euiciencj< of tho steering gear. If it is ieit unlubricated it will make cornering auu general manouevring of the car decidedly “heavy, as do under-inflated tyres, and it will be found that what waS previously almost cuurtxcse ami automatic has become' a matter of actual push and pull. The obvious remedy' is the immediate application of lubricant to the steering heads and the various joints of the track rod and drag link. Tho steering gearbox itself needs very occasional cleaning out and a renewal of its lubricating supply; anti sometimes the lubrication of the steering column is neglected. Cases havebeen known of excessively heavy steering due solely to the steering column not having been oiled. When this has been remedied, all was well again. On some cars the points for oiling tho steering column are not easily accessible. There is aiso too little attention paid to the steering bearings in the way of protection from water and mud splashing. Tney should be kept packed with lubricant from tho first day the car is on the road, and especially in winter should tho grease gun be often applied to force old lubricant out and new lubricant in. If (his is done often, trouble with steering beads will not arise and the steering wil always be maintained in good working order Wear also will be reduced and adjustments seldom required.

• miscellaneous. A thin oil film between moving parts is really what piotects the automobile engine against wear. This oil tilm is six times thinner than the paper on this page. IL ii? kept clean by the oil lifter, a device through which the oil passes and is tillered. After 10,000 miles of driving it is important to service the oil filter, because after this mileage it becomes filled with as much as two pints of dirt, sludge, and other foreign matter taken from the oil. and ceases to function at the highest efficiency in keeping tho oil film clean. On cars having an outside filler cap for the petrol tank there is always the risk of drops of water finding their way through the vent ho o during heavy rain or when the- car is being washed. A simple method of avoiding this risk is to solder a brass sewing thimble to the under-side of the filler cap,. A very small hole must be drilled in the side of the thimble as near as posible- to the soldered rim. With this arrangement, air can freely enter the tank, but water will be tiappcd in the thimble. At intervals, therefore, it. is a. good plan to remove the cap and shake out any water which may have collected.