RANDOM NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 12

RANDOM NOTES

Learn the “feel” of having your car under control. Courtesy conies first. Consider the rights and privileges of others. Keep your mind .on your driving and anticipate sudden emergencies. The adjustment of the front wheels for proper pitch and toe-in should be checked at least twice yearly. Country Nephew: Has a taxidermist anjthing to do with a taxicab? Town Cncle: ’Er, no, my boy. A taxidermist skins only the lower animals. If the generator is driven by a belt a reduction in the charging rate may be caused by belt slippage. If the ammeter indicates a charging rate that is below normal, examine the belt. It may require adjusting. Tyres die young through misuse. Next to tlie damage that is caused by under-inflation, tyres suffer most from “driving on the brakes.” Twenty vards of braking wears a tyre more than many miles of running. The economical driver drives oil the accelerator.

Applving a wrench to the flat part of the schewdriver will be found a great help in those occasional instances when the latter instrument alone does little toward starting a recalcitrant screw. The wrench supplies greater leverage than is otherwise possible.

"When 21,000 New York motorists were asked in a questionnaire what they considered the “worst motoring sin,” 38 per cent, it is reported, condemned the driver who hugs the crown of the road, while 25 per cent, maintained that the worst offence was driving to the head of a traffic block and then cutting in. An English motorist lias produced the first talking motor-car. By an ingenious arrangement whereby a small microphone is fitted to the steering wheel the amplified human voice supplants the usual hooter. What a benefit. to the motorist who desires to inform the jay-walker what lie thinks of him!

The modern engine demands the most efficient type of spark-plug performance, and an intense spark is essential for its operating efficiency. Perfect pl u S performance is important, whether it is obtained by cleaning and resetting the points or by buying new plugs. As to resetting a gauge should be used and the adjustment should he made in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. Petroleum production within New Zealand is small and the flow intermittent, savs “Commerce Reports.” IT.S.A. About 26 drill holes have been put down, some to a depth of 6000 feet, but total production to date is probably not over 50.000 barrels. Prospecting continues. Imports of crude, fuel and eras oil have varied from 632.000 barrels in 1925 to 1,069,000 in 1926, 949,000 in 1927, 1,079,000 in 1928, and 810.000 in 1929. Exports and hunkers —chiefly the latter —were 291,000 barrels, 502,000 barrels, 478,000 barrels, 141.000 barrels, and 475,000 barrels in the same years, respectively.

After fcnir years' experimenting the Department of Engineering Research of the University of Michigan (U.S.A.) has evolved a new blend of motor fuel claimed to he better than any in existence. This formula has been presented as a gift to the petroleum industry. Anyone who wishes is free to use it. It is stated that the new fuel is more powerful and adapted especially for use in motor vehicles. Different grades

can be produced to suit all ranges of operating temperatures. An engine will run with an improxier carburettor adjustment, but a correct adjustment is necessary to obtain good economy and pertormance. As a rule carourettors will maintain a given adjustment indefinitely, li there is lack of power iirst make sure that the engine has good compression and that the ignition is properly timed and functioning satisfactorily. After this the carburettor should oe adjusted to obtain a good mixture. AV ith these three fundamentals, namely, good compression, good ignition, and good mixture, no trouble should bo experienced in having tiie engine perform properly. Difficulty experienced in extracting bushes from such components as stub axles, track rods, camshafts, and so on can usually be overcome by carefull\ cutting the side of the bush with a hack-saw ; having cut right- through it will be found that the bush can easily be pushed out. Take care not to cut the surrounding metal. The use of oil instead oi grease in the high-pressure gun issued in the tool kit is recommended by some manufacturers, but inconvenience and mess are often’ caused owing to the oil leaking from the nozzle when the gun is not in use and soiling any adjacent articles in the tool locker. The cure is simple; before replacing the gun in the locker after use withdraw the handle slightly, ami to make assurance doubly sure use an old stocking as a wag for the gun. When difficulty is found in engaging first gear due to clutch drag caused ; by the stiffness of oil in the clutch housing, it is a good plan to stop the engine and engage first gear. Then depress the clutch and start the engine. When cleaning wire wheels, difficulty is found in getting at the inside of the hub of the wheel with a spoke brush, but by bending the brush at right angles it is child’s play, even to getting round the wheel nuts. The paint i does not get chipped as when using a straight brush. If the* rims, rather than the wheels, of your ear are demountable, you may hear a swishing or crunching sound that seems to come from one of the wheels. It may be that the nuts which hold the rim in the wheel have worked loose enough to permit the rim to slip. They can be easily tightened. The top "of the storage battery should I always he kept clean. Moisture is a j conductor of electrical current. The j seepage of electrolyte through the vent holes in the filler‘plugs will gradually spread over the surface of the battery, making a connection between the lead posts, causing a slight discharge or leakage of current. Electrolyte also corrodes the ends of the battery cables. When this condition exists, clean the cable ends and battery terminals, then apply a coating of ordinary cup grease or vaseline. The grease resists the action of the electrolyte. The tendency for exhaust valves to stick in their guides is a trouble which, in the ordinary way may he rather difficult to overcome, as it may Imppen sometimes even when an uppercylinder lubricant is used. In gem-inl a" cure can be effected by reducing the height of the exhaust valve guides in the ports. On most engines there is an ample length of guide outside the cylinder to allow this being done with safety, and the amount that is suggested’ should he removed is. 7 32in. It may be said, in fact, that this amount, or certainly not more than iin, should he about right for any engine of normal type.

Soft soap applied to the hands andT under the finger-nails and rubbed well I in before making adjustments will l'orm I an invisible glove and prevent the \ liands looking unduly grimy after- £ wards. Incidentally, yellow soap can sometimes be used as a jointing preparation for gaskets. Most motorists neglect their windscreen wipers until they need them and then, as often as not, they won’t work. Test the wiper occasionally and lubricate it once in a while by putting a drop of oil in the mechanism. If you are in the habit of “hitting it up" on the road, you have to put oil in the crankcase oftener than it you stick to a conservative 35 miles an flour. The faster you go the hotter your engine becomes and the more oil it- burns up

Even though you are on a main road it is well to keep an eye on intersecting and feeder roads. Battery terminals coated with sulphate due to corrosion can be cleaned with a stiff brush dipped in fairly hot water.

Seldom is the body of a car given the attention tliat it deserves, with the result that trouble often develops and expense’ is incurred that could be easily avoided. Continuing polishing of a car body with unsuitable preparations, especially those containing abrasives or alkalis, should be avoided. The simplest- care of a lacquered finish is best. Wiping every other da.\ with a very soft cloth is advisable and will allow the finish to remain lustrous. When the car has accumulated an unusual amount of sand, mud, or dust, then washing is necessary. Plain cold water without soap is best. The roof should be inspected frequently and when necessary should be treated with a good top-dressing. The top should be washed with water and allowed to dry thoroughly before applying the dressing. If the top has been subjected to unusually severe weather conditions, two coats of dressing should be used. Upholstery should he cleaned once a month, preferably with a vacuum; if this is not available, with a whisk broom. Grease spots can be removed with any good, safe, cleaning fluid. See that the hold-down lxdts that fasten the body to the chassis are always kept tight. Loose hold-down bolts cause distortion of door openings and squeaks.