MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1867, 11 March 1913, Page 3

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES.

| " Cousul," in the Manawatu Daily Times, invites motor cyclists to forward to him rough notes of any runs they may have made, any pleasure jaunts along out-of-the-way places which they may care to recommend to others, any complaints against vehicular traffic they may care to make puhiic, any dangerous spots riders should know about, or write upon any matter they may care to make public. " Consul" i.; an experienced ioad tourist and will deal intelligently with all matters submitted to him and publish them each Tuesday morning. Trade notes are welcomed. Any questions concerning mechanical difficulties will be answered. (By Consul.) Statistics show that during the past year Britain consumed about 48,000,000 gallons of petrol, and as her coal output is about tons, it will be seen that it is possible for England to produce from our own coal considerably more than double her requirements of motor fuel, and also put aside a very appreciable reserve for the future.

The first census of production of the United Kingdom taken in 1907 has just been issued. This gives the number of motor cycles produced in that year as 3800, value £139,000, number exported 800, value £28,000, number imported 1700, value £48,000. Statistics regarding the production of motor cycles, or anything else, so far back as 1907 are of little interest now. Doubtless there are special reasons why these statistics cannot be published earlier, but the figures appear to us to be practically useless five years after the date of production of the articles. They would show a tremendous increase in 1912.

I have been experimenting with a small steam plant for several years in my spare time (says W. J. Hill in the Motor Cycle) for the same purpose, which lias been, so far, successful. The boiler or steam generator is of the flash type, and can be worked in a vertical, or a horizontal position. The paraffin burner is as simple as possible—it burns with a blue atmospheric fiume, which is smokeless and noiseless. When starting from cold I have a small paraffin blow lamp, and I allow the flame from this to blow on the main burner's vaporiser until it becomes a dull red ; this takes about two minutes. Paraffin is then turned on to the main burner, which at once lights up, and in two or three minutes the generator is hot enough to start, and then after a few strokes with a small hand pump the steam rises up to 1501bs. instantly. Steam is then turned to the engine, and the small pump connected to the engine picks upjjkthe lead. The steam pressure is then regulated by aii automatic by-pass or by hand. The engine was a long tough job to make. It is a vertical on' M h outside flywheel, single W under, single-acting and mushroom valves, and cylinder bore 2%in. x Bin. stroke. This little engine develops a fine power at 3001bs (working from 100 to 5001bs per square inch). I have also an exhaust feed water heater, which, owing to the highly superheated steam, helps the boiler and burner considerably. I may say the above little plant runs and works well on the bench, and I am hoping shortly to give it a road test on a motor cycle frame built for the purpose.